The Boyce/Jefford Classic, a track and field partnership involving Colin Boyce and Edison Jefford has ended after nine years and Boyce is prepared to take the latter to court after it was publicized that the ‘Jefford Track and Field Classic’ is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.
In a letter seen by this publication and written by Boyce, a former President of the Athletic Association of Guyana, it states that:
“I was pleasantly surprised that despite advice and warning, Mr. Jefford was bold enough to publicize that the Jefford Track and Field Classic is celebrating its tenth year when in fact this is the first Jefford track meet. My question for Mr. Jefford is “where and when were the previous nine Jefford Track and Field Classic held?”
In the letter, Boyce went on to state: “I am compelled to seek legal redress in a court of law since the logo (with the name Boyce missing), pictures, backdrop and the previous years of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic were used to promote the Jefford Track and Field Classic. This I found to be tantamount disrespect to me since I was the backbone of the Boyce/Jefford Classic which was renamed from the President/Jefford Track and Field Classic after losing the Presidency of the AAG in 2013.”
Boyce, the former chairman of the fixture further stated in the letter that: “I wish to let the athletes, track and field lovers and supporters know that I have no intention of causing disharmony within the sport but will not sit in silence and allow Mr. Jefford to enjoy the benefits and glory derived from the success of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic.”
In an invited comment, Jefford responded by saying: “Mr. Boyce is entitled to his opinions. The simple facts are that there is nothing binding me to any partnership with Mr. Boyce since that has ended. There is no Boyce/Jefford and the use of such in any marketing of the event. I have moved on with a meet that started in honour of my father, a former nationally renowned athlete, using his name. There was no formal warning of any sort from anywhere as mentioned. As the founder of the meet in question in 2009, I am entitled to use any collateral relative to the meet. Mr. Boyce is well aware of all the facts surrounding the origin of the meet and it’s metamorphosis over the years. However he attempts to distort those facts is a matter of choice for him.”
The event is scheduled to run off at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground on August 11 with lucrative cash incentives and door prizes on offer. In excess of $2M is up for grabs. (Emmerson Campbell)
