Diana ‘Di’ Clarke, a stalwart in equestrian, is the recipient of the Barbados Olympic Association’s Gender Equality Commission’s 2025 Esther Maynard Icon Award.
Nominated by the Barbados Equestrian Association, Clarke was recognised alongside fellow nominees Monica Cumberbatch, who the Barbados Hockey Federation nominated, and Cheryl Lady Forde, who the Barbados Aquatics Sports Association nominated.
The award ceremony, honouring outstanding women in sports, was held on March 23 at the Barbados Olympic Centre and supported by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity programme. It marked its sixth year of celebrating contributions that reflect the legacy of sports administrator Esther Maynard.
Clarke has been an instrumental figure in the development of equestrian sport in Barbados and the Caribbean for over 50 years. Thanks to her passion and commitment to teaching and coaching, many of her students have gone on to successfully represent Barbados at national, regional and international competitions – mainly as riders but also as grooms, trainers and coaches. Her aim has always been to impart knowledge to her students, as well as the fundamentals of the sport, no matter the discipline, whether it be show jumping, dressage, eventing, horse racing, polo or simply the love of horses.
BOA President Sandra Osborne, SC, referred to the award as “iconic”, maintaining that it symbolises everything that Maynard embodies. “It is about using Sport as a platform and enabler to positively impact many lives, often many girls, in lasting and life-changing ways, whether as a coach, teacher, sport administrator, mother, mother figure, or otherwise. These roles all have a common theme. They speak to the nurturing of the next generation.”
President Osborne noted that presenting this award in March is intentional, as it coincides with International Women’s Day, which she noted was celebrated this year under the theme, “For All Women and Girls – Rights, Equality, and Empowerment.”
“While many of us see Barbados as a country in the forefront of equality for women and girls, the theme is also central to the vision of empowering the next generation of youth, particularly young women and girls, as catalysts for lasting change,” President Osborne added.
Chairperson of the BOA’s Gender Equality Commission, Marsha Boyce, further emphasised the strides made by the BOA in advancing gender equality in sports leadership. As the BOA celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025, she noted significant strides, including the election of its first female president, Sandra Osborne, in 2017 and an increase in women’s leadership roles. She also recognised the Barbados Olympic Academy’s 20-year milestone, with two of its three directors being women, and the growing presence of women leading Barbados’ Multi-Sport Games management teams.
“So how can we accelerate action for gender equality in sport? By supporting women and girls in leadership and governance, those in or aspiring to be in decision-making positions, by elevating and encouraging girls’ participation and achievement in sport and by fostering safe spaces of all athletes and athlete support personnel,” Boyce said.
To date, the award has recognised powerhouses whose names are easily recognised in sporting circles in Barbados – like Esther Maynard herself (2020), Kathy Harper Hall (2021), Sonia O’Neal (2022), June Rudder (2023), and Andrea Nichols (2024).
Receiving the award from Esther Maynard herself, an emotional Clarke expressed gratitude to the BOA for the honour and shared her deep admiration for Maynard.
“I remember her selling fishcakes, anything to raise money for the Athletics Association. Certainly, I looked up to her from years and years ago just through that, so this award means a lot,” Clarke said.