It's now a case of when, rather than if, covers will be introduced to the Division 1 cricket competition.

This was hinted by Tony Marshall, president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), as he delivered the feature address at the 1997 awards ceremony on Monday evening at Kensington Oval.

``The situation relating to covers is no longer a discussion, but has to be whether we have it within our capability to be able to provide covers to the senior clubs and the senior cricket division,'' Marshall told the gathering.

``It is something we can no longer discuss and think about. It is something we must act upon.''

He also said the new BCA board, which takes up office from September 1, would be looking carefully at the reward systems for teams in the various competitions.

Marshall said the board would be looking to see if the current incentives were sufficient to improve the standard of play, players and clubs around the island.

``What I feel our board must do is examine carefully and critically how we seek to motivate individuals and clubs to do better,'' said the president.

``At the end of the day it's not about achieving bonuses, but has cricket improved in Barbados?''

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards to the Cave Shepherd Cricketers of the Year: Terry Rollock (of Sports & Games YMPC), Winston Reid (formerly of YMPC, now of Banks), Police's Sylvester Louis, Floyd Reifer of BET and Cockspur Wanderers batsman Mark Sealy.

President of the St. Catherine Club, Lionel Blades, accepted the Division 1 championship trophy on behalf of his club.

The other title winners were Spartan (Premier League), Dover (Intermediate), Cable & Wireless Bartel Her Majesty's Prison Officers (Division 2), and St. James Secondary (Goddard Enterprises Schools' League).