THE “Home of Tennis” in Barbados – the National Tennis Centre – has great potential in the development of the sport and this is increasingly becoming recognised. However, the association is aware that a massive financial investment must be made to raise the standard of the game and to enable the association to fulfil its mandate. To this end, thanks to the success of the recently concluded Grand Raffle, a generous donation from the Peter Moores Barbados Trust and support from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Barbados Olympic Association, the National Tennis Centre in Wildey now has three fully floodlit courts.

According to Vice-president of the Barbados Tennis Association (BTA), Patricia Murray, future plans for the National Tennis Centre include the completion of the lighting project, with the installation of lights on the remaining court in time for the annual ITF junior tournament at the end of March.

In addition to the general upgrading of the facilities at the Centre, it was recently disclosed that the Barbados Tennis Association has signed a two-year contract with B&B Distribution, where-by the Barbados Tennis Association will endorse Powerade as the official Isotonic/Energy drink of the association and B&B will be a co-sponsor of the junior tournaments, providing the BTA with product (Powerade & water), promotional items, T-shirts, tents, bleachers as well as an injection of cash each year.

With the new lights at the Tennis Centre, effective January 14 and contin-uing every Wednesday evening until the end of February there will be “Mix and Mingle” tennis sessions from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Centre. Adult members of the association and prospective members are encouraged to take advantage of a clinic being offered by local coaches as well as men’s, ladies’ and mixed doubles play.

The association would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the success of the Grand Raffle and to congratulate the winners.

The first prize of a Toyota Yaris was won by Kristen Bentham and the second prize of a trip for two to London courtesy Virgin Atlantic was won by John Humphrey. Prizes were presented to the lucky winners at a short ceremony at the NASSCO Ltd. showroom recently. (Article courtesy of the Barbados Advocate)