Catch tennis brace for record entry

THERE is every possibility that this year’s Catch sponsored National Junior Tennis Tournament will be staged on the new Rebound Ace surface of the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

This exciting prospect for the top age group players in the April 12 to 17 competition was offered yesterday by Dave James, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Tennis Association. He was speaking at the launch of the tournament at the office of Corbin Communication, Stanmore Avenue, Port-of-Spain. Also in attendance were Noreen Tong, the new general manager of Charles Candy Division; her Sales Manager Ricardo Bideshi; Christine Alexis, secretary of the Tennis Association; Anne Griffith, assistant secretary; Carlos Taylor, tournament director and Dave Patrick, committee Member.

James said he has been having disccusions with the authorities about the use of the Jean Pierre Complex Courts for the Catch series and is encouraged by the response. He complimented Catch for their continued commitment to the biggest junior tennis tournament on the local courts for the year. He lauded their perception in getting involved with the development of the young athletes which started 15 years ago. James pointed out that the present Davis Cup team is comprised of players who cut their teeth in the Catch National Junior Championships, which he said, was an indication of the significance of the tournament.

This year, Catch — a division of Associated Brands Limited based in San Juan — will contribute $24,000 towards the competition which is expected to attract a record 200 plus tennis players. Charles Candy Division General Manager Tong said  more than $500,000 had been spent by her company over the last decade and a half in sponsorship of junior tennis. “It is an investment well worth the effort.  We continue to be proud of our graduates who time after time keep representing our country proudly, such as Ivor Grazette, Troy Stone and his brother Shane, Tyler Mayers and Dexter Mahase,” Tong said.

Tournament Director Taylor, a tennis livewire, said players will be bidding for honours in the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-18 and for the first time, an Under-21 category. Taylor also said letters have been sent to several overseas countries, including Venezuela and several neighbouring Caribbean islands, inviting their participation. He said over the years the Catch tournament has been the nursery for budding stars, evidence of the adaptation of the slogan “Catch Them While Young” used in the intitial stages of the sponsorship, to the current “Catch a Rising Star.”

Taylor said the Primary Schools Tennis Initiative has been producing excellent players especially in East Trinidad and the Diego Martin/Carenage districts and he expects several top players to emerge from those areas in the Catch Championships. He also said there will be added incentives including a “Player of the Day” for both males and females, as well as awards for the “Most Disclipined” and “Best Dressed” players. While matches have been scheduled for the Public Courts which have been provided to the Tennis Association at a minimal fee by the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, Taylor is clearly enthused by the propspect of staging matches at the Jean Pierre Complex. “We have done it at least twice before. It will be the best surface to have the players on,” said Taylor.