Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4845/-1/131/
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Ras Bucket Wants To Set The Record Straight
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In the 40 year commemorative magazine produced and financed by the Government, there were a multitude of articles dealing directly with the history of Anguilla from 1967 to present time. It is one of the best examples of a historical document Anguilla has seen in recent times as it is always beneficial to hear history by word of mouth from people who were actually part of the process. There is no doubt that sport has played a vital role in the history of Anguilla and it will continue to play a paramount role in its future. Yet, in preparing for the future, it is always important to do so by studying the past. The Anguillian was approached by Trevor “Ras Bucket” Davis recently. He was concerned about the whole truth being told about the development of sports and in his own words, “wanted to set the record straight.”
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Ras Bucket shows off his many trophies and medals
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Ras Bucket, in his attempt to set the record straight is primarily referring to page 96 in the 40 year commemorative anniversary magazine. On this page, Alkins Rogers writes, “The period 1988 to 1998 saw a deliberate and strategic ploy to sell the intrinsic values of sports as a tool for development. The success of several Anguillians like Cardigan and Keith Connor played a pivotal role. This inspired many promising sports persons like Ras Bucket, Lanvil Harrigan and later Alex Adams, Omari Banks and Shara Proctor. These individuals have helped Anguilla make a name both regionally and internationally.” First and foremost, Ras Bucket wanted to make clear that neither Cardigan nor Keith Connor ever had any influence over him as an athlete. As it states in the article, sports began to be pushed in 1988 whereas Ras Bucket claims that he began representing Anguilla on an international scale in 1980. It is his contention that he is one of the main individuals responsible for putting Anguilla on the map and to this day, continues to play a pivotal role in the development of sports on Anguilla. Ras Bucket’s story is indeed intriguing and quite compelling. It is his hope that his story may tell the whole truth about sports in Anguilla as well as inspire others to follow in his footsteps as youth development is his main concern as well as the future of Anguilla.
Trevor “Ras Bucket” Davis began his athletic odyssey at the Valley Primary School as a young man who was quite interested in making music and playing sports for fun. He recalls his long walks to and from school in which he would frequently stop to play cricket or football. As there were no organized competitions during those days, Ras Bucket did recognize that he had exceptional speed compared to his classmates and he proved this during races he would set up among his many friends. In 1975, Morris Vanterpool at that time was the Principal of the East End Primary School and was very keen on athletics. It was then that Ras Bucket represented the Valley Primary School in his first meet where he ran the 100 and 200 meter as well as the 4x100 relay. Upon Principal Vanterpool’s death in 1976, all school athletics competitions ceased from 1976 - 1979. Although there were no organized sports, he still participated in the Anguilla Sports Day Competitions and continued to run because he enjoyed it.
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Proudly representing Anguilla in Greece
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1979 proved to be a pivotal year in Ras Bucket’s career as his friends Dano and Bossman decided to pursue music careers and he opted for training. That year, Ras Bucket tied with Trevor Woodley in the 100 meter, and his musical friends joined the premier Anguilla Band “North Sound Brass International.” All three gentlemen subsequently had successful careers. 1980 saw the first international competition as Ras Bucket travelled to Bermuda to compete in the Carifta Games at the age of 17 in which he placed 6th in the 100 and 200 meter. In 1981, he made a life changing decision by becoming a Rastaman although this did not interfere with his career. He continued to train with the help of individuals such as Clifton Livingstone and Kenn Banks, although ultimately he would train himself for most of his competitions. The year 1982 proved to be monumental as he won his fist international competition in the 100 and 200 meter in St. Maarten and in 1983 he travelled to Antigua where he placed 2nd and then to the US Virgin Islands where he came out on top as the 1st place trophy holder.
