MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Super League, Rural Junior Cup and joint allisland cricket champions, Manchester Cricket Club has been honoured for its outstanding performances in all national cricket competitions this year.

Under the guidance of coach Bertram Barnes, Manchester also ran out runner-up in both the national senior team Twenty20 and limited overs competitions.

Managing director of Sherwin Williams West Indies, Ian Forbes, commended Manchester for their achievements despite what he described as “negative trends” at the game’s top level.

“There are so many negative trends in cricket today what with top players in the region withholding their services and the less than desirable display by the region’s so called best cricketers,” said Forbes, making reference to the WIPA strike.

“With an appealing absence of the right leadership attitude it is a miracle that Manchester or anyone associated with the game can find the inspiration to excel,” said Forbes, who delivered the main address at the awards ceremony at the Manchester Club last Thursday evening.

But Forbes strayed from sport’s negative side to the positive. “The path to betterment can be through sports which steers the youths into healthy and rewarding activity showing them an alternative to errant behaviour and anti-social practices,” he said.

President of the Jamaica Cricket Association, Paul Campbell, praised the Manchester Cricket Association (MCA) for what he described as “showing the kind of leadership needed at the national and regional levels”.

“I’ve been accused of favouring the Manchester Cricket Association and I make no apologies for it as I am attracted to progressive people, winners, and that’s what I see in the Manchester Cricket Association,” Campbell said in his brief opening remarks. Also from Manchester, the South Stars Cricket Club received an award for winning the annual Pat Anderson Trophy.

Individual awardees: Super League: Krishmar Santokie (Top Bowler for Manchester in the Super League), Zenieffe Fowler (Top Batsman for Manchester in the Super League), Gary Graham (Most Disciplined Player for Manchester Junior Cup), Christopher Gayle (Top Bowler for Manchester in the Junior Cup), Brian Clarke (Top Batsman for Manchester in the Junior Cup), and Courtney Allen (MVP and Most Disciplined Player for Manchester in Junior Cup).

Other awardees include Bertram Barnes (coach), Novelyn Ricketts (MCA Secretary), Glenville Thomas (former Manchester player) and Martin O’Brien (former Manchester player) who were all honoured for outstanding and long service to the MCA.