Kevin Hannaway goes all the way

He was named the 2008 Junior Sportsman of the Year, but that was not enough for 15-year-old Squash player Kevin Hannaway, as he also secured the prestigious award of Sports Personality of the Year, when the National Sports Council held the National Sports Awards last Saturday evening at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.{{more}}

Hannaway got the adjudicators approval over the other winners, in Junior Sportswoman Daneya Charles, Senior Sportswoman Cordel Jack and Senior Sportsman James Bentick.

Hannaway became the second minor to cop local sports’ major award of recognition, following cricketer Alston Bobb’s achievement at the 1998 awards ceremony.

During the year under review, Hannaway dominated his age category at the sub-regional level, then went on to be crowned Under-15 singles champion at the Junior Caribbean Championships in Bermuda.

Hannaway, a third form student at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School and a resident of Paul’s Avenue, told SEARCHLIGHT that he was happy to win the title, but it came as a surprise.

“I feel very good winning it, but I was surprised to be named Sports Personality,” Hannaway stated with a broad grin etched on his face.

“I did not even know the criteria for judging such an award, so that makes it more of a surprise,” he said.

He, however, is grateful for the input by his Coach James Bentick, whom he claims has had a major hand in his quick rise, having only been involved in Squash for the past three years.

“I want to go to the Commonwealth Games, the CAC Games and hopefully the Olympics in 2016, when by then, Squash should become an Olympic sport,” Hannaway advanced.

One who claims he lives a life normal for a 15-year-old, Hannaway wants youngsters at his age and even older than he “to work hard, stay focussed and do not use illicit drugs.”

And on a night when awards were aplenty, Parnell Simon, in charge of the Stubbs Playing Field, was selected as the Groundsman of the Year.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association was voted the Association of the Year. Female basketballer Sophia Young retained her award as the International Sports Personality.

The National Sports Council also recognized the contribution of sports administrators Jules Anthony, Dennisford Foster and Foster Hannibald for their roles in North Leeward, Dauphine and Calliaqua, respectively.

Corporate entities the Central Water and Sewage Authority, Coreas Hazells Inc, through their Pine Hill Dairy products and BMC Agencies, were also honoured for their sponsorship of sporting teams and associations.

Osbourne Browne and Elson Crick were given the Chairman’s awards.

The feature speaker was Justice Adrian Saunders who spoke on the topic- “Sports, a vehicle for building character engendering national pride”.

The 2008 National Sports Awards was held under the theme “Promoting National Wellness through Sports”.