T&T international Samantha Wallace, on her 28th birthday, was gifted the top player honour, the Jean Pierre Athlete Award, at the T&T Netball Association (TTNA) virtual annual awards ceremony themed "Believe For It" on Sunday.
Wallace of Toco, had another fantastic season with New South Wales (NSW) Swifts, her fifth, leading her team to the Australian Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League back in September.
Last season, the Swifts' "Most Valuable Player" (MVP) in 2018 and 2019, scored 585 goals at a success rate of 93 per cent and emerged as one of three reserves when the SSN League announced its 2021 season "Team of the Year" awardees. Wallace was named as the Attack Reserve.
The national shooter, who has recently returned to compete in her sixth season with NSW team, was one of seven persons receiving special awards that afternoon which was used to celebrate the achievements of the season.
Sherry-Ann Blackburn, TTNA president, in her address said: "Our special category awards were named after some of our stalwarts in the sport and a huge congratulations to all awardees and to persons who have copped these special awards. Those who have definitely set a very admiring benchmark for aspiring athletes and administrators of this association."
She reflected on those who have laboured to bring netball to where it is today, citing that "though fallen their labour was not in vain". She recognised administrators Marjorie Andrews, Barbara Chandler, Martha Archer, Austrid Archer-Rochford and Maria Lewis (athlete), the fallen stalwarts in the netball community in recent times.
Sharing in the celebratory moment, tuning in, were specially invited guests including chairman of the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT) Douglas Comacho, who deputised for the unavoidably absent Minister of Sports and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe, adviser to the Minister of Sports Ephraim Serrette, Director of Sport and Physical Education Gabre McTair, assistant director of Sport and Physical Education Patrice Charles, T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis, TTOC general secretary Annette Knott, president of Americas Netball Marva Bernard, Americas Netball secretary Dr Brigitte Adams-Sealy and Patron of the San Fernando Netball League, Joan Yuille-Williams, former Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.
Comacho brought greetings on behalf of the Sports Minister who in the address spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on lives and economies over the past two years and "that obstacles are always part of the process".
He added that the TTNA awards ceremony celebrates the achievements and represents the organisation's strength to push through obstacles and barriers while never accepting defeat.
"This evening we want to recognise the greatness and those involved in developing a sport that we all love, netball," conveyed by Comacho for the Minister. "TTNA can truly boast of developing a vibrant history as an elite sport on the national landscape. We know that through your tenacity and determination you continue to place T&T on the international landscape. we have seen many of our young national players receive opportunities through this sport and I am very proud of their achievements.
"We have many talented athletes in the is a sport. It will be remiss of me if I do not make a special mention to two of our internationally acclaimed netballers Samantha Wallace and Kalifa McCollin, who are both unstoppable on the court.
"This year I've eagerly anticipated the Vitality Netball Super League in the UK to witness our very own national netballer Jameela McCarthy play in the 2022 season and represent this nation with pride."
Certificates of participation for coaching, umpiring (local and regional), theoretical, technical officiating and scoring were presented by senior national netballers Afeisha Noel, Oprah Douglas and Aniecia Baptiste.
Chairperson Pamela Cumberbatch presented the major awards. Also honoured were Ashelle Legall, senior national netball team manager with the Lystra Lewis Administrative Award, international umpire Joel Young-Strong with the Brenda Prince Umpire's Award and senior national assistant coach Kemba Duncan with the Coaching Award.
"We hope all our members and athletes continue to achieve brilliance in the respective area and also infect others with their dedication and commitment to achieve greatness," said Blackburn.
TTNA 2021 Honour Roll
Lystra Lewis Administrative Award: Ashelle Legall
Brenda Prince Umpire's Award: Joel Young-Strong
Coaching Award: Kemba Duncan
Jean Pierre Athlete Award: Samantha Wallace
Community Award: Ashelle Legall (Tobago), Davidson Jones (South)
Martha Archer Long Service & Meritorious Award : Austrid Archer Roachford (deceased), Ruthlyn Antoine, Rhonda John-Davis.
Technical Official Award: Carol Gittens