ASCO netball competition shoots off

The race for the top honours in the 2004 Ashburton Sports and Cultural Organisation (ASCO) netball tournament began earlier this week.

The tournament which is into its 13th year, was ushered in, last Sunday afternoon,at the Gomea Methodist School Hard Court, with an impressive and colourful Opening Ceremony. {{more}} Eighteen of the twenty three registered teams participated in the March Past. In this segment of the ceremony, Bop Clinchers walked away with both the Best Dressed and Best Banner Awards. Sandwiching the adjudication of these awards and the march past of teams, were addresses from President of ASCO Denisford Foster, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association, Doris McIntosh and Minister of Education Youth and Sports, Mike Browne.

Mc Intosh implored players and officials to take the tournament seriously, as it provides a training ground for next year’s national clubs championships.

She also urged teams to become full fledged clubs and informed that her association will be granting assistance in this respect.

McIntosh said that her association is thinking seriously of not accepting teams/clubs into the National Championships without practising umpires and management structure.

Browne, in dual capacity as parliamentary representative for the area commended ASCO for its longevity of service. He echoed to the community, McIntosh’s sentiments of teams forming themselves into clubs.

The tournament is expected to last for four months and will see competition in division A, Division B and an Under-16 category.

Flamingoes won the Division A league title last year, with Crystals One copping the Knock-Out segment.

Nice Radio Pine Hill Dairy Clinchers return as 2003 champions of the B Division. The Knock out phase of this Division was taken last year by Vets Sports Club. M’PESCO Two and Crystals Two were the league and knock out champions respectively in last year’s Under-16 category.