Nominees named for National Sports Awards

It will be a night of glitz and glamor as the sporting elite will gather on March 2nd for the 2023 edition of the National Sports Awards.

Last year marked the first staging of the ceremony since the covid pandemic when the event was held in June. It is now however returning to its staple time frame of March.

Nominees will compete in eight categories: Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Mind Sports Athlete of Year, Coach of the Year, Official of the Year and Sports Administrator of the Year.

West Indies fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph and IFBB Elite Pro Bikini Fitness bodybuilder, Ambassador Kimberly Percival, were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for 2022, while swimmers Ethan Stubbs-Green and Ellie Shaw were crowned the Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.

The Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF) was named Association of the Year.

Other winners on the night were Renfield Davis and Francine Hector from the Antigua and Barbuda Domino Association (ABDA) who were named male and female Mind Sports Athletes of the Year, swimming’s Kem Warner who was Administrator of the Year, swimming’s Wayne Mitchell who was named Coach of the Year.

Percival, Joseph, Shaw Stubbs-Green have all been nominated once again by their respective associations.

Thirteen men will vie for the title of Sportsman of the Year 2023.

 Alongside Joseph from the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association, the list includes Maurice James from the Antigua and Barbuda Drag Racing Association (ABDRA), Cejhae Greene of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA), Emmanuel Gayral- Antigua and Barbuda Cycling Association (ABCA), Zuber Patel- Antigua and Barbuda Rifle Association (ABRA), Adonis Humphreys- Antigua and Barbuda Basketball Association (ABBA), Kenroy Christian- Antigua and Barbuda Amateur Bodybuilding and Weightlifiting Federation (ABABWF), Mervin Higgins- Antigua and Barbuda Softball Cricket Association (ABSCA), Tiger Tyson- Antigua and Barbuda Kiteboarding Association, Jordon Wuilliez – Antigua and Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF), Adrian Constant – Antigua and Barbuda Amateur Volleyball Association (ABAVA), Dante Browne – Antigua and Barbuda Fencing Federation (ABFF) and Quinton Griffth – Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA).

Nine females have been nominated for Sportswoman of the Year.

Alongside Percival from the ABABWF, the other nominees include Olympian Joella Llyod from the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA), Bianca Mitchell from the ABSF, Tanya Greene of the Antigua and Barbuda Netball Association (ABNA), Junella King from the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association, Josanne Lewis from the ABAVA, Anik Jarvis of the ABFA, Cheryl Williams of the ABSCA and Amanda Edwards from the ABCA.

In the Junior Sportsman of the Year section, nine athletes have been nominated including the reigning sportsman Ethan Stubbs-Green from the ABSF.

The ABFA’S Daryl Massicot, Craig Massiah of ABBA, Khaliq Joseph of the ABAVA, Patrick Green-Smith of the ABSA, Tahje Browne of the Antigua and Barbuda Cycling Federation (ABCF), Kasiya Daley of the ABAA, Jewel Andrew of the ABCA and Elite Thomas of the Antigua and Barbuda Triathlon Association (ABTA) were listed.

Meanwhile for Junior Sportswoman, the reigning champion Ellie Shaw from the ABSF will vie against Lanica Locker of the ABAA, Kinisha James of ABBA, Jewel Crump of the ABFF, Emily Gaillard of the ABSA, Gabrielle De Souza of the ABFA, Jassania Joseph of the ABAVA, Kimberly Anthony of the ABCA and Maleah Butler of the ABTA.

The other nominees are listed below in the respective categories.

For Coach of the Year: Orland Weeks of the ABDRA, Ted Daley of the ABAA, Ollyn Martin of the ABABWF, Vaughn Charles of the ABFF, Nelson Fojo of the ABSF, Astel Joseph of the ABFA, Olsen Joseph of the ABAVA, George Hughes of the ABBA, St. Clair Williams of the ABCF and Ian Tittle of the ABCA.

In Mind Sports:  Bernard Willock of the Antigua and Barbuda Draughts Association, Zenus Williams and Lorraine Richardson of the ABDA.

Sports Official: Nerissa Pelle of the ABAA, Cedric David of the ABBA, Dwayne Edwards of the ABABWF, Rawle Lee of the ABAVA, Wasnah Barnade of the ABFA and Carol-Faye Bynoe George of the Antigua and Barbuda Domino Association.

 Sports Administrator: Elvis Cordice of the Antigua and Barbuda Draughts Association, Shawnor Charles- Joseph of the ABAA, Paul Ryan of the ABDRA, Dane Gustave of the ABCA, Carlena Knight of the ABBA, Marvette Richards of the ABABWF, Edith Clashing of the ABSF, Rameez Mascall of the ABFF, Wilbur Harrigan of the ABAVA and Conrad Constant of the Antigua and Barbuda Domino Association.