Grotto Bay Hosts Junior Tennis Tournament
Grotto Bay Tennis Club hosted their Racket Blazers Junior Tennis Tournament over the weekend at Grotto Bay Beach Resort, marking the last of three quarterly tournaments in the Racket Blazers series, with competitors ranging in age from 5 to 12-years-old.
The event was sponsored by Cedar Aviation Services Ltd.
Left to right [front row]: Szaafiyah Walters, Kallen Richardson, David Goonewardene, Maria Ramirez, Trey Vance, Britney Outerbridge. [Back row] Romar Douglas, Anthony Richardson
A spokesperson said, “The competition was organized using the Quick Start tennis format, which utilizes shorter, narrower courts and three different balls that have varying levels of compression. The lower compression balls allow the game to move slower giving kids more time to react.
“The balls bounce at the children’s height, making it easier for them to hit and travel less distance, giving beginning players better and longer rallies. This helps build their skills more quickly, making them more enthusiastic about continuing to play and improve.”
“The Quick Start method really helps introduce tennis to children more easily,” said Tournament Director and Grotto Bay Tennis Head Coach Romar Douglas. “With this new method, children as young as 5-years-old can start playing tennis almost immediately – even if they have never picked up a racket before.
“The evidence was there with the number of very young children who participated and performed well in the tournament.”
Overall U12 winners: Maria Ramierz and David Goonewardene
Winners in the 8 and under category, utilizing the red ball, included:
- Jaden Marshall [First Place Boys]
- Owen Curley [Second Place Boys]
- Sarai Packwood [First Place Girls]
- Flora Betts [Second Place Girls]
Winners in the 12 and under category, utilizing the orange ball, included:
- Maria Ramirez [First Place Overall]
- David Goonewardene [Second Place Overall]
Special Awards were given to:
- Trey Vance [Sportsmanship Award]
- Kallen Richardson [Best Skills and Strokes Award]
U8 Boys winner: Jaden Marshall
Trophies and prizes were provided and presented by Cedar Aviation Service’s Managing Director Anthony Richardson.
“Cedar Aviation sponsored the November 2014 Racket Blazers Tournament at Grotto Bay because we believe participation in sports is one way to bring the Bermuda community together,” said Mr. Richardson.
“We congratulate Coach Douglas and Rose Douglas for the tremendous work they do on behalf of Bermuda’s young people in organizing the Racket Blazers Tournament. We look forward to the Racket Blazers Tournament becoming a regular fixture on Bermuda’s tennis calendar.”
U8 Girls winner: Sarai Packwood
“Grotto Bay Tennis Club would like to thank Cedar Aviation and all the volunteers for their help with coordinating this tournament and for their continued support of junior tennis.
“The Grotto Bay Tennis Club is situated on the lower front two acres of Grotto Bay Beach Resort; the Club has evolved into the East End community’s choice of tennis facilities, offering year-round opportunities for improving, competing and socializing.
“Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Tennis is the 2014 recipient of Trip Adviser’s Certificate of Excellence.”
U8 Girls Runner Up: Flora Betts
For more information on the Grotto Bay Tennis Club, the Racket Blazers Tournament Series, or the Club’s other junior and adult tennis programs, please call Tracy Astwood at 703-7935 or email tastwood@mac.com.
Congratulations to everyone that had taken part in this event. Just a bit of history: It had been Bermuda that introduced tennis to the United States of America. (It’s another feather to put in our caps
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