Bovell, Manswell on National Awards list

SWIMMER George Bovell and boxer Kerston Manswell are amongst five sports personalities and administrators to receive National Awards today, at President’s House, St Ann’s from 6 pm, for loyal and devoted service to Trinidad and Tobago in the sphere of sport.

The awards were conferred under the Order of the Trinity on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of Independence. The 20-year-old Bovell and long-standing track and field administrator Wilton Jackson will each collect the Humming Bird Medal Gold while Manswell, retired professional golfer Robert McKenna and president of the Trinidad and Tobago Umpires Association Harry Mahabal are the recipients of the Humming Bird Medal Silver. Bovell, who is entering his second year at Auburn University in the United States, won two gold medals in the 200-metre individual medley (clocking the fifth fastest time in history) and 200m freestyle at the recent Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The six-foot-five-inch tall Bovell also placed fifth in the 200 IM at the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain in July.

Manswell, a 26-year-old heavyweight pugilist from Roxborough, Tobago, took three silver medals at recent international meets —- the 2002 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games at El Salvador, the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England and the just-concluded Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo. Mahabal said yesterday he would dedicate the Humingbird Silver Medal to his late parents. Speaking from his Dinsley Avenue, Trincity home an emotional Mahabal said: “I am very honoured to have received such an award and I would like to dedicate it to my parents Alfred and Teresa Mahabal —- both of whom are now deceased. I would also like to dedicate it to all the umpires in Trinidad and Tobago.” The 62-year old has been recognised for his contribution to sport, especially umpiring. “It is good to be honoured after 37 years in the field of umpiring. I am very happy with the accolade and I would like to thank the government of Trinidad and Tobago for their kind gesture.” Mahabal who recently retired as a Materials Manager at Caribbean Packaging Industries Limited said he has enjoyed his stint as an umpire and still dons his umpiring coat up until today, although he is heavily involved in the administration of the sport. Recently Mahabal was made vice-president of Area-4 by the West Indies Cricket Umpires Council and has already started working on the development of the regional officials.