Greetings From The President ................................................................................................................ 1 Greetings From The Member of Parliament for Arima The Cliff Bertrand Story ........................................................................ 1 ........................................................................................................................ 2 Forged from the Love of Liberty ........................................................................................................ 4 Abilene Track & Field Club 1975-1985 ................................................................................................ 6 Division Among The Wildcats ................................................................................................................ 9 Family Matters ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Abilene Wildcats in World Records ........................................................................................................ 14 Abilene Wildcats Coaching Roster 2023 ................................................................................................ 15 Abilene Wildcats Coaches Over the Years The Renaissance of Abilene Wildcats Abilene Netball Team ........................................................................................ 16 ................................................................................................ 17 ........................................................................................................................ 18 Abilene Olympians ................................................................................................................................ 19 Jareem Richards Article Abilene Stars ........................................................................................................................ 24 ........................................................................................................................................ 25 List of Jubilee Awardees ........................................................................................................................ 28 Contributors: Abilene Documentary committee team: Andrew Bruce, Mervyn Lewis, David Jacque and Deon Lendore Special thanks to Carlyle Bernard , John Learie Bruce, Michael Gibbs and Ashton Ford Artwork: Andrew Bruce Layout: Holly Betaudier Jr. Thanks to those who contributed archived photos from the 60’s and their personal images.
The Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club, the Executive, Members, Parents and Athletes, on the occasion of our 60th Anniversary, are exceedingly pleased to have been part of Trinidad and Tobago’s Sports framework for the past 6 decades. Our Diamond Jubilee Anniversary celebration is so much more than a recognition of the club’s mere existence. It represents decades of contribution to our society through sport. Over the years, Abilene has not only produced Athletes, University Scholarship Recipients, and Olympians, but productive and valuable citizens of Trinidad and Tobago that have given back to this country in almost every facet of society, be it in Education, Health, Civil Society, the Military, Shedley Branche Politics or in Finance. President – Abilene Wildcats Our Club’s contribution to Trinidad and Tobago though, has not been one of a singular effort. Over the years we have been supported by numerous individuals, who have tirelessly given their time, effort, and expertise to the club. Included amongst our numerous benefactors are our club’s founder, the late Cliff Bertrand, past and current Coaches and Administrators, the Track & Field fraternity – both locally and abroad, and the Arima Community as a whole. Certainly, our existence as a club has been made all the more meaningful as a result of having these benefactors in our lives. On behalf of the Club’s Executive Committee, I wish to wish the best to all of our members, including our current athletes and alumni, on the occasion of our 60th Anniversary. May our club continue to prosper as we traverse the next 60th years. Celebrating the Wildcats and 60 Years of Excellence As the Member of Parliament for Arima, I have the good fortune of representing a constituency with a rich cultural, artistic and sporting heritage. Arima enjoys this legacy all thanks to the devoted efforts, hard work and determination of the individuals who have committed themselves and in some cases, devoted their lives to endeavours in those fields. The Abilene Wildcats embody the spirit of Arima, and I am happy and privileged to extend my congratulations to all members of this distinguished Athletics institution on the occasion of its 60th Anniversary. This Diamond Anniversary is a celebration of 60 years magnificence and excellence in track and field athletics that have given us some of the proudest moments in Trinidad and Tobago’s sporting history. Born out of the idea of founder, Cliff Bertrand, that Arima should once again have its own athletics club, the Abilene Wildcats have grown from strength to strength through the years, and in 2022 were Trinidad and Tobago’s champion Senior athletics club. Along the way, they have produced moments of magic, exciting