NEVER MEASURE SUCCESS simply through winning, says Vaneisha Cadogan of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

That was the advice given by Cadogan, who is also secretary of the Barbados Netball Association (BNA), to teams gathered at the Netball Stadium for the recent official opening ceremony of the annual National Sports Council (NSC)/BICO-sponsored Primary Schools Football and Pinehill Dairy-sponsored Primary Schools Netball Tournaments.

"I want to challenge you today to measure your success a little differently, because at the end of the tournament only one team can be the overall winner.

" So measure your success in different ways. The first thing you need to do is to set goals. If last year you won four out of your six games, you can decide that this year you want to win five out of six.

"Or if you score more than five goals that would be success. You would have avoided feeling a sense of loss and under-achievement in the event that your school is not the overall winner at the end of the tournament.

"So I challenge you, enjoy your successes along the way and do not measure your success at the end result of this competition," Cadogan cautioned.

In his feature address NSC deputy chairman Erskine Simmons said he was very impressed by the teams at the opening ceremony and lauded sponsors BICO and Pinehill Dairy for their continued sponsorship of the competitions.

He echoed Cadogan's sentiments and encouraged the youngsters to play their individual sport hard, but fair. He added that at their age enjoyment of sports should take priority over winning.

BICO representative Debbie Lawrence and Pine Hill Dairy's Denise Morgan pledged their company's continued support to the development of the young athletes through their sponsorship.

Also attending the ceremony were BNA president, Octavia Gibson, who declared the netball competition officially open, and Charles Husbands, general secretary of the Barbados Football Association, who got the football tournament on its way.

Among the teams copping awards were Belmont Primary who were adjudged Best Netball Team On Parade, with Westbury Primary taking second position.

Westbury Primary were adjudged Best Football Team On Parade, with Christ Church Boys' taking second place.

The Best Banner award went to Holy Innocent Primary, with St Stephen's Primary taking second position.