In accordance with Rule 18 of the Rules of the Barbados Yacht Club, notice is hereby given that the Ninety-ninth Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 at the Club-House at 6 30 p m
Ms Alix James General Manager
15th January, 2025
1. To confirm the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday, 30th January, 2024. Copies of the minutes have been posted on the Notice Board in accordance with Rule 18 (a) (i))
2. To consider matters arising from such minutes.
3 To receive a report from the Committee and the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 30th September, 2024.
4 To consider the following Rule change resolutions
Resolution 1: To amend the Overseas Member’s Entitlements
Whereas;
The Barbados Yacht Club’s Rule 17) f) informs of the entitlement of Overseas Membership, namely:
“An Overseas Member shall be entitled to register with the Club yachts or other water craft in any class specified by the Committee of which such member is the owner and/or entitled to the sole use thereof on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine. On return to Barbados such member shall be entitled to his substantive membership for not more than 4 weeks without charge, and thereafter:-
I. To the privileges of the substantive membership on payment of the subscription prescribed and then due for such membership; or
II. To the privileges of a Visitor subject to such terms and conditions as prescribed by the Committee.”;
Whereas;
The Conditions of this Rule 17) f) allows for the Overseas member to use the Club for 4 weeks not in a continuous manner for the period indicated in the Rule;
Whereas;
The intent of the Rule 17) f) was to allow the Overseas Member to use the Club for a known period in a particular time,
Whereas;
The use of the Club in other than the intended use creates undue pressures on the operations of the Club and its impact on the costs of the Club;
Be it resolved:
That Rule 17) f) be changed to read as follows:
“An Overseas Member shall be entitled to register with the Club yachts or other water craft in any class specified by the Committee of which such member is the owner and/or entitled to the sole use thereof on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine. On return to Barbados such member shall be entitled to his substantive membership for not more than 4 consecutive weeks in any 12 month period without additional charge, and thereafter:-
I. To the privileges of the substantive membership on payment of the subscription prescribed and then due for such membership; or
II. To the privileges of a Visitor subject to such terms and conditions as prescribed by the Committee ”
Resolution 1: To allow Junior Members to participate in the management of the Club
Whereas;
The Barbados Yacht Club’s Rule 21) a) informs of the types of membership that may be elected to the Committee, namely:
“Only Full, Privileged, or Honorary Life Members may be elected to the Committee.”;
Whereas;
Rule 21) a) omits the membership category of Junior Members from being elected to the Committee;
Whereas;
The elimination of the category of Junior Member from the eligibility of election to the Committee does not allow for youth involvement in the Club’s Management and for continuity and diverse ideas in the policy and strategic direction of the Club,
Be it Resolved:
That the membership category of Junior Member is allowed to be elected to the Committee;
Be it Further Resolved;
That Rule 21) a) be revised to read as follows:
“Only Full, Privileged, Honorary Life or Junior Members”
5.To elect Flag Officers in accordance with Rule 20
NOMINATIONS
COMMODORE VICE-COMMODORE - Mr. Peter Thompson - Mr. J. Edward Clarke
Proposed by Mr. Peter W. Burke
Seconded by Mr. Francis H. Godson -
There being no other nominations these Flag officers are duly elected.
6. To elect Committee members in accordance with Rule 21
NOMINATIONS
Dr Stephen Moe
Mr Noah Haynes
Mr. Christopher Skinner
Proposed by Mr. Peter W. Burke
Seconded by Mr. Francis H. Godson
Proposed by Mr. Peter W. Burke
Seconded by Mr. Francis H. Godson
Proposed by Mr. Peter W. Burke
Seconded by Mr. Francis H. Godson
There being no other nominations these Committee Members are duly elected
7. General Business
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2024
1.
