[GOA]

PROFILES

DENISE WILLIAMS

Denise Williams

Denise Williams of Marlmount, St David's, received her Secondary Education at the St David's Catholic Secondary School and the Institute for Further Education.  She began her teaching career at Wesley College in 1987, and the following year transferred to her Alma Mater, St David's Catholic Secondary School. In the field of coaching, Wesley College's loss was St David's Catholic Secondary School's gain for Ms Williams has since undertaken coaching activities at that school which has resulted in SDCSS dominance in the female

category of the Inter-Col Track and Field Championships for the past five years.

 She first started coaching netball at SDCSS but moved to track and field in 1990 after the emigration of the incumbent coach. Since then, she has been successful in the IAAF Level 1 coaching course (1995), and the IAAF Level 2 coaching course (2000) in sprints and hurdles. In 2003, she was successful in an advanced coaching course at Life University, Atlanta, Georgia.

 When asked the reason for her success at SDCSS she stated that most of the students whom she coaches come from very poor families, and she has urged them to strive for excellence in track and field and in their education as a means of social up-liftment and to opportunities for higher education abroad.

 Besides her coaching duties at the school, Ms Williams also teaches Food and Nutrition, Principles of Business and Religious Education.

WILLIAM LORD GITTENS

William Lord Gittens

William Lord Gittens, known to his many fans as the "Generator" because of his athletic prowess, was born on January 13, 1933 and is arguably one of the finest all round Sportsman that Grenada has ever produced.  It was during his tenure at the Grenada Boys' Secondary School that his sporting talents developed and he represented the school in Football, Cricket and Athletics.  In athletics, he was Victor Ludorum in 1951 ad in 1952, in which year he amassed the most points ever in school history by winning the

100yds, 220yds, 440yds, high jump, at which event he became the 1st Grenadian to clear six feet, the long jump, the cross country race, and placed 2nd in the cycle race.

 In 1952, in the Windward Islands Inter-School Tournament, he captained Grenada in Athletics, Football and Cricket.

 He continued his sporting career after leaving school as a member of the Dauntless Sports Club, representing Grenada in track and field, at Texaco Southern Games in Trinidad, and in football and Cricket.

 In 1953, he broke the Southern Games record in high jump and long jump at 6ft 1" and 22ft 8" respectively.

 In 1957, at Southern Games, he won the 400 metres hurdles, and the high jump in a West Indies record of 6ft 5".

 In the same year, he participated in the inaugural West Indies Track and Field Championship placing 2nd in the high jump, and winning the 400 metres hurdles in a time of 51.3 secs on a grass track.

 In 1958, he was invited together with two other Grenadians, Joseph Charter and Norman Pace to participate in trials in Trinidad for selection to a West Indies Football Team to tour England later that year. From all accounts, including newspaper reports, his non-selection on that team was not because of his performance at those trials, but because of his "small-island" origin.

 He last represented Grenada in early 1960 at football in the first of the revived Popham Windward Islands Football Tournaments and in June of that year at cricket in Dominica.

 Later that year, he emigrated to the U.K at the peak of his career at 27 years where he continued to participate in Football and Cricket for many years.

WALTER EDEN ST. JOHN

Walter Eden St John

Walter Eden St John has been a bastion of sports in Grenada for the past four decades. He has given unceasingly to the development of sports and in particular cricket.  The sacrifices and contributions he made are tremendous. Walter is still continuing to give yoreman service to his country and the region, by serving on many national and regional bodies.  Walter St John has represented Grenada in both athletics and basketball.  He also represented the Windward Islands in

athletics in the 1956 Texaco Southern Games in Trinidad where he won a bronze medal in high jump.

He has been a member of the West Indies Cricket Board since 1978 and was assistant manager of the West Indies team to England in 1984. He was also a member of the Windward Islands Cricket Board from 1968-2003.

He was President of four national associations between the years 1972 and 1976, namely; Cricket, Basketball, Football and the National Sports Council. In fact he served as President of the Grenada Cricket Association from 1972 to 2003.

Walter St John has had a long and distinguished career as a Sports Administrator. His service to the nation is well documented and appreciated.

CECIL KENRICK "CK" SYLVESTER

Cecil Kenrick "C.K." Sylvester

"C.K" Sylvester, the former principal shareholder and Managing Director of Independence gencies is being recognised for his contribution through corporate sponsorship and financial support to the development of sport.  An avid cricket and football fan, he has been instrumental in providing corporate sponsorship to several football clubs including Anchor Fontenoy, and presently Queen's Park Rangers, Dano Carenage, and presently Eagle Super Strikers, Piton Chantimelle and the now defunct Alaska Spartax.

In netball, his sponsorship extended to Alaska All-Timers, and in the Inter-Sector Games he sponsored a combined team under the Pinehill brand.

Mr Sylvester is now retired but continues his passion for sport through his involvement as a frequent spectator.

Read Sports Awardees' Profiles