Netball Association lapses at closing

The immediate attention of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA) will be occupied for the remainder of 2005 with several tourneys.{{more}}

There is a village tournament slated to begin August 14; the Under-23 0ECS Championship in St. Kitts runs from August 26 – September 1 and then there will be the Caribbean Under-16 competition scheduled for St. Kitts in December.

The beginning of the New Year will see new momentum as the senior national team intensifies its preparation for the Commonwealth Games that begin in Australia in March.

But last Sunday the association was taken up with the closing ceremony of its 2005 Cable & Wireless tournament at the Kingstown Netball Centre.

It was a ceremony that suffered from poor prior publicity which resulted in a relatively low attendance at the event. A late start to the ceremony further devalued the occasion.

The association may have missed out on an opportunity then to cash in on a major fund-raising effort to help defray the cost of participation in the regional and international competitions.

Though an effort at fundraising was made at last Sunday’s closing, a well thought out package to woo returnees from the Diaspora still here for the recent carnival celebrations, would have been better suited.

Sunday’s ceremony was interspersed with brief remarks from President of the SVGNA Doris Mc Intosh, Jennilee Glasgow from the sponsors Cable & Wireless and from Minister of Tourism and Culture, Rene Baptiste, who stood in for Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Clayton Burgin.

Persons attending last Sunday’s event had a chance to see some of this country’s top netballers, who are seeking national representation in the up-coming competitions, on court.

The featured match which involved these perspective selectees, lacked the tenacity and competitiveness, but served as a measure of assessment for national coach Godfrey “Fuzzy” Harry, who watched keenly from the sideline, giving intermittent instructions.

The highlight of the evening though was modelling of uniforms of yesteryear.

A presentation of prizes punctuated the proceedings, which saw the top performers receiving their rewards.

C and R Enterprises Sion Hill won the Division One title and the right to represent SVG at next year’s OECS club tournament.

Dethroned this year at the sub -regional level, Sion Hill also put a lien on the National Workers’ Movement Trophy for beating last year’s division one champion Vita Malt Maple.

NCB triumphed in Division 2A, Roy’s Inn TRAC Division 2B,with Young Ballerz topping Division 3.

The Division 3 winner also captured the Angella King trophy for capturing the knock out.

Central Medical Mitresonics ended at the top of the Under-16 Division.

The youthful outfit under the charge of national captain and centre court ace Dellarice Duncan, was voted the Most Disciplined Team.

Vita Malt Maple retained the Division One Knock out award, receiving the Sylvia Wilson Trophy.

Maple added the Star Garage Trophy to their silverware collection for topping the team shooting competition.

The Vilna Cox Division 2B Knock out trophy was secured by Inter-secondary schools. the schools girls were runner- up in the league competition.

Everready Future Stars won the Division 2A Knock out earning the Gloria Ballantyne trophy.

RSVG Police received two prizes for winning the best- dressed team and best banner awards, won on the opening day of the tournament, March 13.

Tourama Primary School won the award for the team with the best spirit.

The most outstanding player from each of the forty-one teams that participated in the tournament was aptly recompensed.