GTC to go full throttle in 2016

The Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC) plans in 2016 to resume its full slate of events, which will also include its established junior competitions, adding new ones, as well as enhancing others.

Disclosure of this came from head of the GTC Grant Connell, during the club’s recent hosting of Tennis For Hope, which was in aid of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls.{{more}}

Connell said that the club can no longer put its programme on hold indefinitely while the national association sorts itself out.

“We have served them up with the necessary protocol, but they in turn have failed to return our service, which has resulted in aces.”

According to Connell, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA) did not carry out its mandate to provide the youths of the country with the tournaments they need to feed their tennis hunger.

The GTC this year had given way to the SVGTA after tournament dates of the two organizations clashed.

But come 2016, the GTC will go full throttle with the Easter, Summer and Christmas tournaments.

Connell also confirmed that next year, the summer camp will be back to its full capacity and hopefully a sponsor would be on board.

The tournament is set to run from July 11, with additions to the format.

The GTC leader also revealed that part of the 2016 outlook is for the girls who are lodged at the Catholic run Home For Girls at Cane End, who having got their taste of tennis, are to be incorporated into a full-fledged programme of the GTC.

“We have sent two shirts from this event to the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) and have extended an invitation to them to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines and attend next year’s event…. They would be a great inspiration to all, given their history and now Serena being the greatest woman tennis player to ever walk this earth…. I know she attended tennis ‘pon the rock in Barbados, so 100 miles more to experience paradise, I’m certain is a possibility….there are a few who have offered their support in making that a reality; if they or even one decides to come…..the most they can say is no, but it’s worth the effort,” Connell proposed.

The GTC officially came into being in February 2010.(RT)