A call has gone out for the Dominica Lawn Tennis Association to do more and get active in promoting the game of tennis in Dominica.
Sports Coordinator, Trevor Shillingford and former international cricket umpire Billy Doctrove made the call at the closing ceremony of the Junior Lawn Tennis Competition which ended on Saturday.
Doctrove who is also a director of Big Edge Financial Services which sponsored the competition,said he “loves” tennis and although he’s not very good at playing the game, he sometimes watches tennis instead of cricket.
The tournament ended with several matches being played in both girls and boys categories at the Dominica Grammar School hard court.
In the “Red Ball” section of the tournament, Chantai Julian won in the girls category while Andre Riviere was victorious in the boys category.
Other winners of the various competitions in the tournament are as follows:
Alanzo Doctrove – Boys Under 10
Ethan Doctrove – Boys Under 12
Jenai Graham – Girls Under 16
Mauricio Burton – Boys Under 16
The tournament was organized by tennis coach, Andy Carter.
Its good to see Tennis coming alive again in DA. Coach Carter is like a voice in the wilderness as he seems to be one of the few persons interested in developing tennis.
Big Edge continues to play a leading role in sponsoring so many events and X Elite Umpire Billy is to be complimented.
As far as I know we have a Tennis Ass, but I have never heard of any activity by them. Are they active or extinct?
What about the Dominica Olympic Committee? What are those guys doing for the improvement of sports in Dominica?
Oh boy , some people are in position just for their own benefit.
Congrats to all the participants. How I would love to see tennis and other sports played in Dominica on a regional and international level. The Minister of Sport need to do better for our young people with sponsorship etc. I know we have some great talent out there and they need to be exposed.
Good effort. Don’t stop. Don’t give up…help must come!
Great job Chan. I am so proud of you, just carry on doing what you are doing and you will rip the rewards in future. Well done my niece xx
Congratulations to the winners. All of you who are interested in the sport and are playing it, are well on your way to developing your tennis skills. Keep it up. It is also good exercise.
Hope to witness a match sometime.
I know one person who is very much a tennis fan and also loves to view it especially when Serena and her sister are playing. All in all it is a good sport.
I recently viewed a tennis match on TV. I loved viewing it. It is so cool and peaceful. No fights. I am only a viewer. I do not get myself all worked-up and excited if someone looses. I leave that for the avid fans.
Alonzo is a very good .he is the best tennis player in under ten I have ever seen .He went to two finals and his father sponsered it ,it’s so cool
Hats go off to all participants, the coach and the sponsor.
Happy to see positive things going on in DA
This is an excellent program. As an avid tennis player I am really happy that the younger generation is being exposed to Lawn Tennis. Growing up as a kid at home I didn’t really enjoy plating cricket at home because after school I was sent to learn a trade. On weekends I fooled around with football/soccer. I migrated to the USA at a very young age was was exposed to American sports. Began playing tennis as an adult and I really like the sport. If Andy Carter dosen’t mind he can post his or the organization’s mailing address with a blog on this story and I will get him some tennis CD’s which will help him in teaching these kids the fundamentals and all the different strokes in playing tennis. Please don’t think I am not here saying that what you are doing in not good, but these CDs will make your coaching easier. And besides some of these kids can reach very far with tennis.
Worst thing that was done was to make den fellas govern this country…..Sports is on the lowest it could ever be thanks to them .They have no interest at all look at who is the minister of sports in the country!!!!!
You must not expect everything from the government and blame the government for everything not being done in D/ca. Everyone is expected to do something for their country and to enhance it in whatever field and of interest.
What are you doing to help D/ca and the youths for that matter? Other D/cans must do their part, to initiate it as is being done at this moment.
congrats to all the participants….hope your call for improvement goes answered # supporttheyouth
Well, you only have 1 tennis court in Roseau and Ross has the rest except for a private unattended tennis court on private property. No golf course either. How do you expect to attract tourists?
I would love that Trevor but let’s face it. Most people today are scratching for a dollar to survive and tennis is still considered an elite sport. I think there is more chance with the next govt, sponsoring development of sports in general and nurturing young talent. After all there will be a Team!
Why wait for the present or any future government? The time is right now for someone or a few to commence it. Why not you JoJo?
Wow…Great job Chantai…very good and keep up the good work. Could well be our next Serena Williams. TAKE IT TO THE WORLD!
I fully agree
Congrats to all the winners especially my classmate Alonzo.
Great job coach Andy , you are the best and one day you will get all the blessings you deserve.
congrats Alanzo!!!
worst thing that was done was to make the Dominica Club the grotto/home for the homeless. Total disgrace,
Well, most people would say Grotto home has priority and they could have moved that tennis court somewhere else. After all, most people who play tennis have vehicles no? For instance Castaways have old tennis courts and I understand govt. have their hands on that property. Maybe that facility could be refurbished at little cost.
If you mean Castaways up in Mero, the courts are pretty much destroyed. Back to square one. They are also not centrally located.
What do you mean not centrally located? They are between Portsmouth and Roseau, right o the major highway. Not everybody that lives in Roseau.
I totally agree
The Dominica Club and Union Club played each other in Tennis matches in the 1950’s and 1960’s every year. The man that ran the Dominica Club was Mr. Maxwell he was the head bartender. Back in those days the players all wore white with white tennis shoes because Dominica was a British colony.
They had style and class in those days.
Those were the days when the British were in charge. Most things were looking up then……including the people.
The Dominica Club was a lovely place. A great piece of land. I recall those days when tennis was played there and there would be dances or shall I say functions. I loved attending them with my friends.
Thinking of it, the Grotto could have been placed elsewhere. Too late for that I suppose.
Yes, Anonymous. I wholeheartedly endorse that. There was indeed style; much of it. Those were the days my friend. What a vast change today from those days.
I always thought that the Grotto which it was called in those days was also a place where there would be an annual government dance and other dances which I attended. Please correct me about this place.
“employees dance” and other government functions.