<p>Chinese in Guyanese Sports – Yesteryear. by Godfrey Chin</p><p>The cliche 'All work and no play, makes Jack a Dull Boy' certainly does not apply' to the Chinese Guyana Community. By WWII, 86 years after the first shipment of Chinese Indentured Labourers arrived [Jan 1853] - They had entrenched themselves, as an integral part of the Colony - excelling in entreprises of Commerce and Trade [Yong Hing}- Education [JC Luck at Central High] - Medicine [Dr Hugh] and Law [Fung-a-Fat]</p><p>Their children, grandchildren and great-grands, were now ready to 'Come Out To Play" and also devote themselves to the other social, cultural aspects of life as available, in the Colony then. By Aug 1948, when I started my Secondary Education at Central High, the Chinese Association, had been built on Brickdam, opposite St Stanislaus College, and from there, their Culture and Customs, would be preserved and promoted. Their Annual Chinese New Year Dinner was cosmopolitanly attended by all the local big-wigs - while their traditional Dragon Dance was a highlight, and a fascinating feature at Festivals, Royal and Dignitary Visits. Notably absence, was their traditional flurry of fireworks and Firecrackers, and I always wondered, if this 'tabu' was a result of their phobia, after the disastrous fire on Lombard St fire, of 1913. </p><p>In 1950, at 13 years, I joined Chinese Sports Club at Thomas Lands - the incubator for Chinese Sports activities - to participate in Cricket - Third Class - Rajah and Frank plus two day Wight Cup. The only familar Chinese Sportsman, known to me then - was Rupert Tang-Choon - an Inter-Colonial all - rounder from Trinidad, who also played in the regular Goodwill Exchange Matches between the Chinese of Trinidad and Tobago vs British Guiana. From initiation, I was too often reminded, of the oustanding past Chinese performances - probably designed to inspire us newcomers - as if I would ever forget, the daily boasting achievements, of the 'Ol Timers'. The litany of good scores included P W Lee -138 [1937] C V Too-Chung 106 not out, E S Gillette 101 /W R Luck 127 [1939] J Ho-A-Shoo 148 - L Ching 103 not out [1949] - and George Fung-On 118 [1952] - 1952 was the last occasion of this rivalry, and in the 8 clashes, since 1929, the locals, had shared equal honors.</p><p>At Chinese, the star players, I sought to emulate at that time, included James Chin - Clement Choo-See-Nam - William Lieu - Trevor Lee - Billy Fung-a-fat. My National cricket hero, was Robert Christiani. But these nagging reminders, must have worked, as Chinese S. C. was promoted by 1960, to the newly formed Northcote Level, (which they won on many occasions) - and finally First Class Case Cup. Emerging from their fold, was Bud Lee, who could have been a West Indies Sobers, before Garfield came on the scene. Bud, was a prolific left-hand opener, who relished the fast stuff, like Roy Fredericks did - and centuries were effortless, from his 'blade' At UWI, Jamaica - When Bud Lee / Walter Chin / Arnold Gibbons, [The Guyanese Trio] finished batting, the Capt often declared, as the score was 300 odd for three - But Bud [and Walter] preferred to maintain their course for medical careers - and the West Indies, lost a promising potential batting great! Another great Batsman - the Chinese, Vivian Richards, was Albert Choy whose method to chalk- up centuries, could be a lesson for the hesitant Sarwan, today. Add Gary Lee, with the style and skill of Robert Christiani, and Chinese Sports Club [later Cosmos] became as fearsome an opponent, as the Boxers in their Rebellion, in China[1900]. No wonder every week-end, hundreds of local cricket fans, thronged the Chinese Thomas Lands Pavilion, to see 'the yellow peril in white' - bat, bowl, and field.</p><p>Other outstanding Cricketers included Rudy Low - Milton Wong - Hilton Quan, Michael Chung, who in addition to Gary Lee, Bud Lee and Albert Choy, were called to National Trials. No Chinese ever made the National Cricket Team - but there was a Chinese Umpire at Bourda - Wing Gillette </p><p>Their consolation, however would be - sharing honors with the formidable East Indian cricket population - in the Annual Rahaman Cup - East Indians vs Chinese, which they won on too few occasions. Other outstanding cricket assets included. Tuni Low-a-Chee - Michael Akai - Jerry Man-son-Hing - Terry Solomon - Richard Chung - Arthur Chang-Yen, Randolph Choo-See- Nam and Roddy Too-Chung. Should I mention myself? Around 1958 Chinese extended the Club's pavilion - Thanks to CV Too-Chung, Kenneth Lam and O.K.Yhap - and the next 20 years, could truly be called the 'Golden Years of Chinese in