𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀
I was born in the rural parish of St Andrew in Barbados as the last of 13 children. I first saw badminton when I was 11 during a PE lesson in secondary school.
When I first saw the courts I wondered what sport it was. It seemed quite easy and interesting to play, unlike some of the other sports that were introduced to me. The games master realised my potential and introduced me to the teacher who was responsible for coaching badminton. He taught me the basics of the sport and he created the path for me to the junior national programme.
𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻
My passion for badminton grew even greater when I represented Barbados at the regional championships (CAREBACO) in 1985 in Guyana at the age of 14 and continued on to the seniors. I loved the sport so much that I did a coaching course while in my first year at the senior level. I completed my competitive stage at 35. I decided to then focus on coaching at the beginners stage.
𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
My most memorable events were the regional championships and Pan Am Games where I received numerous medals. My most rewarding memory was winning gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in Guatemala in 1993 with my partner Argyle Maynard. Even today it stays in my mind. Playing badminton, I made lots of friends of all walks of life to whom I can reach out for guidance about badminton, whether for coaching advice or just a friendly conversation.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀
Because of badminton I secured a coaching job at the National Sports Council (NSC) which allows me to teach badminton at primary and secondary schools across the island of Barbados. It’s also rewarding for me to work with the junior developmental programme and national junior squad and my club junior programme.
𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
I was able to take people from the grassroots level to national representation. I also helped in changing the lives of many, which allowed them to see the world through the sport of badminton and raise their self-esteem.
𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
Shuttle Time has broadened the awareness of PE teachers who can now introduce badminton in their day-to-day PE classes which helps in developing the sport at the grassroots level.
