Trinidad: Faulkner's night in November (29 November 1998)

29 November 1998

Trinidad: Faulkner's night in November

By Garth Wattley

British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Gregory Faulkner, was a late replacement, a pinch-hitter for the original feature speaker, immediate MCC past president Colin Ingleby McKenzie.

But at the Queen's Park Cricket Club's annual prizegiving dinner, he was more the neat strokeplayer and "Christian" to slaughter.

Recounting the story of a Christian's miraculous escape from hungry lions, having been thrown to them by the Roman emperor, the High Commissioner quotes the Christian.

"I simply warned them that after they have dined they must make a speech! "As the representative of the British lion," Faulkner continues, "I now understand my Roman counterpart."

Extending his theme, the High Commissioner made a rib-tickling modern-day link to the old story.

"Happily today, sport is rather less violent, except perhaps in Australia where I see the media are already convinced that their team will make mincemeat of the latest batch of English Christians to reach their shores!"

And he begged the audience to endorse his hope that "we northerners," England, and the West Indies down in South Africa, "stick together and teach those southerners how the game is played."

However, with Alec Stewart's Englishmen being eaten raw-bowled out for 112 on the first day of the Second Ashes Test, the High Commissioner's witty cameo was destined to be the Britishers' only taste of success.

But on a night when the Parkites honoured their own, there was reward for achievers and achievements past and present.

For the most productive season of his career to date, national and now West Indies "A" team middle-order batsman was named Queen's Park's Sportsman of the Year.

Smith, an inconsistent performer prior to the 1998 regional season, totalled 319 runs at an average of 39.87. But, more significantly, he recorded his first regional century-108 not out-against Jamaica.

Smith also played good hands for Queen's Park during the local club season. And having earned selection to the "A" team for the tours of Bangladesh and India, followed up a couple of half-centuries with an excellent 179 against an Indian Youth XI.

Smith was also one of the club's Five Cricketers of the Year, the others being club captain Andre Lawrence, Gregory Davis, Emerson Williams and Clint Pamphille, all of whom were part of the successful squad that made the recent, historic tour of Australia.

Williams, a young player who also showed improved form during the club season, also earned himself the Senior Cricketer of the Year award, while wicketkeeper Navin Chan was named the club's Youth Cricketer of the Year.

Sharing the spotlight with the cricketers was defender Keith Pierre who was the club's Footballer of the Year.

Also in the spotlight were two outstanding athletes of the past. Local tennis great Alan Price and allround sportsman, the late D'Arcy Galt, were inducted into the Queen's Park Hall of Fame, the 26th and 27th inductees to date.

Sportsman of the Year: Richard Smith
Cricketer of Year: Richard Smith
Five Cricketers of Year: Richard Smith, Andre Lawrence, Clint Pamphille, Gregory Davis, Emerson Williams.
Senior Cricketer of Year: Emerson Williams
Youth Cricketer of Year: Navin Chan, Phil Thompson
GTM Most Improved Young Cricketer: Imran Jan
Hockey Player of Year: Raphael Govia
Tennis Player of Year: Pierre Rudder
Football Player of Year: Keith Pierre
Squash Player of Year: Mark Jardine
Hall of Fame Inductees: D'Arcy Galt, Alan Price.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)