Davio Harding of the Derrick Smith School and Vocational Centre is an athlete not to be denied. Last year, he scored five goals and was named Most Outstanding Senior Player as his team fell short of winning the Special Olympics Barbados National Games Football Championship. The 2017 senior title went to the Alma Parris Memorial Secondary School, but the closure of that school left the title open this year, as well as another opportunity for Davio to capture the crown. He took full advantage of that opportunity as he scored four goals in leading the Derrick Smith School and Vocational Center to the Division A Senior crown at the recent Special Olympics Barbados National Games Football Championship. Second place in the division was captured by the Learning Centre, with the Ann Hill School taking third.
There was also a blistering performance in the Division B Senior competition, with Renako Bellamy of the Ann Hill School scoring six goals as he led his team to the Division B Senior title. That division was rounded out with the Derrick Smith School taking second, the Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre in third and the Special Olympics Outreach and Skills Training Centre finishing in fourth place.
Among the younger players in the Special Olympics Barbados National Games Football Championship, all eyes were on Torian Chase of the Erdiston Special School. His four goals led to the upset of the defending junior division champion, the Ellerton Primary Unit and earned him the title of Junior Division Most Outstanding Player. Ellerton finished second in the junior division.
The intellectually disabled athletes of Special Olympics Barbados are being allowed to build and display their skills as a result of the generous support of The Maria Holder Memorial Trust. In keeping with its mission “to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people”, the Trust provided the primary funding for the Special Olympics Barbados National Games Football Championship. In addition, The Maria Holder Memorial Trust is giving like financial support to the major Special Olympics sports event of the year, the Special Olympics Barbados Track and Field National Games and the Special Olympics Barbados National Games in cricket and swimming. The support provided by The Maria Holder Memorial Trust helps create the individual confidence and the societal structure needed for the understanding, acceptance and inclusion of persons with intellectual disability.
*Photo tag: “Shamar Smith of the Special Olympics Outreach and Skills Training Centre defends an attack from Raymond Delphi of the Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre.” Photo compliments of A3KD.