Oscar Richardson (right)
Twelve boat-racing pioneers at West End, a number of whom are deceased, were honoured at Ocean Echo Restaurant at Meads Bay on Saturday evening, May 25.
The event, now in its third year, is an initiative by Cardigan Connor and a group of committee members who are grateful to all those who played a key role in the development of the national sport, and to those committed to commemorating their contributions.
The honoured pioneers and their racing boats are as follows: Davis Hughes and Albert Hughes: Pricilla; Hensley Hodge and Charlie Hodge: Cozy; Rufus Richardson, Bernard Fleming and Keithley Hodge: Wizard; Morris “Natty” Hughes: Wizard/Light & Peace; Ashley Hodge: Step Light: Alban Richardson: Loving Voice; Stephen Richardson: StayUp/NWO; and Nelson “Capt” Hughes: Light & Peace. The honorees or their representatives were presented with glass carvings (in the shape of boats). One person, Oscar Richardson, was given the Elliott Webster Memorial Trophy. He has never sailed on a racing boat, but has always been an ardent supporter of the national sport and West End boats – Light & Peace in particular.
The award ceremony was preceded by remarks fromMr. Cardigan Connor who praised the pioneers for blazing the boat-racing trail at West End. “I think it is now a great pleasure that, for the third year, thirty-six names have been brought forward – and in those years is a minimum of forty years of experience in boat-racing,” he said. “It has been part of our heritage and culture, and boat-racing has bonded us as an island.” He was grateful to the committee members for involving all the people of West End, Long Bay and The Cove in celebrating the culture of boat-racing.
Mr. Connor also expressed gratitude to a number of sponsors – mentioning, among them, the Hickoxes of Cap Juluca and Malliouhana Hotel and Spa.The other sponsors were Len & Cheryl Cerullo; Cardy& Jacquie Connor; Cheddi’s Carving Studio; Recession Bar & Grill; Foods Ninety-Five; Oliver’s Restaurant; KCN Television; Sheriva Boutique Hotel; Aronel Ltd; CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa; Ocean Echo Restaurant; Mango’s Seaside Grill; Frangipani Beach Resort; Carimar; Anacaona Boutique Hotel; Viceroy; Picante; Smokey’s and Fun Time Boat Charters.
The other two speakers were Harris Richardson (owner of the racing boat, Chan) and Ira Richardson (DJ Ritchie), two ardent boat-racing promoters who also conduct a radio talk show entitled:Boat Race Crossfire.
Meanwhile, much attention was given to three West End A-class boats – Light & Peace, which is over fifty years old, Wizard, which is in her forties, and NWO which is fourteen years old. They participated in a race at Meads Bay the following day, Sunday, in the run-up to the Anguilla Day round-the-island race. The popular bet was NW0.
DJ Ritchie declared: “I have no doubt that NWO will finish the unfinished business for the last two years (when Light & Peace was the champion boat). Tomorrow, I am sure that my boat – NW0 –in which I have my heart, my body and all my strength, and the boat I believe in for fourteen years, and she has not let me down too many times – will win.NWO is a minor boat. If you interfere with her, we will put you in trouble.”
At the end of Sunday’s race, DJ Ritchie telephoned The Anguillian: “NWO won the rivalry race,” he reported, his voice filled with excitement. Just where that boat will place in the Anguilla Day Race is anybody’s guess.
