The UWI Sports Department Awards, held on Saturday September 25, 2010 was true demonstration of class and star quality that exists in the University of the West Indies. The event which is held annually is aimed at recognizing individuals and groups who have done exceptionally well in their representation of the various sports which the University participates in over the course of the year. The event held at the Rex Nettleford Dining room commenced at approximately 8:00pm. Various guests representing various sports and offices were in attendance. This was demonstrative of the support that exists for the initiative. This was in addition to the extinguished teams and individuals of the sporting dynasty of the UWI.

The evening's proceedings began with the opening remarks from host, Jeremain Brown of the RJR Communication Group and past student of the University of the West Indies. To open the event he laid out delicate icebreakers and got the audience laughing. As the evening was officially opened, prayer was done. Mr. Dalton Myers presented a detailed review of the year 2010 to 2011 as it related to the accomplishments of the sports department and the athletes despite the many challenges with which this particular unit in the university has been faced. In his report he hailed the netball team and went on to say that they are one of the best in the island. There were also individuals who were noted as having done exceptionally well. Among these were Track and Field's Hansle Parchment and Jason Young. Additionally, what was highlighted was the brilliant UWI UTECH games which first occurred in the year 2010 and as it was an idea from the University of the West Indies, it brought us great pride to have won last year. An even greater pleasure was shared when we won again in 2011. Mr. Dalton Myers highlighted that there are teams who are improving. They are not where they should be but steady improvements are being observed.

The guest speaker made her contribution to evening’s proceedings. Dr. Ivan Gloudon, Trinidad and Tobago High Commission to Jamaica has been involved in many different sports for several years at various levels. As she spoke, she encouraged the awardees based on the theme of the evening which was “Creating Champions and Building Leaders." She permeated the idea to the athletes that though they may be doing well in their various sports at this moment, they should recall that their first priority is education. Also she reminded them of the importance of certain characteristics that would make them good leaders. These include having integrity, the practice of becoming a selfless person and to contribute to the development of the country. On the part of the university, Dr. Gloudon encourages the sport stars of the UWI to approach their administration to let them know who the UWI athletes are and the power that resides in them.

After a wonderful dining experience, the guests and the sporting heroes of the UWI prepared themselves for the announcements of the Awards. The first set of awards was the Intramural Team Awards. Taylor Hall copped the awards for Football in the female category, In Cross Country both the male and female teams were victorious. The males were victorious in football also. The Taylor Hall Female and Male teams took home the award in Hockey. They prized more awards as they went home with the Male Ring Road award, Male Track &Field and Male & Female Volleyball. The Chancellor Hall men took home the awards for Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Lawn Tennis and Table Tennis. The Rex Nettleford Hall seized the awards for Female Badminton, Female Lawn Tennis, Netball, Female Table Tennis and Male and Female swimming. Mary Seacole Hall took home the awards for female track and field and ring road, while Irvin Hall scaled the award for female basketball.

The awards for most outstanding performance were in Track and Field-Sports Day to Renae Reid in the female category and Delroy Salmon in the male category. Renae Reid was the Mary Seacole Sports Representative for the period 2010-2011. She won gold on sports day 100m, 200m 400by100 at record time and 4by400m which made her the champion female for the third consecutive year. Delroy Salmon of Taylor Hall was the winner of the long jump and 3rd in high Jump.

Groups who have supported the Sports Department with sponsorship were also awarded early in the evening. The Carimed Distributors Limited Team was acknowledged as a corporate sponsor. Awards for National Representation went to Chadwick Walton and Simon Jackson in Cricket, Malysha Kelly from Netball, Shenique Claire from Table Tennis, Jowayne Hibbert, Hansle Parchment and Jason Young from Track and Field.

At the event there were individuals who were awarded for their excellence in their various sports on an individual level. They are as followed:

In the Category of “Special Awards” Hansle Parchment was again awarded for his exceptional performance at the World University Games, held in Shenzen China. Winning at 13.24 seconds the 3^RD fastest time ever recorded by a Jamaican athlete in 110M hurdles. Jason Young was also awarded for his performance at the CAC Championships, World University Games in Shenzen China with his winning times 20.43 seconds for Gold at the CAC and 20.59 seconds for silver at the World University Games. Malysha Kelly competed at the world Netball Championships in Singapore and she came out at the fourth place finisher. Andrae Bernal an U23 Football Qualifier at the Qualifying Round held in Belize scored 3 goals and the team finished third. Anthony Grant another of the popular names at the UWI Sports Department Awards, was awarded for his representation at the KSAFA Major League Competition as he was the leading goals scorer with a total of 19 goals. At the Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships the UWI 4×100m team was victorious with a record time of 39.60 seconds a record previously held by the UTECH Team.

In the Category of Premier Awards Davida Dixon was awarded the Sports Director’s Award. She has been working with the sports department for over three years and has stood out in her endeavors. Gary Mahfood was awarded the Coach of the Year for leading his team to win the intercollegiate rugby, while Rashid Hall and Sherry Edwards were acknowledged as joint employees of the year.

In the category that many were looking toward, the Athlete of the year in the female went to Malysha Kelly. Malysha represented the UWI Netball Team as Captain which placed 1st in the Intercollegiate Division 1 competition and 5th in the JNA Super League. She was also a representative of Jamaica at the World Netball Championships, where the team finished fourth. Malysha is unquestionably worthy of the title, Athlete of the Year.

Then in the male Category, Hansle Parchment proved himself again. Hansle represented the UWI at several local track meets and was crowned Intercollegiate 110m Hurdles Champion. He set a new record of 13.60 seconds at the Gibson’ s relay to win the event and excelled at other international represented proving himself as number one. We congratulate our awardees and wish them well for the upcoming season.  

At the end of the evening “The Sports Awards” demonstrated the ability that exists within the domain of the University of the West Indies and even more so the talented men and women who have proven themselves to be of high class and quality both at the local and international levels. The ladies and gentlemen came out charming and elegant and proved our ability not just to be competitive and aggressive on the courts track and fields but also they are able in whatever situation to rise to the occasion. The UWI sports awards is the place to be to see past, present and future top class qualities at various levels in sports.

Sport Writer

Olivia Carter