Athletes To Be Honoured At Sport Awards
Time is winding down toward Saturday’s [6.30 p.m., November 24, 2018] initial installment of the Sport Bermuda Magazine Awards at Ruth Seaton James Center for Performing Arts, which is due to deliver grateful memories of sporting days past with eyes toward the creation of new moments of success to be remembered.
The likes of Eldon Raynor, of cricket and Cup Match glory, Peter Bromby, perhaps the island’s best ever match-race sailor and former STAR boat class Olympian, John Morbey and Lisa Blackburn, swimmers extraordinaire, and king of soccer Earl [Townsey] Russell are just a few of the 70-plus people to be honoured as significant contributors to sport, including all sports that are sanctioned by the Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA] and a few more not on their list.
Sports and music often make complimentary partners and in this regards Olivia Hamilton of Bermuda Idol fame and The Brothers — formerly the Euphonics — scheduled to perform their hits, while top island comedian Bootsie is due to co-host and offer his version of ‘My Way’, in honour of Calvin [Bummy] Symonds, the night’s highest awardee, and could even bring along alter ego ‘Papa Sporty’.
The event is organised by Sport Bermuda Magazine owner/operator Mark [Burger] Jennings, who has assembled around him on the event committee some legends not named to this year’s list, including Joe L. Brown of radio play-by-play fame — and who will co-host with Bootsie on the night — St. George’s Cup Match wicket-keeper of brilliant days passed Dennis Wainright, as well as Herman [Butch] Smith and sports-writer Patrick Bean.
“We want to honour the memories and contributions of our sports leaders and legends while they are here among us rather than memorialize them after,” said Jennings, himself an accomplished goalkeeper in his playing days having attended university on a soccer scholarship and progressed to the pro ranks and retired into coaching after returning home to finish his career. “However, we will also have a moment to posthumously honour the deceased during a ‘Ringing -of-the-Bell’ segment of the ceremony.
“Everyone has their favourites among the many athletes Bermuda has produced over the years and we want to hail as many as we can each year and have this as an annual event on the sporting calendar.”
Jennings noted as some of his favourites being David Lambert in tennis, golf stalwart Keith Pearman, John [Buddy] Ford the cyclist and multi-discipline sportsman Ed Sherlock, who was particularly outstanding at road running.
He was also keen to voice appreciation for the night’s sponsors in supporting his vision, which will also see part proceeds from the night going to aid the efforts of the Extended Care Unit at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
“Personally, I’m urging all sports fans to come out and see, probably for the first time, all of these greats of sport gathered together in one place,” said Jennings, who noted how many of the positive relationships he has today came through sports, particularly team sports. “We’re thankful to our sponsors for supporting us who include Island Construction Services, Butterfield and Vallis, Central Diagnostic Laboratories, Medical House, Mr. Chicken, The Pro Shop the Esso City Tigermarket, John Barritt and Sons and Security Associates.”
Tickets for the ceremony are available at a cost of $50 and available at The Pro Shop and ESSO City Tigermarket — both in the City of Hamilton, as well as at the door. The night will also feature a food and drink buffet starting during the ‘half-time’ intermission.
Following is the full list of awards:
The Sport Bermuda Magazine Awards
- The Lifetime Achievement Award — Calvin “Bummy” Symonds
- The Dudley Eve Sports Administration Award — Donald Dane
- The W.F ‘Chummy” Hayward Award — Charles Marshall
- The Humanitarian Award — Jim Butterfield
Track & Field
- Debbie Jones-Hunter
- Brian Wellman
Road Running
- Ed Sherlock
- Debbie Butterfield
Tennis
- Bruce Sims
- David Lambert
- Donna Bradshaw
Golf
- Keith Smith
- Keith Pearman
Motor Cross
- Chris Shanks
- Colin Emery
Softball
- Winston “J.R.” Jones
- Ellen-Kate Horton
Cycling
- John “Buddy” Ford
- Greg Hopkins
Squash
- Denise Kyme
- Eddie Kyme
Karting
- Scott Barnes
- Jason North
Powerboats
- Larry Robinson
- W.J. “Andy” Stoneham
Swimming
- John Morbey
- Lisa Blackburn
Cricket
- Noel Gibbons
- Eldon Raynor
- Alfred “Fleas” Hall
- John Stovell
- Leroy “Tubby” Richardson
Football
- Earl “Townsey” Russell
- Glen “Gappa” Wade
- Kenneth Randolph Horton
- Gary Darrell
Body Building
- Clifford Looby
- Melanie DeRosa
Field Hockey
- Lisa Rawlins
- Lisa Desilva
Gymnastics
- Laura Murphy
- Leila Wadson
Martial Arts
- Skipper Ingham
- Al Wharton
Billiards/Pool/Snooker
- Gary Bascome
- Stephen Bremar
Darts
- Barry DeCouto
- Johnny Adams
Table Tennis
- Dexter Smith
- Dennis Pearman
Boxing
- Clarence Hill
- Troy Darrell
Bowling
- HattieAnn Gilbert
- Quinton Hayward
Sailing
- Peter Bromby
- Stevie Dickinson
Netball
- Carol Bean
- Valerie Dill
- Merle Parfitt
- Marva Trott
Harness Racing
- Edward Roque
- Michael DeCosta
Equestrian
- Paul Pereech
- Mary Jane Tumbridge
Rugby
- Gareth Davies
- Derek Hurdle
Basketball
- Tim Trott
- Chris Crumpler
Badminton
- Junius Durrant
- Harold Minors
Sport Fishing
- Quinton Butterfield
- John Barnes
There is a total of 30 sports, with 68 prizewinners.
There are four major awards [Lifetime Achievement; Administration; Chummy Hayward; Humanitarian] with one winner each as noted at the beginning
