CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, July 12, 2010 - Alpha Jeffers of Bath Village, Nevis who served in the capacity of Caretaker for the newly renamed ‘Grell Hull/ Stevens’ complex for 19 years, received some of her due flowers on the evening of Saturday 10th July. The occasion was the opening of a local Netball league after a break of about two years.
President of the Nevis Netball Association, Jeannette Grell Hull spoke warmly of the contributions of the outstanding Netball supporter and Hazeldine Lewis graciously presented her with a gift token and informed the crowd that due to the fact that Alpha is currently suffering from a stroke, a donation would be collected each afternoon and a purse will be presented to the dear lady at the end of the tournament.
Prior to that, the five competing teams graced the complex in a fine march past exhibition. The invocation was delivered by Pastor Salome James who asked God for a competitive but excellent league and further asked for the protection of the players.
President of the Nevis Netball Association, Jeannette Grell Hull, gave a historical perspective of the sport on Nevis and expressed her desire to get Netball back into the Primary schools. She then listed some of the immediate plan of her Association as follows:
• To establish a ‘scouting committee’ which will identify new talents
• To acquire the services of a national coach for Netball
• Provide transportation for ‘out of town’ athletes where necessary
• To ensure that Nevis has qualified umpires
Main sponsor of the tournament, National Bank was represented by Nevis Branch manager, Mrs. Shermaine Lewis. She expressed her Bank’s continued commitment to the development of the youth on Nevis with the added motivation to ensure that they stay positively occupied and not involved with the vices of society. She explained that this was one of the ways that the bank which has grown in stature within the region, can give back to the society that made it possible.
Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry reminicesed on the days when Netball rivaled crciket on Nevis in terms of crowd support and general skill. He was high in praise for the efforts of the outstanding pioneers of the sport but especially saluted Ms Cicely Grell Hull and Mrs. Dora Stevens after whom the Netball complex has been renamed, for their outstanding contributions to the sport.
Minster of Sports, Hon. Hensley Daniel applauded National Bank for their generosity even during these times of financial restraint and asked the players to move from a stage of participation to a stage of competition.
He also made the bold commitment that Netball as a sport will be actively revived within the Primary Schools on Nevis, starting September of this year and further, that Netball competitions between the Primary schools will be initiated around Easter of 2011. He appealed to the past players to assist in making this a reality.
The Players oath was done by Ms Vera Herbert and the official’s oath, by carol Ward. The officials on hand which also included the Hon. Carlyse Powell then inspected the teams.
The feature for the evening was a series of knockout matches between the teams.
The results are as follows:
Stoney Grove Untouchables 10 Bath United 3
St.Thomas United 12 Majestics 6
Bath United 19 Majestics 10 (in a losers’ clash)
Stoney Grove Untouchables 11 St.thomas’ 7 –in the grand finale
Stoney Grove untouchables therefore the knockout champions for 2010
The league matches got on the way on the evening of Sunday 11th with two games:
Bath United trounced St.thomas’ United two 51 to 7 and St.thomas’ one dished out a similar deft to Majestics with a score line of 47 to 13.