spectators with phenomenal performances faithful to the motto of the club, “Prestare et praestare” (To persevere and to excel). Beyond bringing the honours home to Arima, Abilene Wildcats have shone on the international stage, with 19 Wildcats representing Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympic Games over the last 60 years, and 3 Wildcats being members of world-record-setting relay teams. The Abilene Wildcats were also the first club to make up a Trinidad and Tobago international-medal-winning relay team, with a silver medal at the 2022 North American, Central American and CaribbeThe Honourable Pennelope Beckles an Championships. Member of Parliament for Arima I am pleased to add my voice to the chorus celebrating the achievements of this exceptional club. I can only continue to wish all Wildcats continued success – luck has nothing to do with it – preparation and perseverance are the key. The Abilene Wildcats are a success today because of the hard work put into the club every day during the last 60 years. Our celebrations of this great club are celebrations of members past and present, and on behalf of the Constituency of Arima, I thank the Abilene Wildcats for the honour and glory they have brought to all of us. Long may you continue to persevere; long may you continue to excel. 1
On 2 March 1936, a remarkable journey began in Arima with the birth of a cub. This cub would grow into a man of extraordinary talents and transform into the brilliant Cliffton. During his childhood, Cliffton Bertrand attended Arima Boys RC Primary School, followed by the prestigious Ideal High School and the Progressive Educational Institute in Port-of-Spain. Although Cliff Bertrand was an academically gifted student, his passion for sports, particularly athletics, attracted him. As a teenager, he became a member of the Rangers Athletic Club in Port-of-Spain. His exceptional talent as a sprinter soon emerged, bringing him numerous accolades and recognition for both himself and his club. His outstanding performances caught the attention of athletic scouts. At the age of 21, he received his first call-up to represent Trinidad and Tobago in 1957 at the British West Indies Championships held in Kingston, Jamaica. Competing in the 200m event, he clocked an impressive time of 21.2 seconds, securing a gold medal. In 1958, Cliff Bertrand participated in the British West Indies Championships once again, this time in Port of Spain, representing Trinidad and Tobago. He showcased his exceptional abilities once more, claiming three gold medals, including victories in the 200m (21.2 seconds) and the 400m (47.3 seconds). Later that year, he represented his country in three events at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, although he did not achieve the desired success. Scholarship Offer For New York University Following his return from the British and Commonwealth Games, Cliff Bertrand's remarkable victories led to a track scholarship 2 offer from New York University. In 1958, he embarked on a journey to the United States, pursuing his academic and athletic aspirations through this scholarship opportunity. The following year, in 1959, Cliff Bertrand represented the British West Indian Federation at the Pan-American Games Cliff Bertrand at in Chicago, Illinois. He Texaco Southern Games won a bronze medal as a member of the 4x100m relay team and achieved a fifth-place finish in the 200m event. At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, he represented Trinidad and Tobago once again as part of the British West Indian Federation team. Cliff Bertrand reached the quarterfinals in the 200m event and contributed to the sprint relay team, which secured a bronze medal in the finals. Cliff, Setting The Seeds For The Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club Upon his return to Trinidad and Tobago in 1962, following his scholarship at New York University, Cliff Bertrand organized a meeting with prominent athletes who were then members of the Arima Athletic Club. After this meeting, Cliff Bertrand embarked on creating a club based in Arima, which would later become the renowned Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club. During his travels in the USA, he came across the name "Abilene Christian College," Record breaking 4x100 relay team of Winston Short, Cliff Bertrand, Albert King and Earl Grande George. in their new Abilene Wildcats outfits.
By mid-1963, the Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club was formed. Now clad in their distinctive blue and yellow uniforms, they participated as the Abilene Wildcats in their inaugural meet during Easter of the same year at the Eastern Games. Their remarkable performance astonished everyone, as they triumphed in nearly all the events, surpassing their opponents. However, this success inadvertently caused an issue and posed a challenge for the club to continue to participate in any competitions because their application as a club was deemed late for the 1963 track season. That same year Cliff Bertrand was selected to represent the newly independent nation at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, Brazil. He showcased his remarkable abilities in the 400m and the 4x100m relay, earning bronze