Philip Fernandes and most of the executives of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) were returned to office along with two newcomers following the GHB’s annual general meeting Thursday evening at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion.

Banking executive, Gail Harding, and businessman, Brian Asregado, a former vice-president of the GHB, were elected as committee members.

Ivor Thompson and Rawl Davson retained their posts as vice presidents as well as long-serving secretary Gregory Sills, treasurer, Devin Hooper and assistant secretary/ treasurer, Tricia Fiedtkou.

Sills, in his report, declared 2009 a highly successful year for the GHB.

The annual Diamond Water International Indoor Hockey Festival held in December once again took the spotlight among the board’s tournaments held locally.

Sills said the board also successfully kicked started its junior development programme while several local teams participated in tournaments in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

Sills said one of the disappointments of the year was the cancellation of the second Caribbean Cup tournament which was billed for Jamaica in July as both male and female national teams were preparing for that event.

The GHB also ran off the annual Farfan and Mendes first-division league as well as the John Fernandes Insurance second division competition

There were several indoor tournaments including the GT&T National championships, Mr. Toppers and the Noble House Seafood Handicap Goal Galore competitions.

Fernandes and national men’s coach Damon Woodroffe attended two international coaching courses.

The GHB was also instrumental in inviting international umpires to officiate in the International Indoor Festival.

Hockey players were invited to play at the National Stadium at Providence for the first time in a special tournament held on Caricom Day.

The local season is expected to bully off in the new two weeks.
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