Bovell, Borel top athletes of 2014http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2014-12-25/bovell-borel-top-athletes-2014Swimmer George Bovell and field athlete Cleopatra Borel were named the 2014 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively, at the annual Guardian Sports Desk Christmas Lime, on Tuesday, at the company’s office, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain. Also recognised were Michelle Lee Ahye, who was named ‘Emerging Athlete of the Year’ while former national footballer/coach Everald ‘Gally’ Cummings was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to national life. The Desk also named cricket writer Vinode Mamchan as its ‘Personality of the Year’ while Nigel Simon collected an award for his productivity and Jelani Beckles was named ‘Young Sportswriter of The Year.’ Andre Baptiste was named ‘Columnist of the Year.’
Bovell and Borel were the two outstanding athletes for T&T at the 22nd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games at Leyes de Reforma Aquatic Centre, Veracruz, Mexico, in November.
Bovell won the 50 metres freestyle, speeding home in 22.30 seconds, .07 hundredths of a second outside in 2010 record of 22.23 to turn the tables on his rivals Suriname’s Renzo Tjon-A-Joe (22.62) and Cuban, Hanser Garcia (22.69). Bovell also bagged nine medals at the FINA/MASTBANK World Cup Swimming Circuit which included three gold, five silver and one bronze. The highlight of his World Cup was a first ever 50m breaststroke medal, silver in 26.91 seconds Bovell also picked up a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke at the CAC Games.
Borel won gold in the shot put for the second consecutive time at the CAC Games to follow up her second place at the Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland, in July. She collected her award from Guardian Managing Director, Lisa Agard, and said she was thrilled. Borel noted that 2013 was an up and down year for her but she was able to bounce back this year. “There is still a long way to go in 2015, but I am working hard, and I know with the kind of support I have been getting, things will be a lot easier.”
Bovell is currently out of the country on personal business but expressed appreciation at his award.”I am really sorry I could not be there to receive the award. I am very grateful for it and for all the support from everyone.” Cummings, in his acceptance speech, said he was grateful for the honour, noting that he sometimes felt like a forgotten person. Cummings guided T&T within a point of the World Cup Football Finals in 1990, arousing and igniting the nation with his Kaisoca, a brand of football he described as indigenous. “You can’t achieve anything without a piece of your culture. That is why we were so successful in 1989.”
Cummings was also a member of the national football team which was robbed of a place in the Germany World Cup finals in 1974. T&T finished second in the Concacaf finals in Haiti, losing to the hosts 1-2, after scoring five goals in the match, four of which were disallowed. The referee from that match was subsequently banned by Fifa. Sports Editor Valentino Singh described Cummings as a national hero and a treasure for whom a permanent place within the administration of football should be made. The function was attended by a number of sporting personalities, among whom were TTOC president Brian Lewis, TTFA secretary Sheldon Phillips, Sportt chief executive officer Adrian Raymond, batting legend Brian Lara, former national cricketer Colin Murray, ex world boxing champ Ria Ramnarine, sports analyst Andre Baptiste, motivation speaker Don La Foucade and university lecturer and sports columnist Anand Rampersad.
