There seem to be no end to the celebrations marking this year’s Cup Match.

The 2014 game was the 113th Classic commemorating the enforcement on August 1, 1834 of the Emancipation Act, that ended 400 years of slavery of black people in Bermuda.

Year by year these celebrations have become more and more sophisticated, and exciting, with this year being no exception.

It is far different from the time when Freedom Day arrived in 1834. The freed slaves, owning no more than the clothes on their back, celebrated by attending church services, and parades organised by the Friendly Societies.

Yours truly has been caught up, one way or another, trying to keep abreast of happenings leading up to this year’s Classic.

The next big event is scheduled for tonight. That’s when Somerset will ‘March Out the Cup’ it so dramatically won.

So great has been the spirit generated in Somerset, there seems to be a universal feeling, terming it as ‘gone but never to be forgotten’. Some scribes have even headlined it as the game in which everyone was a winner.

Well, back to tonight’s ‘Marching of the Cup’. Yours truly was beginning to fear that it would never happen, with all the other modern day sophistication and excitement, both before and after the big game. These included a big boat cruise that took place last night.

Searching my Cup Match memory bank I recalled how growing up in the 1930s the two most exciting events were; being on hand to see the first ball roll, and to march out the cup in a torch light parade. The victorious captain was mounted on horseback, and the marchers carried poles, atop which tin cans were affixed containing material soaked in kerosene and set afire. That was spectacular.

From day one, until now, the Friendly Societies, or Lodges, have sparked Freedom Day celebrations, expanding it from the early church services, to widespread family picnics, a major aspect of which was, cricket games.

Greater sophistication set in when members of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows’ Albert and Victoria Lodge in Somerset, and their kindred Somers Pride of India Lodge from St George’s, decided during the 1901 match to formalise this Emancipation Day rivalry, by playing for a cup.

Funds were raised, and a beautiful silver cup, secured from London, England. It is now so priceless, it is kept in a bank vault except for the Cup Match days.

Last week, The Bermuda Friendly Societies Association held its 11th Annual Cup Match Sportsmanship Award ceremony at Manchester Unity Lodge Hall in Hamilton.

The decision by the Association to put a focus on good sportsmanship in the annual cricket classic arose from a desire on the part of the Founding Fathers of the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association to emphasise that particular character trait.

Being one which, at the same time, epitomises the principle of “playing the game hard, but playing it clean”. The recipient of The Good Sportsmanship Award is, thus, expected to be an individual who has demonstrable cricketing skills, but who also clearly projects the values of fair-play, teamwork, leadership and self-respect.

The active membership of the BFSA consists of seven Lodges — the Loyal Mayflower Lodge, The Flower of the Day Lodge, Princess Royal Union Lodge, Somers Pride of India Lodge, Alexandrina Lodge and its sister lodge, the Household of Ruth, and Loyal Irresistible Lodge.

Somerset’s Terryn Fray, was cited by the Cup Match umpires as being the one best exemplifying the principles of good sportsmanship, and fair play throughout the 2014 Classic. In his second innings, Fray thrilled fans with his chance less 122, not out, moving his team from the critical position St George’s had them in with their spectacular first inning play.

This year, the ceremony at Manchester Unity Hall featured as guest speaker Wendell Smith, the former St George’s captain. He is a former school principal, who has now turned cricket commentator.

Former Somerset Cup Match Captain. Joe Bailey, was the guest presenter.

Among those attending the awards ceremony were several legendary players, and this year’s Cup Match umpires, Emmerson Carrington and Oscar Andrade, and the President of the Umpires’ Association, Walisford Manders.

The Mayflower Lodge was beautifully decorated with Cup Match items rivalling much of those seen around Somerset greeting the thousands attending the Classic.

The Good Sportsmanship Award was instituted in 2003 by the BFSA with the winner presented a number of prizes reflecting the Lodges’ historic Cup Match legacy.

Those prizes include a Shield, the Emancipation Cup, the Clarence Darrell Cup. Mr Darrell, during his day, was one of the leading black business men. His granddaughter, Maxine Esdaille, formally presented Terryn Fray with the memorial. Mrs Esdaille, incidentally, is president of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Bermuda Association.

History buffs will recall that, in 1947, two official public holidays were introduced to be observed every year on the Thursday and Friday closest to 1st August. The first day of Cup Match was officially designated as Emancipation Day, while the second day, Somers Day, commemorates the arrival here of Admiral Sir George Somers who colonised these Islands in 1609.