Remembering A Hilarian Giant: Ria Mark

On October 20th 2015, the sporting fraternity was plunged into mourning when it was learned that the legendary tennis champion and sport educator, Ria Mark, passed away after a lengthy illness.

Word spread quickly throughout the Bishop Anstey High School Alumnae Society, as Mrs. Mark - dubbed the Caribbean Queen of Tennis - had become quite the staple on the Physical Education front at our school on Chancery Lane.

Mrs. Ria Mark (born Chong Ashing)

Born Ria Chong Ashing, the fun-loving and sport-inclined young female actually started off playing cricket, which could not possibly be a surprise to many, if you ever bore witness to her hitting bowls for 6 during her interactive P.E. periods with her students in the fields at school! She was also an excellent player of badminton, table tennis and field hockey, but one sport eventually won her love and admiration in the 1950's: lawn tennis. 

The rest, as they say, is history - or in her case, her-story.

Mrs. Mark was inducted into the Trinidad & Tobago Sports Hall of Fame for her achievements in tennis in 1987, which is now overseen by the First Citizens Sports Foundation. This accolade was not a surprise to many at the time, because despite her tiny frame, she dominated the courts and was well-known as a formidable opponent to her tennis peers and admirers both on and off the court. From the Pan Am Games to the Phillips Trophy win in the Bahamas in the 1970's, and having won every open tournament in Trinidad and Tobago, she became a stellar player with an impressive local and international record.

A young Ria Chong Ashing (top left corner) stars in the press in the Carib Sport Diary in the 1960's.

One person that certainly admired her spirit of competitiveness and giving was Ken Mark (dec.), her husband and partner in the world of coaching, who also possessed a lengthy and illustrious career in Trinidad & Tobago tennis. This tennis sporting gene seemed to be dominant in the Mark's family DNA, because their son, Christopher, also took up the mantle of tennis - often a member of winners' circles in his respective national classes as a Trinidad & Tobago Junior Champion.

Ken & Ria Mark. Photo credit: Trinidad Guardian.

But on numerous occasions, Mrs. Mark moved beyond the realm of her beloved tennis: she became a champion for sporting activities on the whole at Bishop Anstey High School. Her appointment as an Honorary Hilarian by the Old Hilarian's Association in 2012 was a long time coming, and well deserved. She was an incredible anchor of influence and passion to several BAHS students who were often challenged with the responsibility of balancing scholastic requirements with sports training on a national level. 

One such sportswoman was Wanda Hutson-Woods. 

Wanda (centre), competing in the relays for ACU.

Mrs. Hutson-Woods went on to Southern Union State Community College in Auburn, Alabama, then Abilene Christian University. She graduated from the latter in 2010 - the same year that she was named a two-time NCAA Division II All American for the ACU Wildcats in 2010.

"I am truly saddened to hear about Mrs. Mark's passing. She was such a strong and hard-working individual while I was at BAHS," the two-time Olympic athlete for Trinidad and Tobago (2004 & 2008) lamented earlier this week.

In her trip down memory lane, Wanda intimated that Mrs. Mark played an integral role in both her athletic and academic career while at Bishop Anstey High. "She would constantly check to see how I was doing in my classes, since my transition (from another school) was in the middle of the academic year. It was a big adjustment phase for me, but she stood by me."

The name Charisse Bacchus rarely needs any introduction in the regional sporting world, but if your memory needs jogging, the phrase "CIES FIFA Master Alumna" should do the trick. 

Ms. Bacchus is a Hilarian who is a Sports Management, Law and Humanities buff, and is now the Comparative and International Society (CIES) Coordinator for Trinidad & Tobago. CIES is a prestigious global scholarly association dedicated to understanding the educational issues, trends and policies of sport, through cross-cultural and global perspectives.
Charisse has been a member of the University of Kansas athletics team, NCAA All American squad in 2005 and 2006, Trinidad and Tobago National Athletics Team, All Big 12 Conference Honors, Student Athlete Advisory Committee as well as the Board of the Trinidad and Tobago National Athletics Association, just to name a few. "Decorated athlete" would be an understatement, and it all began at Bishop Anstey High - where Mrs. Mark was a phenomenal Physical Education Instructor.

Charisse Bacchus.

She has vivid memories of Mrs. Mark in the young Bacchus' formative years at BAHS.

"Mrs. Mark was a very special woman; her willingness to lend support always stood out to me. She was always involved in any endeavour the BAHS Track & Field Team took on, from a bake sale to international competition. And we were so, so grateful to her for that."


Charisse reminisces on her fondest memory of Mrs. Mark: when she traveled with the Track & Field team for the Florida Gator Relays, as the team's chaperone. "She was so much fun and full of life. She kept our spirits very high," she says.

Charisse Bacchus, competing as a member of the Kansas University Team.

These testaments are a short snippet, but striking indicator of Mrs. Mark's commitment to the youth of Trinidad and Tobago. Generations young and seasoned were and continue to be inspired by her story - including her accomplishment of winning the National Championship Title on a record ten occasions between 1962-1978.

For those who knew her, Mrs. Mark was a tenacious, fierce, knowledgable, encouraging, loving and nurturing spirit that made it her honorary Hilarian duty to ensure that her students achieved a balance between their academic and sporting activities. It was this superimposed need for equilibrium that shaped some of the brightest and best sporting stars that decorate our national landscape, many of whom have passed through the walls of Bishop Anstey High under her discerning, watchful eye.

