Blackmore describes 2003 as very good year for athletics
… says Claude Blackmore
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
December 28, 2003
RECOGNISING the successes of both local and overseas-based athletes and the work of his association, president of the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) Claude Blackmore has described the past year as ‘very successful’.
“The past year has been very good, extremely good. In terms of the organising of competitions, we were able to attract more corporate sponsorship and this was good,” while adding that the high point of the year was the investment in training officials.
“The high point was the number of training programmes for teachers and officials around Guyana. We had training in Bartica, Linden, the East Coast, New Amsterdam and also Mabaruma; also the successful staging of the South American 10 km race, on the local scene.
Internationally, I think our athletes held their own. Cleveland Forde and Jennifer Chichester both winning Carifta gold medals; Aliann (Pompey) and Marian (Burnett) medalled at the CAC (Central American and Caribbean Games) and our female long jump champion Michelle Vaughn who also medalled, at the CAC Seniors.
We are doing well given the lack of facilities and equipment.”
Asked about plans for the coming year, Blackmore said that they are looking to better things.
“What we will be doing is strengthening on our achievements in 2003; we will improve. We also want to make the Women on the Move 3km and the Golden Mile races international events.
I’ve already spoken to the Executive Director of the Tourism Authority, Donald Sinclair, and some friends in Canada concerning the events; also the Barry Massy Games, which will be sponsored totally by Guyanese overseas.
So planning for 2004 will be more exciting and aggressive.
The president did however have one concern.
“My only concern is that we’re expanding and the work is still being done by volunteers. We are hoping to have full-time people to do the organising and running of the events, because it is a lot of work on people who have other jobs.”
The AAA had run-off a number of local events for the year as well as training programmes, while also attending a number of regional and international events around the world.
The association has planned a number of events for 2004, beginning with the track relays in February.