Changes for the year ending September 2023
Resignations
Deaths Newly Elected
The below-noted are members who would have passed away between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024: Terrence Treasure
Christopher
Gloria
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2024 (Cont'd)
Mr. Peter Thompson
SUB-COMMITTEE - Commodore - Vice Commodore
FLAG OFFICERS
Mr. Christopher Parravicino
The trustees of the Club are:
Mr Andrew Hutchinson
Mr Charles F Packer, MBA
Mr. Dick Stoute
Mr. Peter Marshall
The following members served on the Committee:
THE COMMODORE
THE VICE-COMMODORE - Mr Peter Thompson - Mr Christopher Parravicino
Resigned During The Year - Mr. Adrian Gale, Mrs. Keithan Laurie, Ms Karen McGuire
Standing - Mr. Satcha Kissoon, Mr. Brian Cadogan, Ms. Gillian Leach, Mr. Simon Parravicino
The Committee wishes to thank the following SubCommittees for their work during the year:
Mr. Christopher Parravicino
Mr. Alexander Mackenzie
Mr. Adrian Gale
Mr S Darrin White
Mr Nicholas Lashley
Mr. Jonathan Still
- Chair
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2024 (Cont'd)
Mr. William Gordon
Ms. Chantal Bagot
Ms. Shona Lashley
Mr Hallam Nichols
Mr. Paul Kellman - Chair
Mr. Christopher Parravicino
Mr. Peter Thompson
Mr. David Tindale
Ms Gillian Leach
Mr. Archie Cuke - Chair
Mr. Simon Parravicino
Mr. Christopher Parravicino
Ms. Victoria De Aramburu - Chair
Mr. Peter Thompson
Mr Andrew Hutchinson
Mr. Alan Birkett
Mr. Satcha Kissoon
Mr Kenrick Sealey - Chair
Mr. Brian Cadogan
Ms. Donna Gibbs
Mr. Jason Small
Ms Christie Gill
Ms. Karen McGuire
Mr. Nigel Worme - Chair - Chair
Mr. Peter Thompson
Dr. Anne Tindale
Mr Peter Burke
Mr. Jason Tindale
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2024 (Cont'd)
Mr. Peter Thompson
Mr Christopher Skinner
Human Resources &
Member Services
Mr. Satcha Kisson
Mr William Gordon
Ms. Wendy Fenwick
Mr Paul Kellman - Chair
After the passage of Hurricane Beryl on 1st July 2024, the launch and haul operations were affected first by a large wooden beam from the old Aquatic Club pier resting under the sea and sand on the cable for the pulley. This made it impossible to launch and haul boats for approximately two weeks until it was located and removed. The sand bank that built up under the sea from the shifting of the sand made the launch and haul of boats more complex and time-consuming as they had to be winched into the sea at a further distance as it was impossible to launch from the near shore as it was too shallow. Additionally, the gradient of the pathway from the property into the sea had to be levelled twice, thanks to the assistance and kind support of Sean Banfield, as the gradient was too steep to launch and haul boats safely. Thankfully the depth of the sea near shore now allows for launching most boats without the use of the winch.
After a very long wait for the delivery of the new ice machine for the Food & Beverage department, the old ice machine from the kitchen area was repaired and placed in the Boat Shed in September to replace the one that was there previously That machine had to be discarded due to its repeated breakdowns and age.
Due to the high demand for storage, the Boat Yard has been full for the duration of the year and up to the end of the financial year, all members who submitted application forms were accommodated. There were no members on the waitlist at the end of the financial year. The income from Boat Storage continues to contribute significantly to revenue for the Club
Many of the kayaks and paddle boards are no longer available for rental as they are too old, or no longer safe and have been discarded Some members have kindly donated their used ones and this number will be topped up by the purchase of second-hand ones from commercial operators.
Huge thanks to the team of Boatmen, ably led by Mr. Kenrick Sealey, for all of their work this past year, especially after the passage of Hurricane Beryl. Thanks also to the subcommittee members, Darrin White, Adrian Gale, Jonathan Still, Nicholas Lashley and Alex Mackenzie for their support and input
Mr Christopher Parravicino Chairperson
Firstly, I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to my predecessor, Keithan Lauri for her dedicated leadership of this subcommittee. Her tireless efforts and commit to the club cannot be understated
The past year has been especially significan we celebrated the centenary anniversary of club’s founding. In partnership with the Cen Planning Committee, several ceremonial ev and activities were held to honour this signi milestone. These included the Lunchtime Lecture and book launch featuring Sir Henry Fraser in April, as well as the Centenary Gala in August, which was attended by the President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason.
The year started off typically with an influx of visiting members and guests heading into the winter period We hosted some tribute nights/bands, notably Neil Diamond in October 2023, Abba in April 2024 and ‘Tina’ Turner in June 2024. These shows were quite popular among members and visitors alike. We also introduced Moonlight Opera and a Fiesta Latina night to relative success Other notable events included fundraisers, The Commodore’s Rum Punch, the Craft Fair, the Children’s Christmas party and Carols on the Beach. Our New Year’s Eve party continues to be in high demand, of which a key takeaway is the need for a designated area for the youth The BARP/Troubadours Concert in July, was another particularly significant event this year which had over 700 people in attendance More event partnerships like this could potentially earn the club a decent amount of revenue.
