Caine growing at Grassroot

Nine-year-old Antonio Caine is the national Under-10 Tennis Boys Singles champion.{{more}}

Caine, a resident of Byera Hill, skilled his way to the national title, stopping the more accomplished Miguel Francis in the final of the Milo Grassroot Junior Tennis Tournament, held last Saturday afternoon at the Grassroot Tennis Club base at Murray’s Road.

The display by Caine and Francis was a fitting end to the six days of competition.

A student of the Pamelus Burke Primary School, who will be entering Grade 5 when the new school year begins in September, Caine, who has been playing the sport for just over a year, also was adjudged the Most Improved Player in the tournament, which was sanctioned by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association.

Also copping a national title was Christine Veira, who was the Girls Under-10 champion, triumphing over Aaliyah Henry.

In the Girls Under-12, the left handed Shannia Williams, another of the Byera Hill production line, upstaged Amarlia Benn and walked away with that age group’s trophy.

Alexander Cyrus took the Boys Under-12, leaving Luke Browne to settle for the runner-up spot.

As expected, Chelsea Haslam copped the Girls Under-14 over Nikela Baptiste and Imani King maintained his form, capturing the Boys Under-14, at the expense of Richard Akcayli.

Baptiste was, however, adjudged as the Most Improved Female Player, by Tournament Director Onike Spann.

Rio Connell got the better of Akeil De Roche to win the Boys Under-8, and Demetra Fernandez was the winner among the girls in that age category over Rhea Robertson.

The Under-6 Boys title went to Che Connell, and the Girls Under-6 winner was Raffina Sardine.

Those in the consolation playoffs did not leave the venue empty handed.

Odiya Glasgow won the Girls consolation for the Under-8, and Bertram Stapleton, the Boys.

Tashika Anthony and Cruz Dickson secured the Girls and Boys Under-10 consolations, respectively, with Zarea Young taking the Girls Under-12 and Richard Hoyte doing so among the males in that age category.

Savvy Samuel and Gabrielle, the other half of the Benn twins, shared the honours in the Under-14 age grouping.

President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association Anthony McKenzie, speaking at last Saturday’s Closing and Presentation Ceremony thanked the Grassroot set up for bring back the spark in local Tennis.

Also on hand at the Presentation Ceremony were Manager of Sprott Distributors Claude Fletcher and Brand Manager Kim Connell.

The next tournament on the Grassroot calendar is the Da Silva Brothers Classic in September and the SVG Sales and Services Junior Christmas Tournament in December. (RT)