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Justin Cox on his way to victory.

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Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Stephen Lashley.

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The Christ Church West Central dancers.

Silver Hill Road Tennis Championships serve off

ONE of the island’s biggest road tennis tournaments, the Silver Hill Road Tennis Championships, served off on Sunday at the newly renovated Christ Church courts.

Boasting of over 110 competitors in total, the tournament is in its fifth year and carries over $16 000 in prize money.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Stephen Lashley, who founded the championships, said that this year is the biggest year for the tournament in numbers and they started out being the biggest road tennis tournament on the island and it still is the biggest tournament, which is a community-based empowerment project.

This year, dancers and a singer from Christ Church entertained the crowd.

Lashley also said that renovations to the adjacent building will start soon and inside it, there will be a recording studio.

He officially declared the tournament open at 7:45 p.m. and played a few minutes with Director of Youth Affairs, Cleviston Hunte, before the competitors took over.

The elimination matches were played on Sunday as players earned their place in the Round of 64.

There were nine matches played on the opening night and in winners’ row were Anthony Hall, Akeem Ellis, Matthew Grazette, Randall Gibson, Shawn Ifill, Justin Cox, Tyron Jones, Terry Nurse, and Trevor Callender.

Ellis, Grazette and Nurse proved to be in impressive form as they dismissed their opponents with ‘Sows’.

Ellis made light work of Martelle Williams, who kept spoiling the ball as it appeared he was using an unfamiliar racquet after forgetting his. Ellis won 21-8, 21-8.

Grazette opened his match by handing out a 21-7 ‘Sow’ to Trevor Allicot. Allicot recovered in the next game, but Grazette held his nerve to win in straight games 21-18.

Nurse seemed to be angered by the fact that Donald Grazette carried him to 21-16 in the first game and with a renewed vigour blasted his opponent off the court with a 21-2 defeat.

Games are slated to continue today. The tournament will be played at 7 p.m. at the Silver Hill Hard Court, Silver Hill on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until March 4. It comprises four divisions – Men’s Open, which has 75 entrants; Silver Hill Developmental has 18 players; Under-17 has 10 (entries still open); and the Women’s Division has 17 players. (CG)

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