Former St George’s Cup Match skipper Wendell Smith will be among those honoured during this year’s Emancipation Celebration Awards Luncheon.During an illustrious Cup Match career spanning two decades Smith amassed 1,143 runs in the classic at an average of 33.62 and a high score of 129.In 1994 Smith became the first batsman to score 1,000 runs in Cup Match at Wellington Oval, 18 years after making his first appearance in the classic as a colt.The stylish left handed batsman also shared in a record 200 run second-wicket partnership with younger brother Clay Smith in St George’s in 1992.The marathon partnership fell just 29 runs short of the record for all wickets held by the late Rupert Scotland and Lee Raynor who also played for St George’s.Smith is one of four former St George’s Cup Match players to be recognised during the eighth Annual Emancipation Celebration Awards Luncheon to be held at the Willow Bank Convention Centre July 22 (1pm). The remaining past St George’s Cup Match players to be honoured this year are Winfield Darrell, Wilbur Burgess and Louis (Red) DeSilva.“The luncheon is an occasion when former Cup Match players both from Somerset and St George’s as well as those who help to make the game a reality are recognised and awarded not only for their participation and contribution to the Summer Classic but also for upholding and promoting Bermuda’s Cultural heritage,” commented Heritage Productions director Radell Tankard.Among those from Somerset being honoured this year are Quinton Sherlock, Albert Donawa, Rudolph Simons, Charles (Skeets) Fubler and Gladstone (Sad) Brown.Opening batsman Brown was a member of Randy Horton’s Cup Match team that won the cup back from St George’s in 1979 after a 20-year drought.A special award is to be presented to former Bermuda Broadcasting Company employee Delano Ingham for his outstanding service in camera work and technical support in helping to provide live coverage of Cup Match Classic for many years.Past Cup Match players to have been recognised by Heritage Productions include Clarence Parfitt, Dennis Wainwright and Calvin (Bummy) Symonds.Bowler Parfitt has taken the most wickets in Cup Match (115), Wainwright executed the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper (37) while Symonds is the most successful captain in the classic with eight wins.All three men played for St George’s and are also Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame inductees.For further information on this year’s Emancipation Celebration Awards Luncheon contact Radell Tankard at mrtankard@aol.com or at 534- 8265.