WE salute and say thank you to all our male athletes, past and present as we celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of our Independence from Britain.
Apart from the annul sports awards and a hand full of national sports federation honouring and recognizing their respective male athletes, we need to let it be known to these loyal sons, who wrote their names in our history books, that we make no idle boast about the pride and glory they brought to Fair Helen even under trying times.
As customary, The VOICE takes a look at some firm craftsmen of our fate who have been strict guardians of our sporting heritage from 1979 to present.
Born on December 20th, 1983 in the village of Micoud, Daren Sammy became the first Saint Lucian cricketer to play Test cricket for the West Indies. He made his debut against England on June 7th 2007 and in the process he picked up 7 wickets for 66 runs.
In 2004 he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh and in 2010 he was appointed Test captain.
In 2012, Saint Lucians stood still when Sammy scored his maiden Test century, 106 against England at Manchester.
Sammy is a two time ICC T20 World Cup winning captain (2012 against Sri Lanka was West Indies’ first major trophy in 8 years, the second world cup win came in 2016 versus England).
The right hand batsman played 38 Tests, scored 1323 runs at an average of 21.68. bowling figures; he picked up 84 wickets at an average of 35.79. He also played 126 ODIs, scored 1871 runs with a highest score of 89 at an average of 24.94, he also picked up 81 wickets at an average of 47.54, and while in T20s he played 68 matches, scored 582 at an average of 17.26 and took 44 wickets at an average of 25.36.
He is an eight time winner of senior Sportsman of the Year (2001, 2003-2004, 2007-2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, he also captured the Junior title in 2001.
It must be noted that in July of 2016, the Beausejour Cricket Ground (BCG) was renamed the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG).
Apart from the West Indies, Sammy represented the following teams world-wide: Brampton Wolves, Glamorgan, Hobart Hurricanes, Kings XI Punjab, Northern Windward Islands, Nottinghamshire, Peshawar Zalmi, Rajshahi Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia Zouks, Stanford Superstars, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Toronto Nationals, University of West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI, Windward Islands, World-XI.
One of Saint Lucia’s aspiring male athlete, Jayhan Odlum – Smith continues to create a big splash in the pool; he is a former student of the Corinth Secondary School and is currently attending the Azura Swim School in Florida on a FINA scholarship as he is in pursuit to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Jayhan is very discipline and is deserving of this opportunity as he looks to advance in the sport of swimming; he is also the Saint Lucia Aquatic Federation (SLAF) Junior Swimmer for the Year 2019.
SLAF President, Eddie Hazel said, Jayhan has received a huge opportunity given to him on a golden plate; he now has to run with it”.
His mother, Jackie Odlum Smith who is also his biggest fan said, “It’s a great opportunity for him; he has worked very hard over the last year with his eyes set on Tokyo. It will give him the chance to train with swimmers that have the same focus and goal”.
He is now competing in the 18 and over category. Last weekend, he set three age group/ national records, 50 metre fly in a time of 24.86; 100 metres fly in a time of 56.20 seconds and 200 metres fly in 2 minutes 15.21 seconds.
Saint Lucia has produced male Olympians in the persons of: Ivan Jn Marie (1996 Atlanta/USA),Maxwell Seales (1996 Atlanta/ USA),Dominic Johnson (1996 Atlanta/USA; 2002 Sydney/ Australia; (2008 Beijing/ China); Maxime Charlemagne (1996 Atlanta/ USA); Michael Green (1996 Atlanta/ USA); Ronald Promesse (2002 Sydney/ Australia); Jamie Peterkin (2002 Sydney/Australia); Zepherinus Joseph (2004 Athens/ Greece), Darvin Edward (2012 London); Jahvid Best and Jordan Augier (2016 Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil).
Outstanding Senior Sportsmen have been: 1979 nil; 1980 George Belrose Table Tennis; 1981 Canice Louis – Cricket; 1982 Ignatius Cadet – Cricket; nil; 1983 Teddy Matthew – Table Tennis; 1984 Vernon Lewis -Tennis; 1985 Daniel Louis – Cycling; 1986 Julian Charles – Cricket; 1987 Guy Lawrence – Boxing; 1988 Desmond Collymore – Cricket; 1989 Anthony Fessal – Athletics.
1990 Brain Stephens – Cricket; 1991 Vernon Lewis – Tennis; 1992 Vernon Lewis – Tennis; 1993 Victor Ledgers Athletics; 1994 Ronaldson Auguste – Bodybuilding; 1995 Victor Ledgers – Athletics; 1996- Nil; 1997 Julian Felix- Bodybuilding; 1998 Julian Felix- Bodybuilding; 1999 Dominic Johnson – Athletics.
