LIME, Tennis Jamaica connect with $2.2m partnership

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Tennis Jamaica received a major boost yesterday when telecommunications company LIME handed over a cheque for $2.2 million to its president, Aubyn Hill, ahead of today's start of the National High Schools tennis finals.

Errol Miller, regional vice-president of corporate communications made the presentation at a press conference, which was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

"LIME believes that we have to invest in our young people and sports is always a good way to do so," said Miller.

"One of the things that we insist on is that people who play this sport must be disciplined, and they must also carry a certain average, because what we are trying to do is to help with the holistic development of our youngsters in the schools who play this game," Miller said.

Well organised

Miller added: "This tournament is always well organised and well run and the kids are so appreciative of it, it is unbelievable and I know that these finals are going to be very exciting."

Hill, who took over the presidency of Tennis Jamaica from Phillip Gore earlier this year, said his association was very grateful for the sponsorship.

"I am extremely pleased with any sponsor and especially LIME that have been sponsoring this competition at Tennis Jamaica for about 16 years," said Hill.

"Do you know how easy it is for sponsors to walk away and how hard it is for an institution like Tennis Jamaica to keep the same sponsors for years? So we are especially pleased that LIME has been around for 16 years with us," Hill added.

The tournament will serve off today at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre and will continue through to Saturday with eight boys' and eight girls' schools vying for the national championship.

Performance in regionals

The participating schools have qualified for the finals by virtue of their performance in the regional competitions, which consist of the eastern, western and central region eliminations which were held over the last four weeks.

Making up the eight teams in the girls' competition are five teams from the eastern region: Imma-culate, Wolmer's Girls, Hillel, St Andrews and Campion College. The two teams from the western region are Montego Bay High and Ocho Rios High while Hampton are the only school to have qualified to the finals from the central region.

On the boys' side, five teams from the eastern region are down to take part, they are Campion College, Wolmer's Boys, Hillel, Jamaica College and Ardenne. Ocho Rios High and Heinz Simonitsch are the western teams along with Munro College from the central region.