Colleen Griffith, a member of the Barbados Workers Union tour team, was on Sunday presented with a plaque by general secretary Sir Roy Trotman in recognition of being selected to the Barbados senior team. (Picture by Sherrylyn A. Clarke.)

by Sherrylyn A. Clarke

The Barbados Workers Union (BWU) Netball Competition may soon be joining the list of competitions on the calendar produced by the International Netball Association (IFNA).

That's because Annette Beckett, president of the Barbados Netball Association (BNA), has appealed to IFNA to recognise the island's premier out-of-season netball tournament which is now in its 27th year.

"Representation has been made that this tournament be part of the International Federation's calendar of events. This has been done primarily because of the outstanding improvement in the organisation, in the play, in the whole attitude," Beckett told the audience at the opening ceremony on Sunday evening at the Netball Stadium.

She said the tournament ranked "very high with many other international and national tournaments".

In his remarks, BWU general-secretary Sir Roy Trotman, lauded the parents and teams which encouraged children as young as primary school age to be part of the competition.

"We try through sport to get across that message that we are all members of one large Barbadian family, a family that needs to understand when one is hurting, all the other of us should feel the pain.

"We want you to use this sport, to use this BWU to learn to become members of this greater family of what we call Barbados and what we are moving forward to call CARICOM Single Market and Economy," Sir Roy said.

"Use sport to show that you are a person of dignity and integrity, capable of holding any job or any position and when you travel hold that same integrity so that people look to you as an ambassador."

President Hugh Arthur continued his annual theme of discipline and told the participants to "play to win, but play your matches as if you believe God was among the spectators".

Several prizes and awards were also given out. Among the recipients were Andrea Puckerin, Shelly Weekes, Lavern Durant, Rosalyn Davis and Heather Belle who have more than three tours with the BWU netball team, while Colleen Griffith received a plaque for being selected to the Barbados senior national team.

Brydens V8 Splash were named the best team on parade, with Trimart REV Squad second and Tropic Ice Newbury Ballers third. Trimart also received the award for best displayed banner.

This year, 26 teams are taking part in the BWU competition in three zones.