Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Beautiful girls strike pretty poses, (from left) Deon Hemmings, Yanique Levy, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Oberon Pitterson, at the Courtney Walsh Awards for Excellence. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Nehemiah 'Johnny' Perry became the fourth recipient of the annual Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence, on Tuesday.

The off-spinner, who represented Jamaica and the West Indies during a creditable professional career, said, "This is the best thing that has ever happened to me, to receive this award from Courtney Andrew Walsh."

The other nominees were Olympians Janelle Atkinson-Wignall and Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Reggae Boyz captain Ricardo Gardner and netball player Oberon Pitterson.

Heavily involved in the game

Currently a unit manager at Guardian Life, Perry is still heavily involved in the game at the youth level, where he works with boys from the White Hall, Red Hills Road and Dunrobin areas of St Andrew to develop their skills. He also contributes to the Kingston Cricket Club, the only club he ever represented.

Perry played only four Test matches for the West Indies, but played 99 times for Jamaica, taking 299 wickets. He made his debut for Jamaica against Guyana and debuted for the West Indies at Sabina Park against Australia in 1999.

The event was interspersed with classical performances, showcasing young Jamaican talent.

Among those out were David Mais, Audrey Chin, Sylvia Bagaloo, Alan Beckford, Rae Barrett, Marcia and Richard Forbes, Dr Walton Small, Vishu Tolan, Marland Nattie, Billy Heaven, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Patrick Brissett, Maureen Hall, Charmaine Anderson, H.G. Helps, Bunny Pommells, Pauline Nelson, Patrick Hylton and Saleem Lazarus.

Captain Horace Burrell (left), Jamaica Football Federation president, must be hearing something so good it's music to his ears, from singer Richie Stephens, at the launch of Courtney Walsh's bid for presidency of the Jamaica Cricket Association, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on Wednesday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Prime Minister Bruce Golding greets Courtney Walsh, while Ali McNab looks on - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

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