Bentick completes beaver trick at Sports Awards

National Men’s Squash champion James Bentick has emulated long distance athlete Pamenos Ballantyne’s record of achieving three consecutive titles of Senior Sportsman of the Year.{{more}}

Bentick completed his third lien on the title last Saturday night at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, when the National Sports Council held its 2008 review of recognition for sporting excellence.

He got the nod over Ballantyne and automobile race driver Steve Ollivierre, who were the other finalists. In the process, he stretched his awards to four in a row. Bentick was adjudged the 2005 Coach of the Year.

During 2008, Bentick won the over 40’s singles title at the Southern Caribbean Squash Championships in Guyana. At the same event he placed fourth in the Open Category.

On the local scene, Bentick retained the national singles title for the eighth occasion and continued his reign at the OECS level.

Jack gets compensation

The all-round ability of female cricketer Cordel Jack has landed her the title of Senior Sportswoman for 2008.

Jack beat finalists Rugby player Malone Gardener and footballer Kandice Franklyn in the showdown. On the back of some good performances at the local level, Jack was awarded for scoring most runs at the 2008 Women’s competition. Jack scored 112 runs and finished with the healthy average of 112. Jack also recorded the highest Individual score, 96 not out.

Jack was the highest wicket taker and recorded the best bowling analysis.

Jack has played for St Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001. An off spin bowler and right-hand bat, she was selected for West Indies Under 23s in 2004, and earned her call-up to the full international side for the World Cup in South Africa in March 2005.

She, despite scoring two half centuries in the regional competition in St. Lucia last year, did not find favour with the selectors on the trip to Sri Lanka.

However, Jack was part of the West Indies team that journeyed to Australia last month for the Women’s four year World Cup showpiece.

Mercury rises to the top

National Male Under-20 Football Coach Kendale Mercury was adjudged the 2008 Coach of the Year, an award he sees as just reward for his hard work.

Mercury successfully saw his team maintain their unbeaten run in the second round of the Caribbean Zone of the CONCACAF Qualifiers to this year’s World Cup in Egypt.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines at that stage had to ward off challenges from St. Kitts and Nevis and the Netherlands Antilles.

As technical shepherd, he also guided the team on a tour the USA, after being with the team for a very short period.

A holder of a UEFA B Coaching Licence as well as Level Ones in Goal Keeping and Children’s, Mercury is looking upwards for greater achievements and certifications.

Charles follows up

Daneya Charles maintained Tennis’ hold on the title of Junior Sportswoman of the Year, following Halima Michael’s win at the 2007 Awards Ceremony.

Charles got the judges’ approval over the two other finalists in middle distance athlete Nadia Delplesche and netballer Mary Ann Frederick.

A third-form student of the Girls’ High School, Charles is at the top of her game here, winning several local singles titles, dominating her age group. Included in her list were the Girls’ Under-14 and Under-16 titles, and teaming up with Michael, she won the Girls’ Under-14 Doubles of the C. K Greaves First Caribbean International Bank Junior Tennis Tournament. She also gave a good account of herself in the regional Tennis Circuit.