It was a ding dong battle between Gale-Ann Edwards (left) and Julie Howard. Edwards won the title but both women were winners on the night.
Two year old Daniel Best with mother Tanya Best receive a donation from Kelvin Scott (left) of Scotty’s Car Rentals and Errol Edwards, President of the Barbados Road Tennis Association.
Road tennis: Edwards wins competition title
Gale-Ann Edwards saved her best tennis for the finals of the Massy United Insurance Clash of the Titans Road Tennis competition to take the Ladies Novice title but her opponent Julie Howard also won on the night.
Edwards won the game in two sets to one but had a battle on her hands from the first with Howard taking it 21-17. Both players had brought with them supporters with Edwards’ fans dressed in blue and Howard’s in purple. The cheers and applause were loud and gave great motivation to each player during the game. Edwards was able to keep her focus and make sure that she just got the ball onto the court and allowed Howard to make the errors. The strategy worked for the next two games and Edwards came out on top 16-21 and 17-21 to take the Ladies Novice title 2-1.
The night was not all about road tennis for Howard. Her journey in the Clash of the Titans competition was also in support of her friend Tanya Best’s son Daniel. Now Daniel who is two years old, has had challenges from birth, including dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), chronic stomach pain and problems with his lungs. Howard was playing in support of ‘Danny’ with most of her supporters wearing ‘Danny’ T-shirts to show solidarity to the cause. The cause is raising funds for Daniel to travel to receive treatment specific to his condition and the night turned out to be successful towards that venture.
The crowd as well as sponsors donated from the heart to raise over $2,100 to the goal of US $52,000. Howard and Daniel’s mother repeatedly shared hugs and the crowd on hand cheered with the news of the on-the-spot donation tally. Those who wish to donate to this movement to help Daniel Best can deposit to the Scotiabank account 1010356 in the name of Daniel Best and the Branch number is 40055.
The tournament was about the children as well with Solange Holford winning the Girl’s title 21-19 against Lashona Burgess. Nathan King went down to the wire with Azarie Clarke but came out the victor 22-20 in the Boy’s 6-10 while Shaquon beat Nicholas Ellis 21-13 and 21-12 to be the Boy’s 11-15 Champion. (AS)