MAHO—Bodybuilder Desmond Patterson was named St. Maarten Male Athlete of the Year and sprinter Shakeba Pink Female Athlete of the Year at the first Brown Pelican Sports Awards Sunday.
Sports officials and athletes came together at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort for an afternoon of recognition organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture Youth and Sports.
“This has been in the works since 2010,” said Minister Silveria Jacobs. She continued to say with the establishment of sports into a separate entity with its own budget more projects will be realized soon.
Six individuals were honoured as Baseball Legends. Receiving awards were Naldo Jacobs, his brother Sam Jacobs, Hamilton Richardson, Erwin Baco Richardson, Louis Major Brown and Raoul Illidge.
Holding up his award, Naldo told the crowd, “This is like being put in the Hall of Fame.”
Carib Swim Team was named Best Overall Team and Sister Magda Best Sporting School. Franklyn Radjouki won a Brown Pelican as Best Coach.
Morven Beauperthuy was named Sport Icon. He accepted his award saying, “awards like this give the children on the Islan
d something to look up to instead of just TV.”
Bodybuilder Yoyl Hawley received the Youth Ambassador Award.
The Sports Innovations award went to Kids Racing and International Ambassador Award went to St. Maarten Cycling Federation.
St. Maarten Volleyball Association was honoured as the Best Sports Organization and NAGICO was named Best Sponsor.