medals in both events. The following year, he was chosen to be part of Trinidad & Tobago's inaugural Olympic Team at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Competing in the 200m event, he advanced to the second round of the competition. In 1966, he represented Trinidad & Tobago for the last time at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. Cliff Bertrand's exemplary performances at New York University eventually led to his appointment as Head Coach after his competitive career ended. Furthermore, he achieved significant academic success, earning a master's degree in education from New York University and later a Ph.D. in Education from Columbia University. Cliff Bertrand's story destroyed all notions that one has to come from a privileged or financially up-level background to live under bright blue skies. Quite the opposite, Cliff Bertrand came from a background of severe wants and needs, and yet, he reached illustrious heights academically, as well as financially. It's a lesson for us all and for those who are in similar situations to emulate. Cliff Bertrand said, "I was poor as a child, and although I always wished to be a university graduate, it seemed beyond my wildest dreams." His wildest dreams became a reality through manifesting true grit and discipline because he went on to earn a BA degree, A master's degree, as well as a Coach Cliff Bertrand Ph.D. The name and accomplishments of Clifton Bertrand knew no bounds. He was highlighted in the prestigious New York Times Newspaper in the United States of America in 1970 when as a former New York University star, he set two meet records in the Eastern Master's track and field Championships. At 35 years old, Bertrand still showed his metal, winning the 220‐yard dash in the 35‐39 age group in 22.4 seconds and the 440 in 51.5 seconds at the master's games conducted by the New York City Department of Recreation at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The legacy of his spartan-like character, his visionary leadership, his compelling personality, and his innovative thinking must be cloned today to contribute to building our nation on strong positive pillars. Dr. Cliff Bertrand's journey and subsequent success now form part of Trinidad and Tobago's incredible sporting history. Dr. Clifton Bertrand (2 March 1936 – 28 November 2020) 3
The Birth of Abilene Wildcats Inspired by the resounding words of Trinidad and Tobago's National Anthem in 1962, "Forged from the Love of Liberty," visionary Cliff Bertrand embarked on a remarkable journey to establish the Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club. Fueled by a deep desire to uplift both the people and the sporting culture of Arima, Bertrand sought to align his philosophy with the newly independent political regime, aiming to cultivate excellence, hard work, and nation-building through his athletes. To Cliff Bertrand, "Forged from the Love of Liberty" symbolized the birth of a sovereign nation liberated from colonial rule. It evoked a sense of unwavering discipline, patriotic loyalty, industriousness, creative thinking, and a deep commitment to positive national development. He believed that his athletes could embody these ideals and overcome any obstacles that came their way, despite the administrative and athletic challenges of the time. After completing his studies at New York University in 1962, Cliff returned to Trinidad and Tobago, dedicating himself to training and running with the Arima Athletic Club in the lush landscapes of the Arima Savannah. He also worked out with Lennox Yearwood at Wallerfield, honing his skills in solitude. During this period, he engaged members of the Arima Athletic Club in conversations about forming a sports club that would encompass various disciplines. The club, at that time, teetered on the brink of extinction, as recounted by Gloria Bruce, mother of former Abilene sprinter Andrew Bruce, who herself had been a member of the Arima Track Club from 1948 to 1952. According to some of the foundation members of the club, Cliff's vision extended beyond a mere track club; he envisioned an organization that would span from Arima to Toco, covering a range of sporting disciplines. The Abilene Wildcats netball team emerged from this visionary perspective and thrived for several years. Cliff left Trinidad and Tobago during the track off-season of 1962. He later returned equipped with great determination between December 1962 and January 1963, armed with eye-catching grey tracksuits adorned with a green tiger emblem. Inspired by his travels in the United States, he discovered the name "Abilene" from the "Abilene Christian College" and promptly adopted it for the new club. The chosen colors, blue and yellow, symbolized the borough of 4 Arima. Albert King, then a member of the Arima Athletic Club and a skilled tailor of the time, was entrusted with the task of creating the distinctive shorts for the club's uniforms. Cliff also courted Arima athletes, who eagerly embraced the idea of representing their hometown under his leadership. A final meeting behind the Arima Community Center, fondly known as the Breakfast Shed, solidified the club's name and colors. Cliff was elected Club Captain and Coach, Cecil Walker was elected