2010 local sporting highlights reel

2010 was another year of mediocrity, both on and off the field of play.

But amidst the lack luster performances and representation, Natasha Mayers’ gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in India in October was undoubtedly the stand out achievement.{{more}}

Mayers was eventually awarded the gold medal in the Women’s 100 m. She originally placed third, but through two disqualifications, she was elevated to the top spot.

In the process, Mayers became the first Vincentian Track athlete to gain a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Her victory is ours to savour, despite the circumstances.

The retention of the Senior Windward Islands Cricket title in Grenada earlier this month can be seen as a reward for a sport that is not doing enough to enhance its image, nor do they have a structured approach towards players’ development.

Additionally, repeating the feat of clearing the winning jinx was this country’s Inter Schools’ team, which won the Windward Islands School Games.

Most significant, though, was the copping of the male and female Volleyball titles. Especially so for a sport that has had difficulty in gaining a foothold in the minds of Vincentians, especially the youngsters.

This sport, like many others, has no place to call home, and only a few administrators willing to steel their resolve and not cave in when things get rough.

To those who soldiered on, at least it was a reward for perseverance.

Similarly, the copping of the Windward Islands Senior Basketball Competition in July gave the sport a lift from the doldrums.

The local lads were retaining a title in a competition which was last staged in 1999.

The triumph came as the local association struggled to keep its head from going under. Of note, too, several of the players in the 2010 set up, were also part of the 1999 squad, which further emphasizes the lack of advancement in the sport.

However, the Bequia Basketball Association continues to provide the others with a template for success.

Netball, like other national sports, was locked in the decline mode. However, the elevation of Godfrey Harry to the post of President was one of the administrative highlights.

Harry became the first male in the modern local organizational structure of Netball to head the sport. His achievement will not be overlooked by the 2010 local package of the highlights reel.

The sporting year must be remembered for the watershed period of hosting regional and international competitions.

2010 saw no fewer than ten events being hosted during the course of the year.

Coming our way was the hosting of part of the group stage of the Caribbean Football Union’s club championships, in which Avenues United was the local representative.

Additionally, St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosted Group B of the Digicel Caribbean Cup, involving Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This country feasted in an unprecedented way, playing host to three One Day Internationals between West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Cricket also got more than its full share, as the inaugural Windwards T/20 competition landed here, so, too, did the Windwards Under-19 competition.

The Senior West Indies Women’s Cricket 50 over Competition also took place here.

Pakistan A and West Indies A were engaged in two unofficial test matches.

In Netball, the OECS Under-23 competition was the task of the Netball officials here to ensure it came off.

This year, too, St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosted, for the first time, the Caribbean Area Squash Associations Senior Championships.

Again, despite the challenges of sponsorship, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association got the nod for hosting the International Tennis Federation Junior Tennis Tournament.

But the year did not see the complete removal of the Mound at the Sion Hill Playing Field.