- Blackmore new general secretary

Former national sprinter Colin Boyce was yesterday elected president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) when the governing body of track and field held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the YMCA annexe.
Boyce, as reported by Stabroek Sports earlier,  was a sure bid for the top post as he was the only candidate nominated prior to the elections and yesterday’s meeting merely ratified his appointment.

Former president Claude Blackmore, who served in that capacity for the past 13 years, did not seek re-election. After his election the Assistant Superintendent of Police stated that for the body to work together and make a difference there needed to be changes to the policy of the previous administration.

Newly-elected AAG President Colin Boyce sits at centre along with the association’s executive (sitting) and council members (standing) after the conclusion of the AAG’s Annual General Meeting yesterday missing is Leslie Black. (Clairmonte Marcus Photo)

“I’m not totally satisfied with the body but if they are prepared and are willingly to work and produce acceptable proposals, then I will support them,” Boyce told this newspaper. “My first intention is to push the sport further and we will be pushing even harder to acquire an all weather track (synthetic) with a cycling banked track because that is the stepping stone,” Boyce, the second member of the Joint Services to hold the post after Colonel Desmond Roberts, said.

Boyce, a top sprinter during his heyday, said that  athletes suffer a great deal in the wet season due to the absence of a track adding that there was also need for a proper gym facility.

Boyce said it was his understanding that with the construction of the National Stadium at Providence, a gym for the benefit of all sports disciplines was to have been established there.
And, in a not altogether surprising move Blackmore was elected general secretary of the organization while Leslie Romahlo and Branford Burke are the new vice presidents.

Franz Welch was returned unopposed as treasurer while Pamela Phillips defeated Debbie Hopkinson for the post of assistant secretary/treasurer. The 10 council members including new faces Leslie Black and Faye Naughton are Lyndon Wilson, Wendy Doris, Amanda Hermonstine, Cornel Rose, Robert Chisholm, Mark Scott, Shirley Hooper and Mayfield Taylor-Trim.