Two of the top squash referees in the Caribbean – Orson Simpson and Craig Archer – were presented with awards in the “Official Achieving International Recognition” category by the National Sports Council in its glittering 27th Annual Awards Ceremony that was held at the Frank Collymore Hall on Saturday night, January 30, 2010.
Archer is the current President of the Barbados Squash Rackets Association (BSRA), and has been a Director of the Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) since 2001. In October 2009 he was also elected for a two year term as President of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) and was also re-appointed last November for a second two year stint on the Technical Sub-Committee of the World Squash Federation (WSF) and is the only person in the Caribbean region currently serving on any committee of the WSF.
Last year was also a very busy one for Simpson, a seasoned sports administrator, who currently holds the positions of Senior Vice-President of the BSRA, Honorary Treasurer of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), and President of the Pickwick Cricket Club. He has managed many senior National Squash Teams since since his first tour in 1997.
Both men have been certified squash referees since 2005 and are among the most qualified referees in the Caribbean region. They are also the only two certified squash referee assessors in this region. In May last year they were both invited to be part of a four person referee crew that officiated in the Cayman Squash Open – a US$37,500 prize money professional women’s (WISPA) event that attracted seven of the top ten ladies in the world. Both refereed in the ladies final in that tournament, which was contested by the top two ranked ladies in the world, and both have already been invited to officiate in the 2010 Cayman Squash Open in April. Both Simpson and Archer officiated during the Caribbean Senior Squash Championships in August, with Simpson being the centre referee for the men’s final. Their performances as referees last year has earned them both international recognition which has been recognised by the National Sports Council in its awards ceremony for 2009. In all, five persons were presented awards in this category, two in squash and three (Charles Yarde, Walter Sobers and Shirley Garnes) in bodybuilding.
Also recognised for his outstanding achievements during 2009 was little Danny Chesham, who was awarded one of four “Youth Awards” for his outstanding achievements, particularly in cricket – but also in squash and table tennis. Chesham is the reigning boy’s under-11 National Junior Squash Champion, a title he won in April 2009.
