Shipping | Thirty-five years of shaping champions

As the curtains come down on another thrilling season of youth cricket, Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) is marking 35 years of continuous title sponsorship of the Under-15 Cricket Competition.

This year, more than 340 youngsters participated in six weeks of cricket, culminating in a county match-up in which Middlesex defeated Surrey to emerge 2026 champions. They have joined hundreds of boys and girls who have benefited from the competition, many of whom have achieved success in cricket and other fields.

KWL CEO Mark Williams said the company was proud of its sustained support for an initiative designed not only to develop sporting ability, but also to build character and shape future leaders.

“Thirty-five years is an extraordinary milestone in corporate sponsorship but, for Kingston Wharves, this has never been a simple sponsorship. It is an investment in human potential. Over 35 years, we have seen young boys and girls mature into international sporting icons, corporate leaders and community role models,” he said.

Lauding the partnership with the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Williams added, “Our commitment to the competition and to the young people of Jamaica remains as strong today as it was on day one.”

vital pipeline

Each year, KWL fully sponsors the staging of the competition, covering gear, meals, travel and developmental programmes, as well as trophies, bursaries and awards for players and match officials.

Its support has also extended beyond the pitch through training camps and a Cricket Confidence Workshop focused on soft skills and public speaking. For the past two years, KWL has sponsored Jamaica Defence Force cricket summer camps. This year’s camp helped youngsters from western Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa build resilience through cricket training, counselling, and character development.

KWL has also provided scholarships to former players pursuing tertiary studies and, this year, awarded scholarships to two high-school students from the JDF camp. During the COVID-19 pandemic when matches were suspended, the company redirected resources towards youth development programmes.

JCA Operations Manager O’Neil Cruickshank said the competition has become a vital pipeline for national and regional talent.

“Through the competition, we have been able to identify raw talent, hone those skills, and train others in the rudiments of the game,” he said.

Among the international players produced by the competition are Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Andre Russell, Chadwick Walton, Brandon King, Rovman Powell and Stafanie Taylor. Other alumni include Marquino Mindley and Nikita Miller.

Recent standouts include Abigail Bryce, the first girl to score a century in the competition and now a high scorer for the West Indies Women’s Under-19 team, and Jordan Johnson, who has also made an impact at the West Indies level.

Cruickshank, himself an alumnus, said the tournament has also helped to shape business executives, educators, law enforcement officers and sports administrators.

The competition, which was traditionally played among clubs and parishes in a limited-overs format, was restructured two years ago. Early rounds now feature parish and club teams before the tournament moves into a county phase to determine the finalists and champion. Cruickshank said the change gives players more time on the field to sharpen their skills.

productive outlet

Simone Murdock, corporate services and client experience manager at Kingston Wharves, said seeing former participants succeed reinforces the value of the company’s commitment.

“When I see them all grown up and doing well in school, in their careers and in life generally, it makes me more convinced that our support for youth cricket over the years has been well worth it,” she said.

Former West Indies player Wavell Hinds recalled that the competition gave himself and other youngsters a productive outlet during the summer holidays and created a pathway to future success.

“The Jamaica Cricket Association and the cricketing family owe Kingston Wharves a debt of gratitude. Thank you for your contribution to national development and nation-building through the vehicle called cricket,” Hinds said.

Brian Barnes, a former Manchester Under-15 captain who later led Jamaica’s Under-19 team to regional championship victories in 2023, said the tournament gave young players a strong foundation and a consistent platform to develop and showcase their talent.

Barnes, also a KWL tertiary scholarship recipient, said the competition remains important to keeping the game alive and preparing the next generation to advance to higher levels.