WI local: Empire salutes stars

Empire, one of the most celebrated sports clubs on the island, continued their rich tradition last Thursday night by honouring their 2000 sporting heroes at the recently renovated Bank Hall club house.

With former greats Sir Everton Weekes and Charlie Griffith in the audience, president Stephen Alleyne praised the members for their dedication to Empire paid tribute not only to the players, but to the sponsors and the `unsung heroes' who worked behind the scenes to keep the club going.

Describing their 2000 successes as moderate, the president cautioned the club members that "a chain is as strong as its weakest link" and urged all members to better the results in the year ahead.

The annual event came just days after Empire cricket team had won the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 title and reaching the finals of the Barbados Fire and Commercial Cup Knockout cup.

Vice-president Maurice Gaskin, a former national footballer described the occasion as a `celebration' and urged the members to keep supporting "the greatest club in the world".

During the year the club won two major titles, the women's hockey league title and the Division 1 cricket championship.

New coach of the cricket team Jeffrey Mapp came in for some measured praise as did the main sponsors of the club, Caribbean Commercial Bank, Insurance Corporation of Barbados, Barbados Lumber Company and Life of Barbados.