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GLTA applauds Corriverton Tennis Programme
A milestone event for tennis came off last Friday in the Corriverton community as the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association’s drive to promote the sport of tennis outside of Georgetown continued.
The first ever 10s mini-tennis competition outside of Georgetown was hosted by the Corriverton Primary on Friday November 19th with competition amongst the top selected boys and girls to emerge from the program at the school.
Certificate Holders (from left) Shermon Stewart, Anthony February, Dacia Courtman, Anastacia Pittman along with teachers and sponsors (back row) from left; Joseph Rayappen, Rowena Johnson-Verwey, Odessa Ross and Mark Lowenfield.
Earlier in 2010 The Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) had provided mini-tennis training and equipment for 6 schools in Corriverton to jump start the mini-tennis programmes.
Competition followed the standards stipulated in the ITF development programme for tennis. Games were played to six points using special low compression balls and within a smaller specially marked out court. The low compression balls make it easier for both Junior and Senior novices to play the game.
Antonio February emerged as the top player in the Boys Category as he outlasted Shermon Stuart 7-5 points whilst being cheered on by parents and teachers.
In the girls category Anastacia Pittman defeated Dacia Courtman 6-2 to win.
The school’s Grade 4 teacher Rowena Johnson-Verwey, who was part of the GLTA training, hails from a family of sportspersons and was instrumental in the development of tennis at Corriverton Primary. She was elated with the performance of her young potential tennis players and promised to make her school an example for the community.
In her closing remarks, she thanked the GLTA for the initiative and for introducing tennis to the school. Other teachers at the school such as Mark Lowenfield and Odessa Ross also contributed to the programme.
The programme’s success can also be attributed to the substantial support received from the Corriverton business community, in particular Joseph Rayappen and Vishnu Doerga proprietor of Venu Shopping Centre.
Permanent mini-tennis courts were painted at the school to ensure the continuation of the sport. The businessmen have been the driving forces behind the development of tennis in the Corriverton area as it promotes social interaction, physical fitness and health in the community.
One of the important benefits from participation in tennis or any sport is that it creates situations which provide opportunities to learn lessons for life about desirable and undesirable conduct. This moral and educational aspect contributes to the positive development of individuals and in turn to the development of society.
In his remarks Mr. Rayappen vowed to sustain the tennis programme and to help it to grow in stature in the community. He expressed hope that the event will act as a catalyst for other primary schools to adopt tennis.
GLTA’s Junior Coach Jeremy Miller and Chairperson, Junior Development, Grace McCalman were on site to present the certificates. Ms McCalman in her comments, thanked the teachers for their effort and further urged parents and teachers to continue providing opportunities for children to adopt healthier lifestyles through the participation of sport in their community.
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