NETBALL IN POINT FORTIN

Members of the Dynamos Netball team.

Back row (L-R): Heather Charleau-Seepersad, Sandra

Phillip, Eltin Ogis, Cherry St. Louis and Angela

Charleau-O'Garro. Middle (L-R): Gloudia Gordon, Ivol

Roberts and Angela Duncan, Front: Christine Farrel

Organised netball in Point Fortin was orchestrated by the persuasive hands of Gertrude Howard on the 19th October, 1948, under the aegis of a keep fit club, comprising Ivol Roberts, Charles Clarke, Helena George, Mickey Pierre and Marjorie Melville. Their venue of play was the Seventh day Adventist Church compound.

Teams which participated in those days were; Ebony, Imperial; Lakers (from Siparia), and teams from St. Patrick East and West. These were the first teams to enter the league.

After some seasons the league experienced problems of inept administration and the unavail­ability of proper facilities. The competition was subsequently taken over by Shell Oil Company and administered by a Committee comprising Mickey Pierre (President), Hyland Charles (Secretary), Charles Clarke (Asst. Secretary) and Errol West (Treasurer). This committee administered the Netball competition from the northern corner of the Mahaica Oval. They held office for three years until the rut again set in and the League became inactive for five years. The league, however, gained new life when Helena George took up the mantlein 1970 and organised the netball under the aegis of the Point Fortin Village Council. She was ably assisted by netball player Ivol Roberts. Com­petitions were held at Techier Netball Ground.

After a period of time Helena George became overwhelmed with the pressure of work at home and at the League which led eventually to her departure. This left Ivol with the responsibility of running of the league.

Ivol accepted the challenge and reverted to running the League as a Keep Fit Exercise club. However, on the advice of Lystra Lewis, she got together with Norma Jackman, El tin Ogis, Marjorie Andrews and Verlyn Prescott and formed the Point Fortin Netball League, which became affiliated to the National Body in 1978,

The league was managed by a president, secre­tary, treasurer, asst. secretary and committee mem­bers. Competitions were held at Mahaica Car Park and the league was segmented into division A, B, Intermediate and Beginners. They competed for the League shield and other trophies donated by Trinmar, Dunlop, J.F.R. Richardson, Cyril Rogers and the Point Fortin Credit Union.

Organised netball in Point Fortin has brought to national recognition Ivol Roberts in 1973,Cheryl St. Louis in 1976 and Sandra Phillip, who was named by the Borough Corporation as the most outstanding player. Her performance in the league eventually led to her selection to the under-21 national team to tour Canada in 1974.

 However, the player to climb the highest realm for Point Fortin was Heather Charleau-Seepersad who was selected to the national team as wing defence for the 1979,1983 and 1987 World Net-ball Championship.

Teams of Point Fortin League in the Early Days were:-

Dynamics  Obedisa Beesa   Starland Lakers  Ebony Imperial  Siparia Rockets

Teams from St. Patrick East and West

With the establishment of the League in 1978, the following Presidents served:-

Norma Jackman 1978 - 1980

Marjorie Andrews 1980- 1989

Eltin Ogis 1990 to present time.

Today, the needs of the Point Fortin League are numerous:

(1) Renewal of the shields and trophies donated to the league since 1980

(2) Upgrading of playing facilities at the back of the Point Fortin Town Hall.

(3) Paving of areas around the court.

(4) Installation of lights,

(5) The construction of another court.