Vice President, and Selwyn Griffith was elected as Treasurer Membership fee back then was ten cents a month. Dr. Selwyn Griffith remembers the Abilene team training on the horse racetrack in the Arima Savannah, a novelty for Arimians who soon gathered along the savannah railing to watch the team practice. He recalls training on the southwestern side of the Arima savannah and the team using white lime to draw lanes for them to run in. He said, "One day, bulldozers appeared in the Arima savannah and evicted us from our running track. The velodrome was under construction. We had to relocate to another area in the savannah. After several months of construction, we were able to move into the velodrome to a muddy dirt track. This, however, was a vast improvement over the hand-made trail we used to call a track." Lennox Yearwood can recall one of the club's first competitive meet being the Easter Games at Walker Park at the Caroni savannah. Selwyn Griffith remembers two weeks before the registration deadline for Southern Games, a subsequent ruling from the parent body, the East St. George Amateur Athletic Association, was sent to all athletes; it ruled that Abilene was ineligible to compete in athletic competitions. According to a 1964 Guardian Sports article, the club was sanctioned in 1963 when the East AAA refused to accept Abilene's late application for affiliation. In our interviews, some of Arima's top athletes who left clubs like Hampton, Rangers, and Burnley to join Cliff's Abilene Wildcats without officially resigning from their previous clubs received letters of sanction, resulting in several athletes being barred from competition. Resourcefulness and quick thinking prevailed, as
as the Hampton Athletic Club. Cliff rallied the remaining athletes to join him at the Rangers Athletic Club, a club he had represented in his earlier years. The so-called rebel athletes were temporarily unable to compete in any East St. George Association meets. However, they found opportunities at the Northern Games, Southern Games, and Shell Games and continued to participate in competitions throughout the track season in the smaller country sports in 1963. After a challenging first track season, in August/September of 1963, the Wildcats were lawfully constituted and finally prepared to participate in competitions as a fully recognized track club. During a Keep-fit at the Orange Grove Grounds in Tacarigua organized by the East St. George AAA, the Abilene Wildcats made their debut appearance leaving a lasting impression on spectators. The athletes proudly competed, clad in their striking new singlets and shorts, making a bold statement as a domineering track club from the eastern region. Their sleek and formidable presence ignited fear among their competitors, and their performances surpassed all expectations. The Wildcats displayed dominance in most events, instantly becoming a target for other clubs. Following their remarkable performance at the 1964 East County Championships, two headlines in Trinidad and Tobago newspapers proudly declared, "Wildcats Emerge as Champions in the East" and "Cliff's Boys Excel in the East." The underdog Abilene 4x100 meters relay team surprised everyone at the 1965 Southern Games by securing victory and setting a new Trinidad and Tobago record in the event. The quartet of Albert King, Winston Short, Ozzie Joseph, and Cliff Bertrand left an indelible mark on the track and field scene. Abilene Wildcats would go on to dominate athletics in Trinidad and Tobago for the decades to come. In 2022 for the first time, a national medal-winning 4x100 team was comprised of only Abilene sprinters. Later that year, the club won honors as the top athletic club in Trinidad and Tobago by the NAAATT, while six members of the club received national awards. They were Jereem Richards, Asa Guevara, and Che Lara Hummingbird Medal Gold, while Eric Harrison Jr, Jerod Elcock, and Kyle Greaux were awarded, Hummingbird Silver. Considering these achievements, members of the club continue to live up to the club's motto, "PRESTARE ET PRAESTARE," which means TO PERSEVERE AND TO EXCEL. Trinidad Guardian Newspaper Article in 1964 Express Newspaper Article in 1985 5
Written By Carlyle Bernard A Stroll Down Glorious Memory Lanes The youthful faces of excited athletes are still fresh in my mind. The family away from home reunited daily during the sunny or rain-drenched afternoons at different meeting points around Arima. During the off-season, it was the King Street or Woodford Street hill-bottoms to run hills or ascend the painful yet peaceful winding Blanchisseuse Road. Other times it would be the netball courts from where we ran miles around the Arima Savannah or up Cleaver Road. During the football season, it was the bumpy cricket grounds of Princess Royal Park where one estimated the imaginary path of a 400m oval. Home, however, was the Arima Velodrome, ominous in its central location, with its huge concrete banked cycling track and green, patchy football field where Memphis and Fulham, the pride of Arima football, drew the faithful to follow their fortunes. But for us, Abilene athletes, the most comfortable piece of real estate was the olive green grasstex track lined in white. It was where familiar smiling