The First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB) Junior Christmas Tennis Tournament concluded last Saturday evening at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.

At the Closing and Presentation Ceremony that formalised the end of the championship, the radiant smiles of the winners matched the shine on the trophies that occupied the podium.{{more}}

Topping the Honour roll were Daneya Charles and Shane Huggins. Both stashed away three titles, but it was Charles that left the Tennis Centre in the spotlight under a hazy moonlight last Saturday evening.

She nipped Huggins for the much sought after Challenge Trophy.

Charles was victorious in the Girls Under-12 and 14 Singles and Girls Under-14 doubles. She defeated Halimah Michael in both singles Finals, but the duo joined forces to defeat Olivia Haslam and Rhiana Bruce-Lyle in the doubles Final.

Shane Huggins’ successes came in the Boys Under-16 and Under-18 Singles and Under-18 Mixed Doubles. Feeling the wrath of Huggins were Johnathan Perry and Duwane Thomas, respectively. Huggins’ partner was Roxanne Russell, when the two silenced Thomas and Michelle Gun-Munro. Russell emerged as the Girls Under-18 Singles winner, when she got the better of Gun-Munro.

Gun-Munro was, however, the title holder of the Girls Under-16 Singles. She disposed of Haslam in the Final.

Boys Under-14 Singles winner Daryl Mc Leish also secured the Under-14 Doubles, a title he shared with Kevin Huggins.

Mc Leish whipped Perry in the singles final, with Perry and Shane Latchman at the losing end in the Doubles.

Chelsea Haslam was the Girls Under-10 Singles winner. Taking the runner-up position was Sashaw Dublin.

Imani King battled a bereavement in his family as well as Jon Anthony Thomas to win the Boys Under-10 Singles title.

The Under-12 Boys Singles was taken by J’rai Joyette Da Silva, when he won from Zachery Williams in the decider.

The other title that was awarded was the Boys Under-18 Doubles, which went to Duwane Thomas and Jannick Tash. Their opponents were Justin Gun Munro and Damani Taylor.

Speaking at the Presentation Ceremony, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association, Anthony Boyea, expressed satisfaction with the number of players that participated in the Championship, which he said totalled over 80. Boyea was especially pleased that there was a player from Fancy, one on the most northerly areas on the mainland, while another came from the Central Leeward town of Barrouallie.

This he said was unheard of ten years ago, but praised the several tennis outreach programmes for this break through.

Boyea, who is also one of the country’s top tennis coaches, revealed the rankings of some the local players on the Caribbean and Central America Tennis Federation (COTEC) area.

According to Boyea, at present among the girls, Michael is ranked 19th, Charles 31st, Haslam 33rd and Bruce -Lyle 47th. For the males, Kevin Huggins is at 20th, Perry 28th, Mc Leish 34 and Latchman 36th.(RT)