Coming out of a member survey, as a popular suggestion, quiz nights were introduced to the club in March 2024. Though not as consistent as they could have been, efforts are being made to improve the consistency of these types of events to ensure sustained turnouts. It is important for members to know what to expect and when to expect certain activities
I must commend the efforts of Mrs. Kay Clarke and the Events Team, who, in the absence of a General Manager continued execute events seamlessly. Credit must a be given to our hardworking and dedicate staff members without whom none of our success would be possible. This new fina year is an opportunity for us to improve and learn from past lessons to deliver qua entertainment which can be enjoyed by a members. I look forward to the next chap the club’s history as we move towards the 100 years
Lastly, I would like to thank the current members of the sub-committee for their and support. I also encourage any membe who are able and willing to join the enter promoting entertainment at the club, to reach out to a sub committee member.
Mr. William Gordon Chair (Acting) – Entertainment Sub-Committee
2024 was a monumental year for the Yacht Club as we celebrated our centenary, marking 100 years of tradition and excellence The Food and Beverage (F&B) Department played a pivotal role in these celebrations, hosting events planned by the Entertainment and Centenary Committees that exemplified our commitment to quality, service, and member satisfaction. From the Centenary Ball to a series of themed dinners and cocktail evenings, our team worked tirelessly to deliver unforgettable experiences.
These celebrations also highlighted our ability to innovate, as we introduced a "Rum Shop Service" for select events, offering creative drink packages like beer buckets and pitchers of tropical cocktails This service not only enhanced guest experiences but also improved profitability during events.
In 2024, the Food and Beverage Department achieved several key milestones, including the enhancement of facilities and equipment with the installation of a new ice machine to address long-standing capacity issues and ensure reliable service for both bars and boating events Financial and menu improvements were also made, such as standardizing menu recipes and portion sizes to enhance consistency and costing. Additionally, successful event management efforts included refining protocols to reduce quotation turnaround times and streamline communication across departments, as well as strengthening collaboration with the Events Sub-Committee to ensure the cohesive planning and execution of events such as the Tina Turner tribute
While 2024 brought many successes, it also revealed opportunities to improve, particularly in the areas of service quality and member experience Reports of inconsistent service delivery underscored the need for enhanced training programs to empower staff with the skills and confidence to provide a consistently high standard of service. We recognize that maintaining a warm, welcoming, and professional environment is essential to creating positive experiences for our members and guests, and we are prioritizing initiatives to ensure these values are upheld at all times
Cleanliness and efficiency also emerged as areas for improvement, with observations of lapses in maintaining service areas, particularly in high-traffic locations like the beach bar. These insights have reinforced the importance of operational discipline, and we are implementing stricter protocols and oversight to maintain the pristine, polished environment our members deserve.
The Food and Beverage Sub-Committee remains committed to addressing these challenges head-on, with plans to refine operational processes, increase accountability, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. By focusing on delivering exceptional service and creating memorable experiences, we aim to enhance overall member satisfaction and uphold the club’s reputation for excellence in 2025 and beyond
Under the leadership of our newly appointed General Manager, the F&B Department is poised to build on 2024’s achievements with a focus on quality, service, and innovation:
Service Excellence
Introduce enhanced training programs for staff, emphasizing guest relations, efficiency, and the importance of maintaining consistent standards Implement revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline kitchen and bar operations. The phased rollout ensured manageable, trackable progress Launch HACCP training for supervisors, focusing on food safety and quality standards
Upgrade and retrain on the ClearSky system to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
Expand the Rum Shop Service, leveraging its success to further enhance daily operations and event profitability.
Optimize the layout and functionality of the Shot Hall Bar and beach bar areas, including a trial of dual bar lines for peak periods.
Enhanced service efficiency through adjusted operating hours, ensuring uninterrupted service and increased breakfast flexibility
Develop more interactive dining experiences, to strengthen the connection between members and the club.
As we look to 2025, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and committed to addressing the challenges that remain. The Food and Beverage Department is dedicated to enhancing member satisfaction, improving operational efficiency, and setting the standard for excellence within the Yacht Club.