faces greeted each other every afternoon for a mental escape from the rigors of schoolwork and family. It was where dreams of athletic straight,” “Pump your arms,” “Boy run nah man, and stop wasting people’s time….” To some, the dressing room was a smelly musty space, but to others, it was a spacious, home-team cocoon during track meets. The stadium itself, with its grand, cavernous home stretch stands filled with colored, weather-beaten plastic bucket seats and wooden bleachers, was the friendly side of the track compared with the harshness Steve Williams and Hasely Crawford thrill the crowd at the Arima Velodrome of the backstretch with its concrete stands and blustery headwinds. But collectively, this place was our magic kingdom where on memorable afternoons, patrons and cheers filled the stands even as high as the rafters and roof with fans who came for a glimpse at Trinidad & Tobago’s and the world’s finest sprinters. Carlyle Bernard winning at the Velodrome greatness lay seed in the minds of fearless young boys and girls who, by their proximity to past greats whom they could reach out and touch during training sessions, held the firm belief that they too could be as great or faster than the legends who had established themselves. Memories of the velodrome fill the mind with the bantering and picong between athletes. Then, there were the coach’s admonishments and urgings – “Lift those knees through the finish line,”; “Keep your head 6 Soca Music Added to The Excitement On Competition Nights At The Arima Velodrome Who could forget the incessant and intimidating drums rumbling rhythmically from the Point Fortin Civic Centre club section, the barking orders of starter PG Wilson, the gap-toothed Rak-Attack from South, the ground floor DJ blasting Kitchener’s “Sugar Bum Bum,” Nelson’s “Mih Lover,” and Blue Boy’s “Soca Baptist,” one or two mad men wining to the music using the metal girders as dance partners, the snow-cone vendors near the wooden bleachers and large iron gate entrances, the nuts men traversing the stands, the ubiquitous human horse betting pools, and ahh! the coming of the velodrome lights that seemed to spur us all to run faster much like a spotlight on the star lead on a stage that was our thereafter. The competition was fierce against the likes of Burnley, Trincity Striders, Hampton, Ohio, Morvant Jets, Dovers, Point Fortin Civic Centre Jets, Tesoro, Siparia Simplex, and the always feared Tobago contingent with their deaf but unhindered sprinter in the 200m.
If one could open a chest and polish off some old memories, the reflections would surely include the following – There were the epic sprint battles between Charlie Joseph, Ainsley Armstrong, Rudy Reid, Hasely Crawford, and Christopher Brathwaithe with Charlie’s and Ainsley’s exhaling “ssssshhhh” sound as they got out of the blocks, and the clattering of their spikes on the shell-hard grasstex as they slingshot off the bend into the homestretch of a 200m race. Ainsley, always the showman, would punctuate his victories by either running up the cycling track to greet the fans and accentuate his velocity or, on other occasions coming to Henrietta Nancis at Hampton Games a complete stop just 3-4 strides after his race. Then there was the gracefulness of Henrietta Nancis as she effortlessly floated around the track to claim yet another 800m national crown, or in Lester Lewis hands off to Ronald Affoon contrast, the churning windmill of shapely legs of Sandra Fournillier, Andrea Taylor, Theresa Bruce, and Bridget Solomon hurtling down the track to the finish line as they battled against Janice Bernard of Burnley. We witnessed the next installment of greatness in Anthony “Scrooge” Husbands, destroying all in his path to go on to win four gold medals at the junior CAC Games before his successful collegiate and international career by way of Essex Community Mike Hinkson, Cyril Lewis & Anthony Husbands College. Who could forget Ronald Affoon’s 4x400m relay anchor leg in a Hampton Games that literally brought the house down Ainsley Armstrong hands off to Charlie Joseph when he took the baton from last to first in the waning steps of the race? People talked about that performance around Arima for days and weeks. Then, there was Affoon’s blanket finish in a U-18 100m against Scott Ferguson, Ronald Sobers, and others, which was anticipated with as much excitement as a Hasely Crawford/ Steve Williams duel. Always smiling was Ray Astor as he won his National Championship 400m run in 47 seconds, a time only foreign-based athletes in the day could reproduce or better on our beloved but lifeless track. Michael Paul won or competed in many a grinding 400m victory against the likes of fellow easterners in the muscular Joseph Coombs, the lithe Michael Solomon, Michael Andrews, and Leonard Peters. Under the lights, we saw the glorious victory of Hilary Bernard as she wrestled the national championship 400m run in 56.1 seconds at age 16. Not to be forgotten are the many age group victories by Andrew Bruce that were alternatively peppered by disappointments brought on by painful hamstring pulls as the national competition moved to the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. 7
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