Sports. </p><p>Hockey was resusticated, and by 1960, they were unbeaten in local competition, winning the Hiram Walker Cup, Dare Shield and Seven-a-side event. These trophies, were almost permanent fixtures, in the Club's Trophy Case, except for the few occasions, arch-rivals GCC and GFC upset the steam-rollers. Past hockey stars included Ted Loquan, Walter Fung, Joe Chin and Henry Lee. It was no surprise, that 5 of the members of that team- plus V.P. Chung and Billy Lee [GFC] were the nucleus of the Guyana Team that won the first Caribbean Quadrangular Hockey Championship in Trinidad, June, 1961. Godfrey Chin in Goal - Walter Chin [Capt] and V P Chung - wing halves with Cha-Cha John Embleton, center half, forming a maginot line. The attack of the Brothers, Rollo and Gary Lee inside forwards - Gerald Wong, outside Left, with the nippy Eddie Caetano at center-forward and Norman Wight, right wing. This team was the equivalent of the USA Basketball Dream team of the 80's Olympics. Must record that Skip Roberts and Ian Leal were the backs, and the Team was unchanged for the 6 -Test series. Raffie Knowles - popular Sports writer of the T'dad Guardian wrote 'On the smooth Queens Park Oval - it was clip, clip, clip, clip - from Caetano to Gary, over to brother Rollo - occasionally to Wight and Wong on the wings - nine times into the net - with possible, nineteen chances missed. Their razzle-dazzle play, almost embarrassed the scoreboard - as, at one time, it appeared that they would record the first ever double score figures in Caribbean hockey. From my goal circle, I distinctly heard the Chief groundsman bawling, for 'a nail and hammer'. Jeffrey Lee, still at QC was the seventh Chinese in that Contingent. Sydney Wong, a Guyanese - brother of Gerald, was on the Jamaican team. Walter Chin, temporarily on assignment in Jamaica, returned to Bourda in 1964 representing that Island. BG won the series - which included 6 Chinese - Godfrey Chin - Rollo and Gary Lee - V P Chung being the permanent fixtures with William Lieu and David Cho-Chu, joining their Chinese 'brothers'</p><p>Yet another Chinese, Roger Dyaljee joined the National Squad for Guyana to retain their Caribbean Title in Jamaica - 1965 - but lost I-nil to the All American Champions, Argentina. BG had earlier beaten Mexico, 1 nil, to qualify for the virtual final. In the next 10 years 5 more Chinese rec'd National Colors to two Panam Games - Cali 1971 and Mexico 1975, and two International Tournaments, in Jamaica, 1973 and 1974. These included Dennis Fung - Frankie Chin - Trevor Chang -Jackie Chin, and Lindsay Lee. In 1972 - Godfrey Chin- Gary Lee - nephew Lindsay Lee - Dennis Fung and Frankie Chin, paved the way for the Republic, to retain The Caribbean Hockey Title at GFC, under floodlights.</p><p>When the National Eleven vs West Germany clashed at Bourda in 1970 - only Skip Roberts [Capt], Hardy Timmerman and Gary D'Ornellas, were non-Chinese - justifying the German Captain's query -'Are we playing Guyana or Chinatown? – Cassian Mittleholzer and Maurice Pollard then, Hockey Sportcasters, were in a 'tizzie' that afternoon - with Chin, Chin, Chin, Chin, Lee, Lee, Lee, and Fung. To put a 'handle' to this Chinese Crossword, it would read, - starting in goal - Godfrey - Walter - Jackie - Frankie – Gary - Rollo – Lindsay. and Dennis, - and adding, to this Chinese 'fried-rice' - Billy Lee was Coach. For the records, Guyana, scored first - ten minutes into play. The Bourda Crowd went wild, shouting and cheering, in eager anticipation - hopeful the new-born Republic - flying their spanking new 5-color Golden Arrowhead - can pull off the biggest upset in Sports History, -[since Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics] - by defeating the current 'Hockey World Champions. West Germany, equalised with a 'penalty flick' and thereafter, I got backache, stooping to retrieve the ball nine times, from the back of our net. The German team. had punched holes in the outdated Guyana line up of 1-2-3-5 - and by the Panam Games in Cali, the next year, Guyana adapted the innovative sweeper back defense, with the two strikers attack!</p><p>Yours Truly, Godfrey Chin from 1961 to 1976 - represented Guyana - 26 occasions - the President's XI - 19 times - two Panam Games - unbeaten for three Caribbean Champioships - let in 49 goals, while his team-mates, up front scored 56. At no time in my career - as custodian were there less than four Chinese up front. I do not in any way, consider myself an oustanding talented Athlete. My prowess was maxed purely because, I was very fortunate to play Games, with these resourceful dedicated 'Orientals', who used more 'brain than brawn’, on the ball field. I mention this, only to accentuate, the real impact Chinese, played in these Sports, in Guyana. I would not have reached that far in any other community or Club.