The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, has described 2019 as its most successful year since its formation in 1990 by three-time Guyana and Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee St Francis Community Developers.
The club has successfully completed a record 743 activities during the period January 1 to December 24 under a wide range of sub-headings, including sports, coaching, charity, social, educational, anti-suicide, cultural, economic development, community development, anti-tobacco, anti-crime, publication and medical, among others.
The club has donated bags to children ahead of their school year
Among the main highlights of the club’s year were its performance on the cricket field; the Say No/Say Yes campaign; its 29th Annual Awards Ceremony; the Youth Information Booklet; Berbice Sports Awards; ANSA McAL Award of Excellence; Christmas Charity Programme, and the 5th edition of the Rose Hall Town Christmas Village.
Tournament winners
On the cricket field, the RHTY&SC cricket teams continued their dominance of Berbice Cricket by winning the Trophy Stall Under 13 tournament; the New York Business Group Under 19 20/20 tournament; the New Building Society 40 overs (2018); the Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate 40-overs tournament, and the Beacon Foundation 20/20.
The Republic Bank Summer Class of 2019
To date, the BCB has reached the finals of the Elizabeth Styles Under 21 tournament; the Let’s Bet Sports 100 balls; Raffik’s Construction 100 balls; Stag Beer 50 Overs, Ivan Madray Memorial 20/20, and the Busta Champions of Champions.
RHTY$&SC teams are also currently playing in the Mike’s Pharmacy Under 15, Ramnaresh Sarwan Under 17 and Banks Beer Two Days First Division tournaments.
Players transition
A total of 22 club members represented Berbice at the National U-15, U-17, U-19 and Female Levels, while Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Jason Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Shawn Pereira, Eon Hooper, Junior Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud and Chanderpaul Govindhan played in the GCB franchise league.
At the National level, the following members played for Guyana Under 15: Matthew Pottaya, Under 19: Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson; Under 19 Female: Oma Matadin and Shabika Gajnabi; Female Senior: Melanie Henry, Shemaine Campbelle, Shabika Gajnabi, Plaffina Millington, Erva Giddings and Sheneta Grimmond.
RHTYSC hosted a highly successful Medical Outreach Programme
Three RHTY&SC members played at the senior level: Clinton Pestano, Assad Fudadin, Kevin Sinclair for Guyana, Jamaica and West Indies Emerging Players X1 respectively.
Esuan Crandon continued to impress as a Cricket Coach for Guyana and the West Indies. Anderson was also selected to represent the West Indies at the Under 19 level, while Pestano was part of the Amazon Warriors Team.
Social Responsibility
In July, the club hosted Guyana’s largest cricket academy, with over one hundred youths in attendance under the guidance of Coach Delbert Hicks and Eon Hooper. Over $3M worth in trophies, medals, gifts and prizes were shared out to outstanding club members at the 29th Annual Awards Ceremony, while in one of its largest ever outreach programmes, the RHTY&SC ten cricket teams shared out over $6M worth in cricket gears, cricket balls, score books, exercise books, school bags, bicycles, stumps, clothing, medical supplies, office stationery and sports gears, among others items, to over one hundred NGOs, cricket clubs, schools, hospitals and youth organisations, among others. The donations were done mainly under the RHTY&SC Patron’s Fund, and Cricketers self-development programmes.
The club also assisted dozens of youth cricketers across Berbice to attain their own gear.
Among the numerous other events/programmes hosted in 2019 were the Republic Bank Summer Camp, ANSA McAL Award of Excellence, Namilco 50th Anniversary Day of Sports, Tribute to Heroes, Namilco exercise books project, Youth Information Booklet, Medical Outreach Programme with American Doctors, Mash Parade, Gregory Gaskin Sports Award, Back-to-School Drive, Tribute to Teachers, Top Ten Students, Tribute to Head Teachers, Monthly Pensioners Breakfast, Youth Review Magazine, Father’s Day Hampers, Mother’s Day Hampers, DTV-8 Mothers of the Year, Walter Nero Father of the Year Award, Essay Competition, Poster Competition, Spelling Bee Competition, Tribute to Retired Teachers, Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers, Dolphin Award of Excellence, Say No to Crime Stickers, Say No to Suicide Posters, Youth Inspiration Forum, Tribute to Medical Workers, and Tribute to Doctors.
Tournament hosts
The RHTY&SC also organised several cricket tournaments in conjunction with the Berbice Cricket Board: Busta Champion of Champions; GBTI Inter-Secondary School; Nasir Memorial 20/20; and GNNL/RHTY&SC Upper Corentyne 100 balls tournament.
The RHTY&SC also invested heavily in several cricket academies in its ongoing effort to assist other clubs. The club also use its vast networking links to raise over $10M in cash and kind for the Berbice Cricket Board.
Sports competitions for volleyball, basketball, dominoes, softball also received support from clubs. Under the highly successful Say NO/Say Yes campaign, club also printed thousands of posters, leaflets, T/Shirts.
The year ended with a massive $3M Christmas Charity Programme and the hosting of the biggest ever Christmas Village, which was attended by thousands of children and their parents.
30-year anniversary
According to a release from the club, 2020 is expected to be a special year in the history of the RHTY&SC, as the Organisation will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the Management of the club had set itself a target of 700 activities. The main projects for 2020 would be a complete restoration of the club office, improved sanitary and dressing room facilities, restoration of the club’s charity kitchen, expanded Say No/Say Yes Campaign, 30th Award Ceremony, 30th Anniversary Magazine and a month-long 30th anniversary celebration in September.
The club would like to express gratitude to its Patron, HE President David Granger, and its numerous sponsors and donors for their cooperation and assistance in 2019. Special mention must also be made of the national media, the Guyana Chronicle; Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, Guyana Times, NCN, NTN, LRTVS, CH10 and DTV.
