Ballantyne disappointed

After not being nominated by Team Athletics SVG for a couple of years, Pamenos Ballantyne returned in contention for the 2008 National Sports Council’s National Sports Awards Ceremony which was staged last Saturday night at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.{{more}}

But he left the venue a disappointed man, as he thought he deserved at least the title Senior Sportsman of the Year.

Ballantyne was a finalist, along with Squash player James Bentick and Steve Ollivierre of the SVG Automobile Association. Bentick got the nod of approval from judges Kendall Durrant, Woodrow Williams, Jacintha Ballantyne and Cyril Doyle.

“My record is there to show. I am disappointed. I expected to win,” Ballantyne told SEARCHLIGHT by telephone last Monday evening from Point Fortin in Trinidad and Tobago, where he is training for regional Meets and the upcoming inaugural Caribbean Games.

A confident Ballantyne returned to the state specially for last Saturday’s ceremony as he thought he was the obvious choice in that category.

“It was one of my better years by far,” an irate Ballantyne opined.

Pointing to some of his major achievements in 2008, Ballantyne said: “I broke the record in the Anguilla Half Marathon. I won the Barbados Marathon, beating Kenyan Samuel Nurithi. I won the OECS 10K and the Caricom 10K.”

Running mainly in Trinidad and Tobago, Ballantyne won the Rainbow, Sugar Energy, Marabella, Kiss and San Fernando 5K’s.

A win in the Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago underscored his control of that country’s 10K road races.

Also in the twin island republic, Ballantyne captured the Granny Luccess and Kiss 15K’s. He added the Oil Field Workers Trade Union Uriah “Buzz” Butler 20K to his list of winnings.

On the track in T&T, Ballantyne secured first places in the 5000m at the Hampton, Falcon and Southern Games, and was first in the 1500m at the Palo Seco Games.

Not one to hide his feelings, Ballantyne, always a controversial figure, stated: “I am not a judge, but look at my record compared to Bentick”.

During 2008, Bentick won the over 40’s singles title at the Southern Caribbean Squash Championships in Guyana. At the same event he placed fourth in the Open Category.

On the local scene, Bentick retained the national singles title for the eighth occasion and continued his reign at the OECS level.

Ballantyne, a previous winner of the Sportsman of the Year title, has also been named this country’s Sports Personality of the Year on four occasions, including a hat trick, from 1999 to 2001. (RT)

Criteria for Senior Sportsman of the Year