ST. ANN, Jamaica – Four young cricketers were awarded Jamaica National/Michael Holding Academic Scholarships at the end of the Michael Holding Masters Cricket Tournament at the Ultimate Oval in St. Ann recently.
Nafras Earle of Discovery Bay All-Age School, Gareth Henry of Runaway Bay All-Age, Adrian Clarke of Excelsior High school and Javar Biggs of Nain Primary & Junior High received the scholarships along with cricket gear, for their excellence in batting and bowling in the Primary and All-Age Schools’ Cricket Competition held earlier this year. They were selected from among boys and girls between ages ten and 16, from 224 schools across the island, who received formal cricket training through the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) sponsored school competition.
“There is a direct link between what JNBS are doing in the Primary and All-Age Schools championships around the island and this tournament,” legendary cricketer Michael Holding told the St. Ann audience on Saturday, October 31. He added that, a scholarship fund is being established for the top four performers in the youth tournament that will be monitored properly to ensure that it goes “exactly into what these youngsters can benefit from.”
The Michael Holding Masters Cricket Tournament, held October 24-31, had teams from Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago as well as the United States of America. With a stated goal of educating young cricketers, the winning team this year was the New York Masters from the USA.
“If we, the older folks, don’t try to help the youngsters, then who will do that?” asked Austin Hutchinson, captain of the winning team. “We have to teach them the right way.”
A total of 60 outstanding boys were selected from the Primary and All-Age Schools’ Cricket Competition to attend a cricket clinic established as part of the Masters Competition, stated Diane Cunningham, JNBS School Savers Programme coordinator. “It gave them an opportunity to further appreciate the details of the game.”
Adrian Clarke, 12, a student of Excelsior High School, shows his cricket technique to Diane Cunningham, Jamaica National Building Society School Savers Programme coordinator.
“The scholarship will help to pay for my books and various fees,” said 12 year-old Adrian Clarke. The first form student said that what was also important were the three days of training he and other young cricketers received from cricketing greats at the Melbourne Oval in Kingston.
He learned how to hold a bat properly, ways of getting out and the importance of getting on the internet to do research on the game, Adrian said. “I have not had this kind of training before.”
Nafras Earle (centre) of Discovery Bay All-Age School, receives his Jamaica National/Michael Holding Academic Scholarship from legendary cricketer Michael Holding, while Gareth Henry of Runaway Bay All-Age awaits his award.
The clinic with the Masters offered the young players the opportunity to receive lessons directly from legendary cricketers such as Mr. Holding, Jeff Dujon, Gus Logie, Courtney Walsh, Jimmy Adams, as well as the many other competing masters players, Miss Cunningham stated.
“Irrespective of who we are and however good we think we are, we all make mistakes,” Mr. Holding said. “We have to be sure that whatever mistakes we make are recognized by these young people, so that they don’t make the same ones.”
Diane Cunningham, JNBS School Savers Programme Coordinator presents the Michael Holding Masters Championship Trophy to Austin Hutchinson (left), captain of the cricket tournament winners, the New York Masters team, while Michael Holding looks on. The American team won the Michael Holding Masters Cricket Tournament at the Ultimate Oval in St. Ann on Saturday, October 31.
Former West Indies cricketer Michael Holding (centre), addresses children from schools across the island, at the Ultimate Oval in St. Ann on Saturday, October 31. Selected through their participation in the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) sponsored Primary and All-Age Schools’ Cricket Competition, the youngsters received formal cricket training during the Michael Holding Masters Cricket Tournament. Austin Hutchinson (left), captain of the tournament winners, the New York Masters team, was one of the senior cricketers assisting in coaching the youngsters.
