BY Delwin Neblett | hGP Nightly News|
From the pavement of Camp Ayanganna to the greens of Lusignan, Guyana’s sporting weekend was packed with elite athleticism. Military precision, strategic chess moves, and a historic low score in youth cricket highlighted a busy schedule. Here is your comprehensive sports update for Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
GDF Inter-Unit Road Relay: 1st Infantry and DHQ Claim Glory
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) showcased its operational fitness with the annual Inter-Unit Road Relay Championship. Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan officially signaled the start of the race, which adhered to the professional standards of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).
- Male Category: The 1st Infantry Battalion emerged as the pace-setters, securing a hard-fought victory. The Coast Guard followed in second, with the Special Forces Battalion rounding out the top three.
- Female Category: Defence Headquarters (DHQ) proved their mettle by clinching the first-place trophy. The Guyana National Reserve secured second, while Base Camp Stephenson finished in third.
Chess: Pitamber Defends Title at Kitty Square Mall U-16
The Guyana Chess Federation hosted a thrilling Under-16 Rapid Championship at Christ Church Secondary on Sunday, where the next generation of grandmasters displayed remarkable “decision intelligence.”
- Open Champion: CM Sachin Pitamber successfully defended his crown, playing unbeaten to finish with a perfect 7 points. Aquilani Swaminadha (6 points) and Alexander Zhang (5 points) followed in second and third respectively.
- Girls Champion: Kataleya Sam outlasted a competitive field of 19 players to claim the top spot, further establishing herself as a rising star in the local chess circuit.
Golf: Brian Hackett Surges at Lusignan
The National Top Flight Golf League saw a shake-up in the leaderboards during Sunday’s round at the Lusignan Golf Course.
- Match Highlights: Brian Hackett delivered a clinical performance, shooting a net score of 68. This dominant win moved him into 2nd place overall, capitalizing on the absence of former runner-up Chet Bowling.
- The Leaderboard: Fazil Haniff (net 71) and Mike Mangal took the second and third spots for the day. However, Patanjilee Persaud remains the man to beat, holding the overall lead with 13 points as the 8-week competition reaches its midpoint.
Football: GFA Senior Men’s League Heats Up
Action returned to the Plaisance Community Centre Ground for the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Senior Men’s League with a mix of dominant wins and tactical stalemates.
- Sunday Results: Beacon FC cruised to a 3-0 victory over Genesis FC, led by Player of the Match Antwoine Vincent. Meanwhile, Black Pearl FC and Riddim Squad FC battled to a 1-1 draw.
- Tonight’s Fixtures (Wednesday, Feb 18):
- Eastveldt FC vs. Northern Rangers FC (Currently Underway)
- 9:00 PM: Camptown FC vs. Pele FC — A classic Georgetown rivalry expected to draw a massive crowd.
Cricket: Berbice “Thrash” Select XI; Demerara Edge Essequibo
The GCB U-16 50-Overs Inter-County Tournament saw contrasting fortunes for the competing counties on Monday.
At LBI Ground: Demerara defended a modest total of 167 to defeat Essequibo by 29 runs.
- Key Performers: Nathan Bishop (41) and Captain Lomar Seecharan (27) anchored the Demerara innings. Despite Demarcus Thomas taking 3 wickets and top-scoring with 33 for Essequibo, the Cinderella County fell short, bowled out for 139.
At Rose Hall Ground: In one of the most one-sided matches in recent history, Berbice decimated the GCB Select XI.
- The Collapse: Berbice bowled out the Select XI for a staggering 29 runs in 22.5 overs.
- The Star: Leon Reddy was the architect of the destruction, finishing with figures of 4-7.
- The Chase: Berbice reached the target (30-2) in just 26 deliveries, securing a massive 8-wicket win.