</p><p>The Chinese had a tactical plan for every match, and all opponents. While hockey goals can only be scored from within the goal-circle - our supremacy was based on a 'Great Wall of China' strategy - Defend the goal-circle with life and limb! Patty Fung-on [Capt] and Centre Half - Donna Tiam-Fook forward - Joy Lee and the sisters Merle and Sandra Choo-Wee-Nam, also led the Women's Hockey Team, to major Caribbean victories. The Chinese undoubtedly has flown the Guyana flag very high! </p><p>Facilities facilitate Sports achievement -and with the extension of their Club's Pavilion - their new Basketball Hard Court with lights, became a mecca for the hoop-game - which became popular locally, after the 1954 Harlem Globe Trotters film 'Go-man-Go'. A public hard-court was simultaneously built at Parade Ground - bringing Baskeball to the man-in-the-street. The Chinese called themselves, the Clowns and with Gary Lee, Roy Wong and James Chin-Pac-Hon, they more than held their own, against visiting Surinam and Trinidad, and the hot local squads, including the Panthers - Ravens – Police. They even had two Ladies Team - the Candies, and Clownettes, with Sarah Lou Carter playing. Meanwhile, in the Club's pavilion Doreen Chow-wah, was mastering Table Tennis, to emerge a National Champion, and teaming up with Denise Osman, reigned Caribbean Doubles Champion, for quite a while. The nation's Table Tennis rose to Caribbean prominence, after the Republic of China, assigned their Coaches, to train the local Squads and introduce the devastating 'loop and pen-holder grip’. Christopher Chung-Wee, was also a national Male Champion.</p><p>Upstairs in the renovated club - two Courts of Badminton, were set up - and while their low ceiling, was below specifications - south-paw Bud Lee, made the National Team with Laurie Lewis, and the Holder's clan. Candy Lee, Gary's neice - was also a National Star. In 1975 - with a scarcity of badmington shuttlecocks, Madhu Welingkar encouraged the Chinese racquet wielders - to take up SQUASH - a game which they easily mastered, like' ducks to water'. Bud Lee, Walter Chin and Godfrey Chin truly joined the National Squad to Trinidad, the next year, and Bud, became the first permanent Chinese fixture then, on the National Squash team. As Manager of the Squad to the first Caribbean Squash Championship, in Nassau, Bahamas 1977, I undertook, together with the other Delegates, to introduce and supervise a Junior Squash Program on return Home!</p><p>I am proud that Guyana's Squash supremacy today - started with that initial Junior Squad, formed at a time in 1977, when the thought of 'schoolagers' at the aristocratic Georgetown Club, revulsed the adults. But Court Time, after school to 4:30 pm weekdays, and Saturday mornings was enough to launch a string of Guyanese and Caribbean Champions – which comprised many, from the Chinese Oligarchy that 'burideed' the game.</p><p>In 1977, I had to plead with Richard Lee's father Bud for Richard, to be a reserve on the Guyana Team to the First Caribbean Squash Games in Nassau, Bahamas. Richard's QC GCE Exam was imminent and Bud No 5 on the team agreed, on condition that Richard, roomed with me, and, I supervise, his son's study. Three fingers up, I pledged - 'On my scout's honor'. On the last day of the tour - Bud came to my room, to enquire if his son had been studying - My reply was an emphatic 'Saddam Yes!" He took Richard's study manual, and blew a dust storm from the cover - forcing everyone in the room to evacuate, sneezing and whooping like Lawrence of Arabia, had forgotten his veil! I always believed 'the future of Sports is our youngsters and that exposure bears fruit!- Two years later in Jamaica - 1979 - Richard yet not 21 - nearly scalped the pants off Caribbean Squash Champion, Orville Haslam, in the Men's Final - leading 2-nil, and faltering, only from inexperience and anxiety! A 16 year old Gary Chin, won the Junior Caribbean Title for Guyana on that tour. Richard Lee, later became Southern Caribbean Squash Champion.</p><p>The next year 1980, Richard Chin at ten, our first prodigy of the promising youths, snatched the under 14 Boy's title, at the first Junior Games in St Vincent - and went on to win bi-annually the under 16 and under 19 Caribbean Junior Games title. Diane Lee followed like a true 'Lee'- to win the local - and Southern Caribbean Titles. Combining the boys and girls, Guyana won it's First Junior Team Title. Our Junior Program was paying dividends! Bless the Kids!