Tribute to a fine cricketer: Vincent Kellson Cato

Fri May 2, 2014

I join Stalwart members of the cricketing fraternity, especially Mike Findlay, Osborne Browne and Elson Crick, who previously paid glowing tributes to the late Vincent Kellson Cato, a former national cricketer of fine repute.

In 1971, he was included in a 13-member team to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines against the formidable Dominica cricket team. The full team in batting order was Douglas Haynes, Julian Jack, Selwyn Allen, Vibert Bute, Mike Findlay (Captain), Colville Browne, Sparrow Duncan, Zepton Greaves, O’Neal Bonadie, Fred Trimmingham and Myron Ambris. Cato and Albert “Ziggy”Tannis played as 12th and 13th man respectively.

Vin Cato, as he was popularly known in cricketing circles here, was officially capped in 1972, the year in which the colourful Arnos Vale playing field was established. It was at his debut playing field that he became the first Vincentian cricketer during the 1972 Windward Islands tournament to register a towering six between the midwicket and long on boundaries.{{more}} Cato was a lower order batsman who occupied the no 7 slot. Reliability in difficult batting circumstances and a no-nonsense approach, blended with an aggressive attitude towards any bowling line- up were ventable characteristics of the late Vin Cato. In his heyday as a cricketer, he thrilled spectators with his powerful striking of the bull. Vin was a clever medium pace bowler who was capable of breaking any batting partnership that appeared threatening. Cato’s career as a national cricketer culminated circa 1974-75. Although his career was relatively short, he left a legacy of being a fine cricketer. In his hometown of Georgetown, he was a mentor to younger generations of cricketers. One of his offspring, Jomo Toney, is a talented cricketer who plays for Radcliffe 1 in the RBTT premiere division. Cato’s innings closed at 63. He was laid to rest last Saturday, April 19th at the Chili cemetery in Georgetown, following a colourful church service at the Holy Trinity Parish Church.

Tribute to a fine cricketer

By Patmos Richards