We extend our gratitude to the members, staff, and leadership for their unwavering support and collaboration during 2024. Together, we will continue to honour the club’s storied legacy while paving the way for an even brighter future
Mr. Simon Parravicino Chairperson
During the year, Messrs. Adrian Gale, the former Chairman, and Alan Birkett resigned from the House & Grounds Sub-committee Mr Gale indicated that he was unable to continue for personal reasons. Mr. Birkett indicated that he had additional work responsibilities and he did not think he would be able to offer the level of attention that would be required to the Subcommittee We thank them for their many years of service to the Club
Mr. Kenrick Sealey reached retirement age but was asked to stay on for an additional few weeks to assist with the organisation of the Barbados Sail Week and Round Barbados sailing events. We also thank Mr. Sealey for his years of service to the Club and wish him a long and healthy retirement.
The following projects were undertaken during the year in review
The Shot Hall, built in 1810, had some renovations completed. These included: 1.
Major structural repairs to the floor that supports the upstairs bathrooms. This floor, which is the soffit of the former kitchen of the Shot Hall, had severely compromised beams which compromised then integrity of the floor which they supported. The beams were changed and some of the other ancillary services that are installed in the ceiling space were upgraded as well.
The roof over the old kitchen of the Shot Hall was also repaired. This roof was in bad condition and was leaking into the space.
In preparation for the hosting of the Centenary Cocktail reception the downstairs bathrooms were refurbished. The refurbishment of these bathrooms also included extract air systems to remove odours from the bathrooms during their use
The Porte Cochere was repainted and its ceilings repaired
The spiral staircase that leads to the upper male bathroom was secured and repainted. The north and west facing walls were repainted.
2. Tennis courts 3 and 4 were resurfaced as they were showing signs of significant cracks. Benefitting from this refurbishment included several tournaments including the International Club (IC) of Barbados Rod Laver U-16 Juniors International Tournament which was hosted in November.
3. New nets were also purchased and installed on Courts 3 and 4.
4 A new pickleball court was painted under the canopy adjacent to the Ballroom
5 Leaks in the roof of the Beach kitchen facility were repaired
6 Works were also done in repairing the kitchen door of the Beach Facility and shutters that were broken
7. A new ice machine was purchased for the beach kitchen and the ice machine that was replaced in the Beach Facility’s kitchen was repaired and placed in the Boatshed.
8. The roof in the Boatshed was repaired.
9. New drinks coolers were purchased and installed in the bar of the Beach Facility.
Our plans for 2025, and beyond, include:
An assessment of the Ballroom’s floor and its complete repair. Depending on the cost for these works, we may not be able to complete these works in the coming year but that will be determined once the assessment has been completed and costs for the works are received 1. The renovation of the upper-level bathrooms of the Shot Hall. 2.
Renovations to the bathrooms of the Beach Facility 3
Renovation of the bathrooms in the old Staff Facility. 4.
New pickleball courts to be installed. 5. Painting of the car park. 6.
7.
Renovations of the flora and fauna that borders the outdoor walkway from the Shot Hall to the Beach facility.
8
Providing access to the beach, at least to the high-water mark, for our physically challenged members.
Mr. Peter Thompson Chairperson
The 2024 sailing season commenced with the Barbados Sailing Week, an event which was organized on the behalf of the Barbados Cruising Club and supported by the Barbados Yacht Club and the Barbados Sailing Association. The event had several features including, but not limited to, coastal racing series, kite surfing and wing foil racing, dinghy racing and the Round Barbados race on Errol Barrow Day.
As it was our Centenary year, the Barbados Yacht Club was able to host its Centenary Offshore Regatta on the weekend which was traditionally used for the Barbados Old Brigand Rum Regatta in May, and we were also able to host the Barbados Yacht Club’s Centenary Dinghy Regatta in November
We revived the Shot Hall Bar for the skipper’s briefing and prize-giving ceremony of the Centenary Offshore regatta with the traditional “100 rums on the bar” and we honoured three of our stalwarts, Messrs. Errol Bignall, Frank Gonsalves and former Commodore Peter Burke during this event in the Shot Hall Bar. A special thank you must also be given to Old Brigand Rum of Foursquare Distilleries who sponsored the liquid refreshment for the Shot Hall Bar functions of the Centenary Offshore Regatta.
The year’s racing also included:
The Little Man Dinghy Regatta, sponsored by Harris Paints
The Harris Offshore Memorial Race, also sponsored by Harris Paints
The Stansfeld Scott Offshore Regatta, sponsored by Stansfeld Scott
The Lucky Horseshoe Offshore Regatta, sponsored by Lucky Horseshoe
The Massy Stores Dinghy Regatta, sponsored by Massy Stores, and
The Avril Parker Dinghy Regatta, sponsored by the Parker family
Several of our members took part in regional regattas including Mr. Peter Lewis’ Whistler, Mr. Cyril Lecrenay’s Bunga Bunga, Mr. Geoffrey Evelyn’s Dandelion, Mr. Gus Reader’s Glory Daze and Mr Greg Webster’s Phoenix
The Barbados Yacht Club continued to support the Barbados Sailing Association through sailing camps for young sailors These camps, hosted at the Club, are invaluable as they seek to ensure the continuity of the sport of sailing on the island. Whether the young sailors continue to hone their skills as racing sailors or use the skills learnt to enjoy the more casual pleasure of cruising, the practice of sailing cannot continue without youth involvement.