Mrs. Mark played the best with the boys in her field, and never accepted shying away from her male counterparts as an option, even at a tender age. Her determination to see others succeed after her own trailblazing path was as forceful and relentless as her famous backhand drive. For this, we are sure that her children, Christopher and Karla, as well as the throngs of young and hopeful minds in local sport are forever indebted.

Producing champions on and off the court was Mrs. Mark's legacy, and that was her special, yet classic, Hilarian Way.

From generations of BAHS women women of worth to you, Mrs. Mark: Thank You, and well played.

Bishop Anstey High School Yearbook: Coming Soon!

Are you a Hilarian business owner seeking advertising opportunities? Then this blogpost will be of great interest to you, because a yearbook is finally in the works, thanks to our diligent and enterprising graduating students!

Advertise with Bishop Anstey High School's Yearbook!

Aptly called “A Journey to Excellence”, the school is now accepting applications for advertisers for the first edition of the yearbook, which will be released in November 2015!

To be featured: Former Principal of Bishop Anstey High School, Ms. Patsy-Ann Rudder.

The commemorative publication will not only celebrate the academic and extra-curricular achievements of the recently graduated Form V and Upper VI students, but will also  but also celebrates the tenure of Bishop Anstey High School's newly-retired Principal, Ms. Patsy-Ann Rudder.

Other very interesting features and are expected in the dynamic publication, but our lips are sealed - you'll have to get it to see it all!



One secret that was let out: the yearbook includes slots for advertising opportunities, and a special call is going out to businesses, especially those with a Hilarian connection. 

The yearbook is an excellent opportunity to introduce and showcase your business products and/or services to consumers, and will be available at the school soon.


For more details on this opportunity, please contact Ms. Adams via email, at winadams@hotmail.com. 

We will certainly keep the Hilarian Community posted on the purchasing availability of the yearbook, and would like to take this opportunity to say WELL DONE to our recently-graduated students of Form V and Upper VI. Your hard work and determination continues to set the bar of excellence very high, in true Hilarian spirit!

Some of the Upper VI Graduating Class of 2015 with members of staff, at their Valedictory Service.

Hillarie Highlight: "Hunte" transforms to the "HUNTED"!

Danielle Jones-Hunte.

A brilliant Communications and Marketing professional.
A lecturer.
A stunning beauty queen and former model.

Now, this well-known Hilarian can add "fashion designer" to her already impressive résumé!

Danielle Jones-Hunte

Of her motivation to venture into this new business arena, Jones-Hunte intimated that the vision had been on her mind for quite some time. She was inspired by a recent getaway with her husband to Rajasthan, where she witnessed explosions of colour, mixing prints, fabrics and trims.

When the Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe 2004 visited Jaipur and Udaipur, Danielle instantly reminisced on her visits to our very own capital city of Port of Spain, where she would venture to various fabric shops-- but this time, her modern-day adventures involved a unique, bold and hand-printed twist.

Also fascinated by Cuban Culture, the movement and evolution of the Msaai tribes of Kenya/Tanzania and, most recently, by the colours and fabrics of India, Danielle gained and understanding of the cultural connections possible through fabric, detailing and, of course, colour. Danielle was armed with a clear vision for designs, and knew that the time to delve into the world of fashion had arrived.

Jones-Hunte sprung into action, with her supportive husband as her muse. "Those first shirts (produced for him) were all really, really bright," says Jones-Hunte who admits to having to marry her own design inspirations with what would work on the local market. "Now, the line features a mix of very bold prints with a few more simple designs with slim and fuller cuts. I'm fed up going to events where women all look unique and sexy and men look like they all shopped for the same shirts in the same two stores." This is why she started with men's fashion - she wanted men to have more locally-designed choices.

Danielle's debut "R" collection features 42 uniquely designed shirts of which no two are alike and two shirt designs that feature two per size. 

Women had always been on her merchandising radar, and who doesn't love a good handbag for every occasion? She had all of her bags - from tiny showpieces to large carryall styles - constructed in a community that inspired her - the Dharavi slum in Mumbai. "A million people live in the one square mile area of Mumbai.

"They are the hardest working people I have ever seen - and all so proud," said the Hunted designer. "The area is famous for its leather work and the craftsmen are extremely creative," said Jones-Hunte. "My line started there and I wanted to give back, she said "every dollar I spent (there) funds employment and provides hope for the community. In line with her commitment to contribute, a percentage of every Hunted purchase made at the launch will be donated to the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society and the Couva Children's Home - where children from abused homes/ homes facing court cases etc. find rest and support.

Hunted can be found at fashion boutiques in Trinidad and Tobago including Anya Ayong Chee's Exhibit A boutique, #6 Scott St. St. Clair. For more information email info@huntedfashion.com.

If you're a modern urban dweller who appreciates culture and has an affinity for looking hot without feeling overheated, then Hunted is for you! Light fabrics, clean lines, delicate details and colour define the collection which includes handworked cotton, intricate details and is accompanied by her signature leather handbag collection is perfect for the Hilarian woman on the go.

Beauty Queens of the Universe: Danielle Jones-Hunte (left) with former Miss T&T Universe Finalist, Soleil Paterson.

Congratulations, Danielle!