Ross, Gajnabi win big at 2019 Gregory Gaskin Memorial Sports Award

NATIONAL Volleyball player Shamroy Ross and West Indies female cricketer Shabika Gajnabi were among the headliners at the recently concluded 2019 Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHTYSC) Annual Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Award.

An attacking outsider Ross, along with Gajnabi, won the respective Male and Female Sports Award for 2019 while another West Indies female cricketer Erva Giddings received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to cricket over the last fifteen years.
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) carried home the Sports Organisation-of-the-Year award while businessman Deonarine Balram of the popular Shane General Store was named Sports Personality for his support of all sports in the Ancient County during this year.

RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the 10 cricket teams are forging ahead with plans to fulfil most of their activities despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This is being done while observing the strict guidelines set by the government.

He disclosed that due to social distancing, no official programme was held but the awardees were invited to receive their awards on an individual basis.
Foster noted the importance of sports in the development of character of youths and hailed all the awardees as positive role models for youths to emulate. He urged them to uphold the high standards they have set themselves in the past and to work even harder to achieve more success.

The RHTYSC, Foster stated would continue to be the premier youth and sports organisation in Guyana and was proud to be involved in honouring the memory of Gaskin.
Ross in 2019 represented Guysuco Training Centre, Berbice and the National volleyball team with great success as an outside attacker. He was named the Berbice Volleyball Association Most Valuable Player for 2019.

Gajnabi made her debut for the West Indies at the senior level after outstanding performance for Berbice and Guyana. Giddings made her West Indies debut in 2008 and over the years has been an outstanding performer for RHTYSC, Berbice and Guyana.

For over a decade, Giddings has played among her male counterparts at the second division level with great success, claiming over 200 wickets.
The Sports Personality-of-the-Year Deonarine Balram is known across Berbice for his wholehearted support of sports and over the last 20 years has been the sole sponsor of the Balram Shane Memorial cricket and volleyball tournaments.

RHTYSC Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu handed over all the awards which included a trophy, medal, certificate of excellence and a collection of special prizes.
The 10 cricket teams of the RHTYSC are: Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and U-13, Farfan and Mendes U-15, Bakewell U-17 and Second Division, Pepsi U-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, NAMILCO Thunderbolt U-21 and First Division.

The joint RHTYSC/BCB Basil Butcher Memorial project has distributed over $4M worth of items and sponsored several events in tribute to the legendary West Indies batsman who died last December at the age of 86.

The Award is held yearly in memory of Gregory Gaskin, late founder of COPS Security Service and an outstanding supporter of sports in Guyana.