Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ CC annual Awards Ceremony Rawle Merrell named Cricketer of the Year

Dec 17, 2019 Sports

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By Sean Devers

On Sunday Evening at the Roger Harper Hall in Buxton, the Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Cricket Club held its annual Awards Ceremony which commenced with the reciting of the National Pledge.

Bowling all-rounder Rawle Merrell collected Awards for Best Batsman, Best all-rounder and Cricketer of the year.
Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Former West Indies off-spinner, present Chairman of CWI Selector and President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Roger Harper, East Coast Cricket Board’s Ray Barton, GCA’s Shawn Massiah and Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Cricket Club President Essie Peters spoke at the Ceremony.
The Director of Sports told the gathering that sports unifies a nation, adding that, while, the Government has not done enough for Sports if the Collation Government is re-elected the plan is to build several Mini Stadiums across Guyana since he feels that Sports can be the thing that fosters social cohesion since it attracts people of all races, religions and social status.
“Saying that without providing facilities, equipment and funding is just words, but everything can’t happen overnight…Rome was not built in a day. But I know Sports is very important to developing Communities and producing more Hetymers,” said Jones, who served as the Shadow Sports Minister when the previous Government was in power.
“We are doing things that you may not be aware of; like providing 17 Scholarships to sportspersons for them to develop academically without forsaking their sports.

We have employed Football Coach Gordon Braithwaite and Boxing Coach Orlon ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers to work in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9, while we are constructing a Stadium in Berbice,” the Director of Sports informed.
“But doing such projects needs funding and the budget for Sports is never enough so I would recommend to reduce the Health and National Security budget and use it in Sports,” Jones added.
He feels that if people in the various communities are able to access facilities with lights to exercise, they will become healthier and an ease to burden on the health sector, while if more opportunities are created for youths to play sports then crime would be reduced.
“If the youths have nothing to do the devil will find work for idle minds so if we get them involved in physical activities they will be occupied and will be too tired to be involved in criminal activities,” Jones reasoned.
Jones added that the Government will be looking at the idea of getting former or present National Sports persons to go to schools to Coach.
The Director of Sports commended Peters for his hard work and promised to assist the East Coast Club.
Harper, one of only two Guyanese Captains to win both the first-class and 50 overs titles in the same season, said whenever you attend an Awards Ceremony it shows that someone has achieved something.
“It was good to see the Director of Sports here and it shows that he believes that coming here is important for areas like this,” said Harper, who is also the President of the DCC.
Harper reiterated what Jones said about the importance of sports in contributing to cohesion and a healthy nation.
Barton, representing the ECCB, told those present that Cricket on the East Coast is not without challenges with unavailability of grounds, marginalisation and discrimination being the main issues.
He claimed that the East Coast team that played in the CGI Franchise was not a true representation of East Coast Cricket and said the Buxton team has been doing well and encouraged the players not to forget their education.
Massiah congratulated Peters for his tireless work at the Buxton club and explained that the Buxton and Transport SC have a strong relationship, adding that several TSC players play for Buxton in East Coast Cricket.
“A club is very hard to run and good pitches are important for producing good batsmen. I saw a few guys pushing a roller at the Buxton ground which is far from what is required and one of the things the Sports Ministry can do is to help poor clubs with motorised rollers and covers,” said Massiah who stressed the importance of discipline and respect.
Peters, who endorsed Jones as the next Sports Minister, explained that in 1991, Errol Nelson, Marlon Thomas, Debra Pile and himself saw that crime and social ills were taking over the youths in Buxton and started the Club to give them an avenue to channel their energies by playing Football and Cricket.
Peters thanked all those who have helped for their support and said he runs the club without a cent and hoped the club could produce more East Coast, Demerara, Guyana and the West Indies players.
Club Captain Marvin Cato performed duties of Master of Ceremonies and informed that the team toured Trinidad this year and plans to travel to Barbados next year.
Cato got an Award for being the club’s most successful Captain, a position he has held from 2005 to 2018 after Marlon Thomas led the team from 1998-2005.
Awardees:
Most Disciplined Player: Joshua Blackman
Most Successful Captain: Marvin Cato
Most outstanding University graduate: Kurt Booker
Best graduating CSEC Student: Joshua Blackman
Best Overseas Player: Akian Hinds
Most Improved batsman: Treon Hatton
Best Fast Bowler: Ryan Mc Kay
Best Fast Bowler: Andre McFarlane
Best spinner: Clive Andries
Best batsman: Rawle Merrell
Best bowler: Andre McFarlane
Best all-rounder Rawle Merrell
Best ‘B’ team player of the year: Akeem Blackman
Best ‘A’ team player Owen Andrews
Player of year: Rawle Merrell
A minute of silence was observed for the late Floyd ‘Shaka’ Andrews and Debra Pile.

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