Mr Toppers Indoor Hockey …
HIKERS men did just enough to spoil the GCC parade in taking a possible first ever clean sweep in all four divisions of the Mr. Toppers Indoor Hockey Championships which culminated on Sunday evening. Having won the veterans, women’s and men’s second division competitions, GCC were brazen enough to enter the men’s first division final with intentions of completing the whitewash. 
The outstanding hockey that prevailed throughout the evening, which featured several close battles going down to the wire, could not have met a more suitable end, as the final match was decided in the penultimate minute.
Hikers took the floor for the men’s final as the unbeaten favourites to take the trophy, but having edged a determined GCC by 7-6 they must have known that the competition remained wide open until the final whistle. 
Robert France struck first with a field goal in just the fourth minute as the first half got under way at a blistering pace and the Hikers extended their lead to two when Rayon Branford netted one of his own five minutes later. 
GCC, however, kept pressing the Hikers scoring circle and were rewarded two minutes before halftime when Kevin Spencer put back a saved penalty corner.
The second half saw both teams determined to earn the victory and after Alex Gouveia registered a third goal for the Hikers five minutes in, GCC recovered with two of their own through a brilliant individual run by Orland Semple and a smashing finish by Shaka Gill to keep their team in close contention at 4-3. 
Kevin Spencer then drew the game even in the 33rd minute with a cheeky reverse flick and just as the game seemed destined for extra time, Hikers captain and tournament MVP Devin Munroe blasted home a well-placed shot with one minute remaining on the clock and giving his side the well-deserved 5-4 win.
Earlier in the evening, the crowd was treated to an equally entertaining ladies’ match-up between the same two clubs which saw a reverse of fortunes as the GCC Tigers pulled off a 4-3 victory with their final goal in the last minute of play. 
Hikers took the lead just after ten minutes into an evenly contested match through Amanda Garnett, but speedy Shebiki Baptiste drew GCC level only seconds later. 
Ulrica Sutherland produced a classic finish on the stroke of the half to take GCC into lemon time with the 2-1 lead. 
The second half saw some entertaining action on both ends including some threatening solo runs from the Hikers’ Amanda Garnett and eventual MVP Sonia Jardine of GCC. While Avonda James and Cora Towler added two more in the half for the Hikers, a final minute penalty corner ripper from Jardine, added to an earlier goal from Trisha Woodroffe, saw the Bourda Blues to victory.
The GCC Vets faced Old Fort in the Over-35 competition in another final that went the distance. 
This time it took and Alan Fernandes golden goal three minutes into extra time to separate the two sides by 6-5. 
Gavin Hope made a gallant effort in producing a hat-trick for Old Fort with Dexter Wyles and Andre Leal adding one each while GCC goals came through Devin Hooper and brothers Stephen, David, Alan and Philip (2) Fernandes.
The GCC club then won their third final of the day when the men’s second division side downed the Hikers 1 by 5 goals to 4. 
Young Stephen Xavier led the GCC goalscorers with a double in the closing minutes while teammates Stuart Gonsalves, Leonard George and Trevon Smith scored one each. 
Rayon Branford produced a double for the Hikers but singles from Akeem Thompson and Antonio Pemberton fell short of producing a victory. 
Devin Munroe of the Hikers received the Most Valuable Player Award for the men’s first division final while GCC players Shad Fernandes for men’s second division, Alan Fernandes for Vets and Sonia Jardine for the ladies got the selection.  Mark Kendall of Bryden’s was on-hand to present the trophies to the winners on behalf of the Mr Toppers brand.