People who didn’t take part in the workshop not allowed to participate

The Executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA) was not bluffing when it insisted that Netball units form themselves into clubs for the 2009 Digicel National Club Tournament, which opened last Sunday afternoon at the Kingstown Netball Centre (KNC).{{more}}

However, this ruling has been relaxed for units emerging out of the school system, as well as those coming on the scene for the first time.

President of the SVGNA, Doris Mc Intosh, who has been pontificating and sermonizing for the past three years on the need to limit participation in the national competition to clubs, made this exception known to SEARCHLIGHT last Sunday.

“It is an on going process,” Mc Intosh said.

As part of the process, the SVGNA held a series of one-day workshops spanning several Saturdays, to get teams up to speed with the inner workings of a bona fide sports club.

Mc Intosh disclosed: “People who did not take part in the workshop also were not allow to participate in the tournament.”

She revealed that some teams who had been regular participants, fell by the wayside because of her Executive’s stance.

“Some teams came, took registration forms, but did not return them, as some could not get a sponsor,” said Mc Intosh, who, in accordance with the SVGNA’s Constitution is serving her last year at the helm of that organization.

Mc Intosh disclosed that for the time being, matches in the Tournament will be played at the KNC, as there is an outstanding amount owed to the National Sports Council for the use of the Arnos Vale Netball Complex, from last year’s tournament.

The Netball boss said that once that is cleared up, matches will be fixtured at the Arnos Vale venue.

In the usual display of colours, most of the thirty-seven registered teams turned up for Sunday’s March Past.

Splendid in their attire, the women, on the day which marked International Women’s Day, marched from the Victoria Park to the KNC, to the sweet strains of the C.W. Prescod Primary School Bum Drum orchestra, following which the Opening Ceremony took place.

Addresses came from President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Doris Mc Intosh, Director of Physical Education and Sports, Nelson Hillocks and representative of Digicel, Jerry George.

One minute’s silence was also observed as a mark of respect for the passing of the late sports administrator, Larry Bascombe.

Standard Shippers Falcon won the award for the best banner, with NCB Valley Netters, the best dressed team on show.

Vita Malt Maple, which has been around for 57 years, and is the oldest Netball Club in the OECS, returns as double crowned champion, having won the League and Knock Out titles in last year’s tournament.

Maple, in a dry run last Sunday, edged out the powerful merger of Western Union Mitres TRAC, 54-52, in an exhibition match that kept the packed pavilion of spectators on their feet.

Once again, the Division One race should be a straight fight between the two, with Twilight Trading X-ceed and NCB Valley Netters, the outsiders.

Maple will be this country’s flag bearer at the OECS Champion of Champions Club Competition, which is set for Nevis later this year.

Like Maple, French Verandah X-Ceed doubled up as they won the Division 3 league and knock out titles.

Standard Shippers Falcons won Division 2A of the league in 2008 and Bop Clinchers Division secured Division 2B.