GTC hosts another successful pre-schools mini tennis tournament

Six schools participated in the third edition of the Pine Hill Pre-Schools’ Grassroot Tennis Club’s mini tennis tournament.

When the tournament closed off last Thursday at the Haddon Hotels courts on Murray’s Road, it was the Rainbow Unique that topped the other five schools. Docking in second was the First Impression Pre- School.{{more}} It was the third winner in as many tournaments, as Vinsave Kingstown won in 2012 and Vinsave Layou topped in 2014.

There were two individual awards presented to the best male player – Jovante John of First Impression, and Danielle Kennedy of Rainbow Unique, who was voted the best female player by adjudicator – GTC’s head coach – Trevor Sam.

The other participating schools were the Salvation Army, Kingstown Methodist, Vinsave Layou and Vinsave Kingstown.

Teacher of the winning school Doris Pope had high praise for the tournament, stating: “It helped the children with their confidence, their team work… It helped them to develop their gross motor skills… It is not about just hitting the ball, but learning about over, under, around…. In the day to day at school, it is not about Tennis, it is about learning life skills.”

Meanwhile, head honcho at GTC – Grant Connell, in reviewing this year’s tournament said: “We are grateful for Pine Hill’s continued support in the development of the pre-schoolers and the sport in general… It was great to see the little leaders on the court, the team work, their understanding and accepting that at the end of the day someone has to win and someone has to lose… It’s a lesson that one has to learn very early in life and the tournament set the perfect environment as they all had fun.”

“We at the Grassroot Tennis Club will continue to try to unearth the power of sport and hope the powers that be will recognise the role sports play in the development of our youth and people in general,” Connell said.

The GTC is already preparing to host its Summer Camp this July, when it is hoped that many of the children from the pre-schools exercise will attend to advance their new skills.(RT)