Over-35 tourney serves off
Published:Saturday | February 19, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
Competitive tennis returns to the courts this weekend with the staging of the Locker Room Sports Great Tennis Events, an over-35 tournament, which served off last night at the Ligueanea Club.
It continues today and ends tomorrow with the awards and presentation ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
The event is the brainchild of Llockett McGregor, national tennis coach and former junior tennis national representative, and sport manager David Shirley.
Title sponsors Locker Room sells tennis apparel and promotes brands such as 'Nike' and 'Velle' that are synonymous with the sport, and its managing director, David Shirley, said it is an important partnership.
"The decision to forge the partnership came against the love for the sport and primarily to give back and keep the sport alive, whilst continuing its growth and development," Shirley said.
Meanwhile, McGregor, who has been involved in the sport for over 25 years, is happy that Locker Room Sports has sponsored the tournament and is assisting in the marketing and promotions of the competition.
"We want to make it one of the biggest competitions on the tennis calendar. It is normally difficult to get funding for tennis in Jamaica, but the landscape is starting to change," said McGregor.
Top players
The tournament has attracted top players in different categories. Former top Jamaican junior and senior players have been invited to participate including Brenton White, Mel Spence Jr, David Shirley, Stephen Steele, John Azar, Peter Azar, Mark Chin, Aldrick McNab, James Sampson, Allister Mcbeth, Aswad Morgan, Noel Rutherford, Nicholas Malcolm, Stephen Jones, Stephen Shirley, Floyd Logan, Ruddy Armstrong, Frank Harris, Patrick Day, Keith Clarke, Marcus James, Philbert Palmer and Franklyn Rutherford.
The players will act as role models and mentors to the younger tennis players, while umpires and referees will have the opportunity to practise their skills and be ready for major international events.
The winner of the tournament will receive $25,000, while the runner-up will take home $15,000. There will be sectional trophies and consolation prizes from the sponsors.
Affiliate sponsors include Tennis Jamaica, Fencemasters, Velle Sports International, Fiction Lounge, Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records, Access Financial, Morgans Group-Therapedic, Celli-Shac, Avantgarde Hireage, Hi-Lyte Sports Mixx, Ultra Medical Services and Pricedless RX and I-Print.