The year that really launched his career was 1983 as he went to his first World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Amazingly, it was here that he actually saw starting blocks for the first time as well as a professional track and an actual gun used for starting the race. There he placed 6th in the heat and although he did not progress far, he got his first taste of what real competition entailed. He also had the opportunity to hang out and train somewhat with Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. The following year, Ras Bucket desired to compete in the Olympics, but as Anguilla was not a member, he was forced to compete in the St. Martin Olympid competition.
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Ras Bucket meets and trains with Ben Johnson and coach
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He first began to place 1st and 2nd in international competitions starting in 1985 in places such as St. Vincent, Antigua and St. Kitts. In Antigua, Ras Bucket actually competed against Ben Johnson, who at the time was the fastest man in the world. In that competition, he placed 2nd only below Ben Johnson therefore solidifying himself as the fastest man in the Caribbean. 1987 was quite exciting as he received an invitation to go the first World Indoor Athletics Championships in the United States. It was here that he placed 4th in the 60 and 200 meter competitions but it was beneficial because he was also made aware of all the other many competitions he could be eligible for. Therefore he set off for Antigua where he won the 60 and 200 meter. Later, he travelled to Rome for the 2nd World Championships but could not compete because his luggage was lost during the travel process. It was then that his friendship with Ben Johnson became stronger as he arranged for Ras Bucket to receive full apparel from Diadora.
Barbados was his next destination where he placed 4th in the 100 meter and 3rd in the 200 meter on May 22. On May 28, he went to the USVI where he placed 1st in the 100 and 200 meter as well as the 4 x 1 relay. After his immediate success, he returned to Anguilla where he showed off his talents by running the 60 meter in 6.59 seconds, the 100 meter in 10.65, the 200 meter in 21.70 and the 400 meter in 50.24. Tortola was to be his next destination although he did receive some resistance as they had a “No Rastas” policy. In Tortola, he dominated the competition in the 100, 200, and 4 x 1 relay. According to Ras Bucket, there is some controversy here. Apparently, many officials were very impressed with his abilities and thought he should represent the Caribbean at the Olympics in 1988. Athletics officials came to Anguilla to plead Ras Bucket’s case but he wholeheartedly believed that Anguillian officials held him back for fear that Ras Bucket would become too famous.
Both 1988 and 1989 were years in which Ras Bucket felt that he was one of the best in the world and with proper training and opportunities, he could have proven to be the best in the world. In Budapest, Hungary, during the 3rd World Indoor Championships, he had a much better showing and developed more confidence among his competitors, yet he could not help feeling disappointed in the lack of support from the officials of his own country. It was because of this negativity and pessimism that he decided to reflect on his career in 1990. He spoke with the then Chief Minister Sir Emile Gumbs. Sir Emile promised to do whatever he could to continue to help Ras Bucket pursue his career goals because he knew it would put Anguilla on the map. The Government shortly thereafter sent him to England for six months to train. During that time he competed against Jason Livingstone and beat him. Livingstone was at that time the fastest junior in the world and 2nd fastest man in England. After that, Ras Bucket began to receive many invitations to compete yet again on the world stage but it was not meant to be as four days later he got injured and could not compete for an entire eight weeks. After fully recovering from his injury, he once again amazed himself and the UK public by posting a time of 47.80 in the 400 meter therefore solidifying his mark as the 2nd fastest man in the entire United Kingdom. It was here when he started to train during the UK winter and summer and received some of the best training of his life although he could never get out of his mind the fact that he felt disrespected by the officials of his own country.
An interesting anecdote occurred after Ras Bucket was finished with his training with the best athletes in the world in Lanzarotti. Upon his return to the UK, he competed in the 200 meter and finished first, but not before losing a shoe during the race. He overcame adversity in that competition and continued to compete on the world stage in Seville (Spain), Norway, Jersey (England), Xalapa (Mexico), The Leeward Championships, and finally Tokyo, Japan where he actually competed against the famed Michael Johnson. After his travels and competitions, he returned to Anguilla where he received support from the current Speaker of the House, Mr. David Carty. Mr. Carty got him a job teaching sports in the schools because he felt that what Ras Bucket knows, no school could have given it to him as he was born with it. For this reason, he should use his talents to teach children and empower youth through support. Ras Bucket wants to make it clear that he truly appreciates David Carty and all those responsible for getting him a job.
