BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THREE young men, all under the age of 20 conquered the seemingly indomitable Greasy Pole event yesterday (Mar. 28) at the annual Easter Monday Aquatic Sports Tournament, taking all three hams and bragging rights back to the McKnight community.
The event, which usually draws large crowds, was well attended and traditional competitions such as the Freestyle Swim, Breaststroke, Long Distance Races, Underwater Races, Boat Races, Skipping and Hula Hoop Competitions did not disappoint the many onlookers.
But, without fail, the greasy pole always seems to have the more entertainment value. There is just something about watching the youngsters maneuver their way across the horizontal pole, which is not only stretched across the water but slathered with copious amounts of thick, slippery grease.
A ham is suspended at the end of the pole and not only does a competitor have to get to it, but once there he or she would have to untie the ham and secure it in their possession.
Steve Phillips (18), Lester Liburd (18) and Zydan Henry (13) – all residents of McKnight - were the winners of the Horizontal Greasy Pole Competition and they told SKNVibes that it was a combination of skill, dependence on God and strategy that contributed to their success.
Phillips said for many years he has been trying to win the ham, and after take a two-year break he returned more determined than ever.
“I trust in God and that is why He got me across there because I was wondering how I could do it. I made two attempts. I tried for the first ham but didn’t get through. I tried for the second ham and won that one…
“After I won I went home, and when my mother came in the house she didn’t see it at first and she was making noise, but then I took the ham from behind my back and she was surprised and happy about it. I will try this next year again.”
Phillips was also the winner of the Long Distance Underwater, the Long Distance Freestyle and Backstroke Races for his age group.
Liburd told SKNVibes that he has been winning the Greasy Pole event since 2013. And while he could not speak to any specific strategy, he noted that he would wait until others made their attempts then he would make his.
He said that is when the skill he received from God kicks in. Liburd too took home a ham to his mother whom he declared was happy with his winnings.
The young man was also successful in the Breaststroke and Butterfly Races for his age group.
Henry, the youngest of the three ham winners, told SKNVibes that he was not to have tried his hand at the third ham as it was originally for females to make their attempts at untying it. But after no female went forward, the competition was then open to males.
“Two youngsters went before me and they didn’t even get close. My strategy was to carefully slide across the pole. When I got close to the ham I dropped down on the pole, sling on to it and went for the ham.”
And, of course, shortly after he had won the ham he too took it home to his mother.
As did the other ham winners, Henry achieved success in the Butterfly and Diving Races for his age group.
