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To mark our twenty-fifth anniversary of cricket in Rural-Belize District, synonymously our year of Silver, for the first time, the history will be put on paper.
A brief history of cricket in Rural Belize District, February, 2009.
It is said that cricket has been played in Rural Belize District before 1950. At that time it was played as a “pick side” or scratch-match. It was referred to by many people as “ball game” or “bat and wicket”.
The names of some great players are still mentioned today. A few names would be David Wade; Arthur Segura; Percy Flowers; Reginald Flowers (Vejito), who bowled the West Indian centurian for duck with the first ball.
In the early 1950’s, between 1950 and 1952, an organized cricket competition was formed in Rural Belize District. This competition is said to have been organized by Marcello Cassasola of Saint Paul’s and Percy Flowers of Crooked Tree. Edwin Parks of Lords Bank and Charles Young of Rancho might also have been part of this same team.
This competition played for 27 to 29 years, and then came to a sudden stop in 1979.
There are many reasons for this sudden collapse, but these two reasons might be the main cause: there was the great flood in 1979 in the Belize River Valley; and also the then President Clarence Tillett left the country for the U.S.A.
During this cricket era, there are some well talked about players, even up to today. Names are frequently heard like: – David Joseph, Charles Adolphus, Marshall Jones, Rudolph Bennett, Marcello Cassasola, Percy “Faco” Flowers, Gilbert Cassasola, Berty Joe Rivers, Oswald Gillett, Lionel Vacarro, Ernest, Kenrick and Glen Jones, Joshua Jones, “World of Steam” Tillett, Orlin and Peter Cassasola, Harrison and Edison Parks, Berty Segura.
Cricket was re-started in Rural Belize District in 1984. It was spearheaded by myself, Gliksten Bennett of Lemonal, alongside Lisborne Joseph and Clifton Young of Bermudian Landing. Three of us attended the first general meeting held in Bermudian Landing, in which myself, Gliksten Bennett became the first president, Lisborne Joseph the first treasurer, and Clifton Young the first secretary.
My sincere thanks go out to Mr. Faux and Mr. Eddie Hyde from the then Belize Cricket Association, and Samuel Rhaburn, who helped us with transportation during his campaign.
The Association took on different names as it moved from six teams to a maximum of eighteen teams. It started as Belize Rural Cricket Association; then Belize Cricket Association; Belize National Cricket Association; and presently, Belize District Cricket Association.
This year, 2009, is our year of “Silver”, which marks our twenty-fifth anniversary of existence.
The names of presidents who have served are:- Gliksten Bennett, Oswald Gillett, Polin Perez, Lawrence Flowers, Winfield Baptist, Earl Perez, Llewellyn Sutherland, Gilbert Sutherland, (acting) Rudolph Anthony, Elston Wade, Gilroy Middleton, and presently Elihue Bonner.
Some very talented players and even centurions are:- Lisborne Joseph, Charles Baizar, Gliksten Bennett, Herman Anthony, Jr., Norman Pook, Dirk Sutherland, Clarence Anthony, Andrew Banner, Winston Flowers, Ben Robinson, Lyle Tillett, Barry Tillett, Lawrence Banner, Landis Wade, Howell Gillett.
Some of my personal contributions to this era of cricket are:- (a) I organized and held the first cricket marathon in Bermudian Landing, which continues for the past 24 years; (b) was the first president; (c) organized primary school cricket competition; (d) organized high school cricket alongside Miss Marrith; (e) wrote the first by-laws for one-day cricket, fifty-over cricket, twenty-twenty cricket; (f) first written history of Rural Cricket.
I have done quite a lot of research, at least not from a book. This idea came to me from Calbert Pook of Rancho Dolores. This is the first written history of our Rural Cricket, and it would be even greater and more colorful if we can get it through someone else’s eyes. Your contribution is welcome and appreciated.
Written by Mr. Gliksten Bennett, Vice-President, Belize District Rural Cricket Association for the 25th anniversary of our Cricket, February, 2009.
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