During the year the Barbados Yacht Club’s sailing community lost Mr. Derek Johnson, a great sailor and friend to many. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, and associates, without whom, our active sailing calendar would not be possible.
To our sponsors, Harris Paints, Lucky Horseshoe, Stansfeld Scott, Massy Stores, The Parker family and Old Brigand Rum for their continued support of our sailing events
To our associates, the Barbados Sailing Association and The Barbados Cruising Club, with our continued efforts to promote the sport of sailing we continue to offer skills to young sailors, and fun activities to the sailing community as a whole We look forward to our continued efforts to build our sailing community
We say a huge thank you to Dr. Anne Tindale, Messrs. Peter Burke, Frank Gonsalves, Jason Tindale, Kenrick Sealey, and all of the BYC boatmen and staff who make these activities a success.
To the parents and guardians of the youth, thank you for your support. We are well aware of the hectic schedules associated with the youth's activities. You could have used the time spent to and from sailing camps and regattas on other activities, but we are happy that you chose sailing
The results of the race are as follows:
The Little Man
Junior Dinghy Regatta: Taz Class
1st Mr Justin Austin
2nd Mr Ronen Singh
ILCA 4 Class
1st Mr. Joseph Whelan
2nd Ms. Savannah Stuart
3rd Ms Amabel Chase
O’Pen Skiff Class
1st Jasper Hope
2nd Leenah Nagdee
3rd Francesca Johnson
O’Pen Skiff Class
1st Ms. Leenah Nagdee
2nd Ms. Leila Archer
3rd Mr Alexander McGaw
Harris Offshore Memorial Race:
1st Mr. Geoffrey Evelyn’s Dandelion
2nd Dr. Gus Reader’s Glory Daze
3rd Mr. Jason Tindale’s A-Salt Weapon
Avril Parker
Dinghy Regatta:
ILCA 4 Class
1st Ms. Savannah Stuart
2nd Mr. Jasper Hope
3rd Ms. Amabel Chase
O’Pen Skiff Class
1st Mr Nelson Hope
2nd Ms Leila Archer
3rd Mr Kai Duncan
Lucky Horseshoe Offshore
Regatta: J/24 Class
Stansfeld Scott Offshore Regatta:
1st Mr. Cyril Lecrenay’s Bunga Bunga
2nd Mr. Jason Tindale’s A-Salt Weapon
3rd Dr. Gus Reader’s Glory Daze
ILCA 4 Class
1st Ms. Savannah Stuart
2nd Mr. Jasper Hope
3rd Ms. Amabel Chase
ILCA 6 Class (formerly the Laser Radial Class)
1st Mr. Jason Tindale
2nd Mr. Jacob Binnema
Racer/Cruiser Class
1st Mr Paul Johnson’s Rapajam
2nd Mr Geoffrey Evelyn’s Dandelion
3rd Ms Adrienne Norton’s Nana Anna
1st Mr. Cyril Lecrenay’s Bunga Bunga
2nd Mr. Greg Webster’s Pheonix
3rd Dr. Gus Reader’s Glory Daze
Massy Stores Dinghy Series:
O’Pen Skiff Class
1st Mr. Jasper Hope
2nd Mr. Nelson Hope
3rd Mr Alexander McGaw
ILCA 4 Class
1st Mr. Joseph Whelan
2nd Ms. Savannah Stuart
3rd Ms Amabel Chase
1st Mr. Jason Tindale’s A-Salt Weapon
2nd Mr. Paul Johnson’s Rapajam
3rd Ms. Adrienne Norton’s Nana Anna
Barbados Yacht Club’s Centenary Dinghy Regatta:
Sunfish Class
1st Mr. Dylan Mahon
2nd Mr. Jack Parker
3rd Mr Brennan Watson
Optimist Green Fleet
1st Mr Jozef Dass
2nd Mr Sebastian Harvey-Read
3rd Mr Jett Teller
ILCA 4 Class
O’Pen Skiff Class
1st Mr. Alexander McGaw
2nd Mr. Kai Duncan
3rd Ms Lillian Spiceland
ILCA 6 Clas
1st Mr Jason Tindale
2nd Mr Joseph Whelan
3rd Mr Aaron
1st Mr. Daniel McCollin
2nd Ms. Amabel Chase
3rd Ms. Leenah Nagdee
Mr.Peter Thompson Chairperson
Tennis continues to be a significant activity at BYC and what a year 2024 has been! Reflecting upon the year, the BYC Tennis sub-committee can be proud of numerous achievements in many areas despite the overall challenges faced by the Club along the way.
