National Sports Awards set for February 10

“And, the winner is …”

That will be the sentence that will keep the nominees in high expectation on the night of the 2006 National Sports Awards, set for the Peace Memorial Hall, February 10.

The nominations are in and it is left to the panel of Isaac Solomon, Genita Lewis, Horace Lewis, St. Clair Bramble and Peggy Ince-Hull to adjudicate the winners in the various categories.{{more}}

But this year’s ceremony will see the announcement of a new category- the International athlete of the year.

The new category caters for Vincentian athletes who represent international clubs but not St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

And it will be the organising committee of the ceremony who will determine the winner of this category.

While one category has been added, one has been dropped.

The Best Sports Story of the year, introduced at the 2004 ceremony will no longer be judged, however the awards for the Sports Journalist of the year and the Sports Photograph of the year, ensure that those who bring the events to the public are recognised.

The awards for sporting excellence for the past 12 months will be judged in the categories of Junior Sportswoman of the year, Junior Sportsman of the year, Senior Sportswoman of the year and the Senior Sportsman of the year.

In addition, the Coach of the year and Sports Association of the year will be highlighted for their exemplary achievements.

Returning to the fold is the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association, after deliberately opting out of the 2005 ceremony.

But most of the athletes will be after the prestigious award of Sports Personality of the year, won for the fourth time in 2005 by long distance athlete Pamenos Ballantyne.

Ballantyne copped this award in 1999, 2000 and 2001. His hat-trick followed cricketer Alston Bobb’s triumph in 1998. Another cricketer, Olanzo Jackson secured the 2002 title, NBA basketballer Adonal Foyle copped the 2003 award and sprint athlete US -based Natasha Mayers collected the 2004 glory.

The National Sports Council will also give recognition to outstanding individuals as well as two corporate entities.

To be held under the theme “Pride and Patriotism in Sports”, Feature Speaker former national sprint athlete, lawyer and sports enthusiast Andrew Cummings will address the audience on “Linking Sports with Education”.