</p><p>Gary Chin, in 1981 then 18, defended successfully his Junior [Under 21] Caribbean Title at the Games in Barbados, and was Runner-up to Clive Lloyd as Guyana's Sportsman of the Year - a supreme first achievement, for Squash and the Chinese.</p><p>Guyana lost the overall Team Championship by 1 point to Jamaica - The Guyanese Lady Squad was strengthened by Luana Choo-See-Nam. The Chinese had certainly made a great contribution to Guyana Squash and shortly after the mudlanders, emerged over-all Caribbean Champions with Richard Chin - Max Weithers and Garfield Wiltshire spearheading the attack.</p><p>In 1986, I took Richard / Garfield Wiltshire and Roger Arjoon to Houston, Texas, to win the US Open Team Championship.</p><p>Richard Chin, continued to fly his Country's flag in the USA - sweeping titles at their Junior Level. He was a member of the Cornell Squash team 1987 - 1991 playing No1, and co-captained the team in his Senior year. In addition Richard was a four time All-American, earning first team honors in '88, '90, and '91 - second team honors 1989. He received the John Skillman Award in 1991 - and represented the USA at the bi-annual World Games [incl Panam Games] continuously since 1992. He was the US National Finalists 2000, and in Nov 2002, was inducted in the Cornell's Athletic Hall of Fame.</p><p>On the other Racquet Court - Lawn Tennis - Derek Phang was Singles and Doubles Champion in the '50's and '60's, and together with Ian McDonald beat Trinidad and Jamaica 1957 - for the Brandon Trophy - symbol of West Indies Tennis Supremacy. Ian McDonald, his Tennis Partner remembers Derek as 'one of the finest lawn tennis players, who ever played for Guyana. </p><p>In passing I must record that Ian McDonald also played Squash successfuly for Guyana. Ian and Edgar Readwin must be credited for initiating Squash in Guyana at the Georgetown Club. I can only presume squash, was an alternative to tennis - when rain washed out the Bourda Tennis Courts. Do you know Basketball was started by a YMCA Executive, for the same reason! Michael Tang also reached National Level in Tennis as did Joe Chin - an excellent doubles player. I must thank Trevor Sue-a-Quan, Author of the definitive work 'Cane Reapers and the sequel Cane Ripples - which records efficently the 'History of Chinese Indentured Immigrants in Guyana, for apprising me of this next 'good news' Gem Cynthia Hoahing - daughter of New Amsterdam Merchant represented Great Britian at Wimbledon 1937-1938, before reaching the age of eighteen. </p><p>In Rifle Shooting Maurice Yong and Cyril were excellent sharp-shooters. I recall with pride one Chinese Footballer Vivian Lee - who played for BG vs Surinam and scored, Just remembered that Bud Lee - immediately after QC was the left-wing of the BGCC 1949 Football Champion Team! The sole Chinese Track and Field athlete would be Leslie Chin, who hurdled for BG, in the late fifties. I will never forget the Olympiad at GCC - when Harrison Dillard, USA reached the hurdles tape, and strode to the Winner's Podium, before Ken Corsbie and Leslie Chin reached the finish, in that order. </p><p>Chinese were never recognised as speedy gazelles. Their skill and success in ball games were due purely to their application - resolve - practice - practice - practice, and their common sense approach to Sport. For two decades 1955 to 1975, hundreds of Georgetowners - honed their athletic skills, every Sunday morning at their Thomas lands ground, under the supervision of experienced dedicated Sports enthusiasts. Were you one of them! I was - never missed a Sunday!</p><p>Elson and Errol Ten-Pow / Colin and Stanley Ming relished horse-power, and excelled in their respective class at the Dakota Motor racing - Other successful Chinese motor enthusiasts, included Keith Corsbie - William and Dennis Shim-ping - Patrick-Tong and Clive Ng-a-Keen</p><p>Must not forget our own Bruce Lee - Charles Woon-a-Tai, Martials Arts Black Belt - who reached also a World standard. This recap of Chinese in Guyana Sports, would not be complete without my attempt, as is done in every other Sports field, to offer a MVP Recognition. Without Prejudice, my choice of nomination for any Guyanese Chinese Sport Hall of Fame would be Irwin 'Bud' Lee - Gary Lee and Richard Chin. For the Chinese Ladies - Doreen Chow-Wah, Patti-Fung-On and Amanda Lee, a Champion Swimmer.</p><p>I just happened to be there - A Chinese Cook-shop Fly in all their efforts - and relished every moment in my Homeland on the 'ball-field! Chinese did have a VJ Day in Guyana Sports...... GODc.</p>