The following are the key highlights:
Inter - Club
After several years of finishing in the runner-up position, the BYC Tennis Team were crowned 2024 Inter-club champions in April having defeated the Tennis Centre at the Barbados Tennis Association’s (BTA) headquarters in Wildey.
Congratulations to the Captains Donna Gibbs and Jason Small and all members of the team! Special thanks to all BYC friends of tennis who supported the team in both home and away matches
At the beginning of April, the BYC tennis sub-committee introduced tennis lessons to all Members by renowned Davis Cup Coach, Damien Applewhaite and his team from Advantage Tennis Services (ATS). This program which is open to beginners and more advanced players of all ages have been a success to date, primarily on Sunday mornings, with plans to attract and develop young players as part of the overall vision of tennis.
Easter Tennis Camp returned to BYC after a few years of hiatus with a week-long event held in April by ATS This camp attracted kids from ages 5-14 who very much enjoyed the week of activities which included training sessions on the court as well as other off-court camp activities. Members can look forward to camps during the Easter period as well as over Summer this year so please stay tuned for more information.
In collaboration with the Entertainment Committee, the Tennis sub-committee assisted in hosting The BARP Soca Event which was a tremendous success attended by several hundred Crop Over enthusiasts. Funds from the event were allocated towards the resurfacing of the tennis courts.
On September 27th, BYC’s Centenary Celebrations continued with an afternoon of tennis activities including an exhibition match, coaching, playing against the ball machine, several games and a display of various memorabilia of tennis through the years at BYC.
As part of the Centenary Celebrations, BYC was pleased to host the Jean Merry and Tranquility Club Teams from Trinidad in June and October respectively. There is a long history of camaraderie and friendship amongst the teams dating back several decades. The weekend of activities consists of friendly competition on the court in addition to ‘liming’ with the Trinis in the sea with the odd rum punch or two! BYC has been invited to make the reciprocal trip to Trinidad and very much looks forward to it.
In November, BYC hosted the International Council of Tennis (IC) U 16 Rod Laver International Junior Challenge (North America and Caribbean Region). This event attracted top junior players from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the host country Barbados and brought great entertainment and a high standard of play to the Club. The team from IC Mexico emerged victorious following a nail-biting finish against the USA and will go on to the World Finals against other regional champions in Spain later this year.
The Junior Challenge Event also included a local IC Philanthropy Event where the juniors hosted children from the Nightingale Children's Home for an evening of tennis (in the rain!) followed by light refreshments
As always, a great highlight of the year, the Annual Zeela DeFreitas Mixed Doubles Tournament was held in November with Donna Gibbs and Joshua Worme emerging victorious after an action-packed week of matches This unique tournament involves a wide range of players in a format where players swap partners, increasing participation amongst the various groups of players at the Club. Members can look forward to this event which will be held later this year in November as usual
After nearly 20 years, the much-needed re-surfacing of Courts 3 and 4 was completed in September.
Ongoing general maintenance including minor repairs to fencing continues by the House and Grounds Team. This year, the team will focus on minor works to address the challenges associated with drainage outside the fenced areas and replacement of windbreakers etc (along with general maintenance throughout the year).
In addition to the activities mentioned above, members can look forward to additional events including more fun tournaments and on-court activities aimed at bringing all members (old, young and “young-at-heart”!) onto the courts.
There are plans to expand coaching activities for individuals and groups, attracting more junior members along the way.
Stay tuned also for more philanthropy and fundraising events including quiz nights and more.
I would like to thank all members of the Management Committee who continue to support tennis at BYC, the Food & Beverage and House & Grounds staff for their commitment throughout the year and all BYC members for their participation and encouragement during the competitions.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all members of the sub-committee (Donna Gibbs, Christie Gill, Jason Small and Nigel Worme), whose efforts and collaboration made 2024 such a tremendous success!
Mr. Brian Cadogan Chairperson
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
