A SUCCESSFUL SPORTING MISSION.

That's the report card assessment from chef de mission Craig Archer on Barbados' performance at the 20th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games held jointly in Colombia and Santo Domingo.

Barbados captured a record 19 medals, way above the eight they collected at both the 1998 Games in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and the 2002 meet in El Salvador.

"This was our best performance by some distance. We are obviously delighted. The mood in the camp was very upbeat from the start and I am very pleased with the overall performance.

"The swimmers were outstanding and delivered all of our gold medals, and there were firsts in squash and archery. But this was about more than medals. There were some personal bests and the shattering of Barbados records," he said.

Speaking from Cartegena yesterday evening, Archer made special mention of hearing-impaired swimmer Marsha Watson, who lowered her time in the 50-metre freestyle, and Shane DeFreitas, who did personal bests in archery.

"I am happy with the discipline the contingent exhibited in the village and at the competition site. The contingent was focused and went about their business in a professional manner. Everyone has left with a sense of achievement and many fond memories," he added.

Neckles and Ally have joined an exclusive club of Barbadians who have won gold at the CAC Games. The list now have seven names, the first being the late Patsy Callender who won the high jump gold at the 1966 Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The others are weightlifter William Maynard (1974), 100-metre champ Obadele Thompson (1998), match sprint cycling champ Barry Forde (1998) and boxing light-heavyweight champ Shawn Terry Cox (2002).

The women's hockey team secured the final medal for Barbados when they rolled over arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in the third-place play-off in Santo Domingo last Saturday, spearheaded by two strikes from Allison Haynes.

Vice-captain Tricia-Ann Greaves scored in the third minute, Haynes provided a field goal in the 14th, and made a penalty corner conversion two minutes later, while Charlia Warner tapped in the final goal for Barbados, who led 4-1 at half-time.

However, the bronze was not enough to earn them a qualifying spot for next year's Pan Am Games in Brazil, with berths for only the top two: winners Cuba and silver medallists Netherland Antilles.

The men's hockey team, silver medallists in El Salvador four years ago, had to settle for fifth this time. Neil Franklin scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 victory over Venezuela in their play-off clash last Friday. Franklin got on the scoresheet in the 16th, 39th and 61st minutes. Cuba won gold and Trinidad and Tobago, silver.

Cuba led the medals table with a total of 285 – 138 gold, 86 silver and 61 bronze. Barbados were ninth in the standings.

Several of the Barbados team members returned home last night and the others will do so tonight.