Ras Bucket believes that he put athletics and sports in general where it is today with his many successes. He is also dedicated to teaching youth in Anguilla which he proved in 1992-1993 where he sacrificed his running career to teach others. Near the end of 1993, Ras Bucket did travel to Stuttgart, Germany, where he placed 6th in the competition. He felt good knowing that everyone involved were professionals and that he could stand out although he was from a small country with limited resources. Interestingly enough, Keith Connor lobbied for Ras Bucket to go to Australia to train but he claims that once again the Anguillian officials showed no interest in supporting him. Ras Bucket mentioned that Keith Connor was proud of him not only because he was one of the best in the world, but because he was from little Anguilla.
During the period of 1994-1998 is when Ras Bucket feels he received the most negativity from Anguillian sports officials. While he was in Stuttgart, he claims that the Anguillan sports official accompanying him fought with Ras Bucket the entire time and did not support his endeavours, so he therefore left to get away from the official and immediately called to the Anguillian Government for support. It was then that the Government and Cable and Wireless decided to sponsor Ras Bucket for the remainder of his competitions and for that he remains forever grateful for their support. In 1994, he competed in England and in 1995 he was off to Gartenbau, Sweden, to compete. He did not do well in Sweden however because he felt like he was under immense pressure from Anguillian sports officials. His final bid for competing in the Olympics of 1996 was halted as well. It was everyone’s intention for him to compete under St. Kitts, but political problems between St. Kitts and Anguilla put that to a stop.
The end of Ras Bucket’s career came abruptly at a competition on the park which would decide who would go to the Commonwealth Games. It was going to be Anguilla’s first time participating in the event and therefore much was on the line. Some athletes that were interested in going were in the United States at the time and were allowed to send in times instead of competing in the event to decide who would go. Of course Ras Bucket was disgusted with this type of unprofessional practice. Moreover, Ras Bucket commented that some athletes that were chosen in the past were not even able to finish the race due to lack of stamina. Therefore, Ras Bucket, as a form of protest, decided to race and not finish as well. Although at that time, he was considered without a doubt the fastest in Anguilla as well as one of the fastest in the Caribbean, the officials decided not to let Anguilla’s star athlete, Ras Bucket, go and compete in the Commonwealth Games. This of course disgusted him even further and it was at that time he chose to give up his athletics career.
In closing, Ras Bucket wants to make a few points very clear. His diet never had anything to do with his ability to perform well. The only thing that hindered him from being a world champion was the lack of support from Anguillian Sports Officials. Neither Cardigan nor Keith Connor had any influence on him as an athlete and if there is anyone that should have been mentioned as one of the main catalysts for sports development in Anguilla, it should have been Ras Bucket. The current sports administration and those of the past have always put entirely too much emphasis on cricket as it shows in the commemorative magazine with all the photos. He started representing Anguilla on a world stage from 1980-1998, an 18 year career that has not been equalled by any other Anguillian. Ras Bucket wants to thank the Almighty God, his late mother Agatha Petty, his coach, the Government of Anguilla, Cable and Wireless, as well as everyone who helped him. Moreover, he wants to recognize people such as Hugo Rey who gave him a job and helped him financially, Kenn Banks, Victor Banks, John Benjamin, and the late Watkin Hodge and last, but not least, the ordinary people who gave donations for his travels. Ras Bucket said, “I want to do something positive for the development of sports and youth in Anguilla. Sports is the way to go. It lets people get involved, stay out of trouble, stop violence. Let’s all make Anguilla a better place and help each other instead of hinder each other.” Currently, Ras Bucket is a Physical Education Instructor and helps and inspires many young people everyday.