2000 Dominic Johnson -Athletics; 2001 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2002 Dominic Johnson – Athletics; 2003 – Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2004 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2005 Davin Edward – Athletics; 2006 – Zephrinus Joseph – Athletics; 2007 -2008 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2009 Zephrinus Joseph – Athletics.
2010 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2011 Darvin Edward – Athletics; 2012 Daren Sammy – Cricket,; 2013 Johnson Charles – Cricket; 2013 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2015 – Jordan Augier – Swimming; 2016 – Johnson Charles; Cricket; 2017-2019 Albert Reynolds – Athletics.
Outstanding Junior male sportsman for the Year: 1997 – 1998 Sergio Fedee – Cricket; 1999 Damain Henville – Athletics; 2000 Sergio Fedee – Cricket; 2001 Daren Sammy – Cricket; 2002 Brad Worrell – Swimming; 2003 Craig Emmanuel – Cricket; 2004-2005 Darvin Edward – Athletics; 2006 Christian Wayne – Swimming.
2007 Albert Reynolds – Athletics; 2008 Julien Brice – Swimming; 2009 -2010 Renacko Daniel – Swimming; 2011 Jordan Augier – Swimming; 2012 – 2013 Marbeq Edgar – Athletics; 2014 Adriel Bousquet – Tennis; 2015 -2016 Johnelle Eugene – Cricket; 2017 Kimani Melius – Cricket; 2017 – 2019 Kimani Melius – Cricket.
Like their female counterparts we can’t forget our male athletes, they too played a vital role during our 42 years of Independence. These include:
Ronald Norton; Angus Sexius; Kingsley Armstrong; Stewart Charles; Douglas Marcellin; Michael Raymond; Alvin Xavier; Godfrey Alfred, Dudley Foster; Martin Alexander; Gilroy Hall; Austin Prospere; Trevor Cadet; Sheldon Emmanuel (Football). Francis Maurice; Walter Emmanuel; Ignatius Cadet; Keith Charlery; Brian Calixte, Andre Scholar; Canice Louis; Julian Charles (Cricket).
Matthew Raphael, Jerry Charles, Calius Dantes, Ali Quilan, Derocher Antoine, Joel Polius, Keegan Preville, Ron Dumuville, Peter Hunte, Erwin Tertullien, Troy Louison, Ulric Joseph and Andre Louison (Basketball). Andrew Norbert, Sylvester Joseph, Rawlins Antoine, Nigel Megay, Kirt and Kurk Maraj (the Maraj twin), John, Henry and Cyril Mangal (the Mangal brothers) Elvis Joseph, Eustace Dookie, Winston Williams (Cycling).Nathan Ferrrari, Lyndell Marcellin (Boxing). Gillan Octave; Levi Leonce, Julian Biscette, Servin Mongroo, Keson Edmund, Darnell Eudoxie, Tevin St.Jean, Augustin Faulkner (Volleyball). Jonathan Calderon; Jayhan Odlum Smith; Terrell Monplaisir; Jean – Luc Zephir; Felix Meixner. Julian Felix, Joneil Pelage, Orville James, Alvin Remy, Ronaldson Auguste, Zimeron Leon, Calyn Samuel, Kirby Charles, Semion Mathurin, Owen Phillip (Bodybuilding/ Fitness).
John Eristhee, Bernard Henry; Marcus George, Dane Magloire, Talberc Poleon; Akeem Hubert; Ruben Nichols, Anthony Tomas; Corneal Lionel; Ricky Deligny; Jason Sayers; Mark Eugene; James Prospere, Michael Cosmay; Gilbert Actie; John Gaston, Cuthbert Modeste (Athletics); George Philgence, Neville Dupre, Costello Mitchell, Charles Sayers; Carlos Mitchell (Long Distance Walking); Darren Auguste, Antonio Maynard, Travis Emmanuel, Bryan Leonce, Davidson Belizaire (Moto X Club).
Adrian Albert, Carlos Innocent, Chris Wells, Andrew Daniels, Mario St Cyr, Ishmel Moise; D’Andre Calderon (Table Tennis); Benvick Joseph, Alex Pierre, Austin Jeremie, Jean Paul Isidore, Paul St.Luce, Joshua Henry (Special Olympics); Neville Labadie, Lambert Charles, Peter Lionel, Phillip Branford, Selwyn Maitland and Eric Daniel (Darts); Dr. Ezra Jn Baptiste; Victor Dudley; Julian Toussaint, Oliver Lawrence; Lainel George, Karim Sifflet and Lawrence Joseph (Karate do).
