SVG retains Windward Islands School Games title

The inability of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Schools’ team in the annual Windward Islands School Games,{{more}} in the recent past, to win away from home was broken last Sunday when they were declared champions of the 2010 Winlott. Inc. sponsored multi discipline event which was held in St. Lucia.

Last year, St. Vincent and the Grenadines shared the title with Grenada when the Games were staged here, but this time around, the Vincentians went all alone, finishing at the top with 33 points.

The Vincentians were winners in three disciplines: Male and Female Volleyball, Netball and Football.

It was a clean sheet for Football Coach Kendale Mercury who won his second successive title, playing unbeaten for six consecutive matches.

Also attaining this feat of an unbeaten run for two successive years was outgoing Netball Coach Joan Foster- Baynes.

But it was the Vincentians success in Male and Female Volleyball which made the difference.

And, obviously, winning Coach Marlon Williams was delighted at his charges’ achievements, as it was the first occasion on which St. Vincent and the Grenadines was victorious in this discipline.

“I am obviously real excited and (it) was a pay off for hard work by the guys and girls,” Williams told SEARCHLIGHT.

Williams was especially happy about the performance of the females, whom he said were a new look team, while most of the members of the male team from last year were again at his disposal for yet another occasion.

Technical Director of the local squad, Ortis Jack, reiterated to SEARCHLIGHT that the title was determined by the winner of the disciplines in which St. Vincent and the Grenadines was weakest.

“We knew after we had beaten St. Lucia in Volleyball that we were the winners,” Jack told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday morning, soon after part of the contingent returned home.

He said that a lot of work was done on the players’ mental state and making them believe in themselves.

In the other disciplines, St. Vincent and the Grenadines placed third in Female Basketball, fourth in the Male segment and fourth in Track and Field.

Reginald Richardson was Football’s Most Valuable Player, with Mary Ann Frederick receiving that award for Netball. Shanice Daniel was the Vincentians’ MVP for Female Basketball, and Julius Kier was the awardee for Male Basketball.

Daryl Franklyn and Bretisha Gregg were the Female and Male Volleyball MVPs, respectively.

Grenada had to settle for second place, with 31 points.

The Grenadians were triumphant in Track and Field and Female Basketball and were second in Netball, Football and Male Basketball.

Third pace was Dominica, who won Male Basketball, was second in Female Basketball and Track and Field. The Dominicans ended with 25 points.

Host St. Lucia totaled 23 points, gained from placing second in Male and Female Volleyball, third in Track and Field, as well as Netball, Football and Male Basketball.

The 48-member squad along with the eight officials returned home last Tuesday in two batches, having given this country something to smile about in sub regional multi discipline Games.

The 2011 edition, which could see a revamping of the format, is slated for Dominica.