Road Tennis Heritage Centre opens with launch of Primary Schools’ Contest

It was a special occasion when the Cave Shepherd, KFC, A1 Supermarkets National Primary Schools Road Tennis Competition was launched yesterday in tandem with the opening of the Dr. Anthony ‘Gabby’ Carter Heritage Road Tennis Heritage Centre at KFC, Warrens.

Now in its seventh year, the schools competition has grown bigger with keen competition amongst the athletes. This year, the opening of the heritage centre, in honour of well-known calypsonian and cultural icon ‘The Mighty Gabby’, added to the already exciting event. Dr. Carter was at a loss for words when he stepped up to speak at the launch.

“I have no words to say about this that are appropriate. Because when I started to play road tennis, I could never have envisaged that there would be a wall in my honour someday.”

Carter thanked the sponsors and organisers for the privilege of having the wall designed to represent him and also mentioned that his dear friend, Sir Garfield Sobers would be happy and proud that such an honour was bestowed on him.

Reminiscing about his road tennis days, the former champion highlighted lessons on court taught to him by Lance Bynoe. Against the formidable opponent Keith Griffith, Carter who was the #5 seed at the time, was down a game but Bynoe advised him to watch Griffith and figure out a way to beat one of the strongest players in the competition.
“I watched and I watched and I realised he was very good in his back arm and expected you to serve to his back arm. Lance said ‘no, serve to his forearm.’”

That advice is how Carter won, losing the first game but winning the next three and went on to become the 1970 National Road Tennis Champion. The moral of the story and a life lesson that ‘The Mighty Gabby’ wished to remind the students present, was to never give up. One fellow calypsonian who always reminded the guest of honour to never give up was Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sport John King.

King was present for the opening and launch and Carter was so thankful for the encouragement by King over the years that he sang a verse of one of his favourite King songs – “Well Done”.

King lauded the efforts of the organisers and thanked them for pushing the grass root sport in schools. The minister made a plea to the students and persons present to get to know the cultural and creative history of Barbados.

“I want to challenge the primary schools and secondary schools to take the history of Barbados a little more seriously, especially the contributions of grass roots, everyday people. We talk a lot about the politicians and other person’s but we all, and I mean all of us, started there. It is important that we tell the stories of the Bynoes and Gabby’s and so many more. This [Heritage Centre] is a first step!’

The primary school competition is slated to commence November 26-28 at Rubis on Spring Garden Highway where St. Stephen’s will look to defend their crown. (AS)