It's coming up on 60 years since The Bahamas first took part in international competition in track and field; the four-man squad that made that historic journey is about to be recognized and honored by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA). Two of the runners will receive their honors posthumously.
The Bahamas has come a mighty long way in six decades, winning medals at every international competition out there, including the grand daddy of them all - the Olympics. It was the quartet of Cyril "Peepsight" Johnson, Leonard "Skeeter" Dames, Cyril "Cap" Richardson and Irrington "Rinky" Isaacs who got the ball rolling for The Bahamas in athletics. They suited up for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada.
Receiving funds late, the team endured a lengthy journey just to get to the games, traveling from Nassau and stopping over in Miami, Atlanta, Portland and Denver before moving on to Canada, arriving just a day before the opening ceremony. Be that as it may, Johnson said they were in high spirits, grateful for the opportunity to represent their country at an international meet.
Flag bearer Johnson ran the 400 meters (m) and 800m events and Dames suited up for the short sprints, the 100m and the 200m. He was scratched from the 400m. The other two members of the team, Richardson and Isaacs are deceased.
"I remember back then there was no professional training. We ran on the grass track and because of our success locally, we were picked to represent The Bahamas," said Johnson yesterday. "We arrived late and it took us a while to get adjusted to the climate, but we ran to the best of our ability. I remember finishing last, but I got more cheers than who finished first. I remember George Roberts telling us before we left to just finish the race and that is what we did. We went out there and represented our country very well."
Roberts was the president of the Olympic association at the time. Johnson, 80, is still going strong today. Dames is 85, and also has no problems getting up and about. The duo trained together as members of the Southern Athletic Club, which was led by former prime minister, the late Lynden Oscar Pindling, at the time. Dames was the captain of the club.
"First of all, I just want to give thanks to God for allowing me to see this day. Also, thanks to the BAAA for making this possible," said Dames. "In 1954, Coach (Joseph) Yancy came over from the New York Pioneers, under an invitation from Charlie Major, and gave us some pointers before we left for the games. We knew nothing about spikes - we ran barefooted. Track and field molded my life. I continue to tell the young people to get involved with track and field, because it will take them around the world. I remember the old guard, which was the UBP (United Bahamian Party) at the time, made it possible for us to travel. We put The Bahamas on the map as far as international sports is concerned. I'm thankful to Mr. Finlayson and BAAA for putting this all together, and also to the government of the day for giving me the opportunity to see a part of the world where I never dreamed I would go."
Track and field historian Alpheus "Hawk" Finlayson, a former president of the BAAA, is organizing the activities celebrating the accomplishment of that 1954 team as well as a number of other historic firsts for the country. The pioneers of the sport will be recognized and honored at a luncheon on Sunday July 13, at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. The luncheon is set for a 2 p.m. start. Also, the men will be recognized at the BTC National Open and Junior Track and Field Championships this weekend.
"These two men are pacesetters in the sport of track and field," said Sir Arlington Butler, the longest-serving president of the Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA). "Leonard lit the flame for my involvement in athletics. He used to come out 5:30 in the mornings to train. That was an interesting period in track and field. I hope Bahamians would realize that this is something that should be celebrated and come out and show support for these outstanding men. They are fortunate enough to still be around and functional. Bahamians are heavily into track and field, and it is men like these who started it. I'm thankful to 'Hawk' (Finlayson) for his interest in getting this started, and I hope that these two men would be in Scotland later this summer when I am being honored."
Sir Arlington is set to be honored at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland this summer. Those games are set for July 23 to August 3, around the same time period when the historic quartet took part in that same event in Vancouver 60 years ago. The most recognizable name in Bahamian track and field since, Thomas "Tommy" Robinson, was working at the Customs Department during the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and didn't make the trip to Vancouver. He was in Mexico City the following year, though, with Johnson, Dames and Charlie Moss, representing The Bahamas on the 1955 Pan Am Games team.
"We appreciate what they have done for our sport, and we are pleased to recognize them," said BAAA President Mike Sands. "Also, I appreciate what Alpheus continues to do to recognize persons who have made a contribution to our sport. The trailblazers must be recognized - they should not be forgotten. These gentlemen paved the way and we wish to congratulate them. The BAAA is very happy to be a part of this historic occasion."
The team that traveled to Vancouver was originally a five-member team, but Tex Lunn, a jeweller, got sick and could not travel.
"The Bahamas should celebrate what these men did back then and appreciate where we have come from," said Finlayson. "We are asking the involvement of every BAAA president and every minister of sports for the luncheon on July 13. We feel that we are going to have a grand time, a mixing of the ages, so to speak. Also, both of them are scheduled to be in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, and we'll have the opportunity for something to happen for them there."
Not only is this year 60 years since The Bahamas' initial participation in international competition, but it is the 50th anniversary year of Tommy Robinson's historic run at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. At those Olympics, Robinson became the first Bahamian to advance to an Olympic final in athletics.
The upcoming luncheon is primarily centered around the accomplishments of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games team, though. Johnson ran a 51 low in the quarter-mile, a national record at the time, which wouldn't be matched until six years later when Hugh Bullard did a similar time at 1960 Rome Olympics, and "Skeeter" Dames, who coincidentally got his nickname because he was once termed as one who flies like a mosquito instead of running like a human, is the only living Bahamian to have defeated the great Tommy Robinson in a race.
As for "Peepsight" Johnson, he said that he got his nickname from peeping at the tips that were collected by the captain at the hotel where he worked as a busboy.

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