Bishoo, Barker, Ramdhani and Khan and Bryan are NSC 2011 sports awardees

Feb 04, 2012 Sports

Kaieteur News’ Edison Jefford claims print journalist prize

Cricketer Devendra Bishoo and Powerlifter Dawn Barker have copped the Senior respective male and female awards when officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) selection panel met at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday afternoon to choose the country’s outstanding sports personalities for 2011. Squash player Priyanna Ramdhani and amateur boxer Imran Khan and Table Tennis player Nigel Bryan were the Junior personalities chosen.
Bishoo’s cricketing feats as a top performer on the West Indies cricket team also did not pass unnoticed and he was duly rewarded with the senior sportsman of the year award, while Powerlifter, Dawn Barker, who has etched her name into the Caribbean echelon of Powerlifters over the past year, was awarded the senior sportswoman of the year. Table tennis player, Trenace Lowe copped the runner-up award for senior female sportswoman while powerlifter, Randolph Morgan was adjudged the runner up to Bishoo.
The badminton fraternity also had reason to shout after their affiliate Priyanna Ramdhani copped the junior sports woman of the year award in front of athlete, Jevina Straker. After three rounds of voting failed to give any of the pair a clear majority, Guyana’s perspective Olympic representative, Imran Khan and table tennis player, Nigel Bryan ended in deadlock for the junior sportsman award and even the chairman’s casting vote failed to produce a decisive winner. The two were subsequently declared joint winners.
Kaieteur News,’ Edison Jefford’s journalistic feats over the preceding year earned him the Sports Journalist Print award. Jefford, who covers all sports but has a penchant for athletics and basketball, is part of the organising team that produces a key athletic meet, the Jefford Classic, locally which offers athletes attractive prize money.

Edison Jefford

His writing ability, style and tenacity as a reporter has seen him standout and even lock ‘horns’ with officials and even his colleagues, but his forte for dealing with the facts has earned him full respect and in some quarters admiration.
After a relatively successful year that saw them qualifying for the second round of the FIFA Olympics Qualifiers, the ‘Golden Jaguars,’ Guyana’s premiere ball weavers, were adjudged the sports team of the year, while the acting President of the Guyana Football Federation, Franklin Wilson received honourable mention for the male sports personality. Veteran cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed’s efforts did not go unnoticed and he copped the Coach of the year award. President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Cheryl Thompson clinched the Female Sports Official award.
The Guyana Chess Federation has made remarkable strides over the past year and despite the many challenges encountered, continued to persevere, organizing numerous tournaments. Notably too, officials of this entity have managed to accrue prestigious FIDE ratings for several of their affiliates which has witnessed the effective resuscitation of the sport. The selectors were paying attention and rewarded the entity with prestigious accolade of the Most Improved Association.
This was after they had declared the Guyana Table Tennis Association the premiere sports association of the year. Evening News’ anchor and Guyana Times reporter, Avenash Ramzan was singled out as the best non print journalist, while Stabroek News’ photographer, Orlando Charles repeated last year’s accomplishment and was again voted Photo Journalist of the year.
Athletes categorized as ‘differently able’ were also rewarded with Delroy Sookram, Guyana’s Gold Medalist in the Athens Greece Special Olympics, copping that honour in front of notable cyclist Walter Grant Stuart.
The date for the handing over of awards would be announced subsequently. Kaieteur Sport has noted the special feats and wishes to extend congratulations to the various recipients of awards.