Several sportsmen and sports clubs from the Pinelands community were honoured on Thursday night during a presentation and awards ceremony at the Almond Bay Restaurant.
The event, hosted by the Hamilton Lashley Human Development Foundation (HLHDF) and held under the patronage of the Barbados Youth Action Programme (BYAP), rewarded athletes from the community who performed exceptionally during the year.
Mario Harte of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme won the coveted Most Outstanding Footballer award, for his work in helping BDFSP win the Digicel Premier League title.
Pinelands football coach Christopher King took home the award for Coach Of The Year after guiding them to the Division 1 title, and promotion to next season’s Premier League.
Ivan “Speed” Forde and Anthony “Zorro” Bonnet were recipients of Lifetime Achievement awards for their significant contributions to sports in the community.
The Tudor Bridge Bombers also received an award for their performance in the Barbados Football Association’s Third Division competition where they topped the Victor “Gas” Clarke Zone.
In one of the highlights of the night, Glyne Clarke, manager of Olympic Operations of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), said he would award a scholarship to any coach or player from the HLHDF to do further training or courses with his organization.
Parliamentarian for St Michael West Central, James Paul, in the feature address, urged those in attendance to continue to strive hard.
He warned the athletes that nothing came on a silver platter.
“We want to take you to a higher level, and we want to see you succeed.
“This is why sports are so important, because it becomes that instrument by which you can ascend to higher heights,” Paul stated.
“We have to educate our young people that life does not come on a silver platter, and that if you have people that are prepared to walk with you, and guide you, then those are good people to have in your company.”
First Secretary at the Chinese Embassy in Barbados, Lianchun Yang, presented uniforms to some of the sporting clubs.
