Arima New Govt ace tennis tourney in UWI

THE GROWING tennis programme at the Arima New Government Primary school showed its potential last weekend by winning the Orange Ball tournament at the Bosses Tennis Academy competition at the UWI Tennis Courts in St Augustine.

Arima New Government also finished fourth in the Red Ball tournament which featured beginners. Christian Corraspe and Luke Bristol led Arima New Government to the doubles crown in the Orange Ball tournament which caters to players above the beginners level. Two of the players who represented the school in the Red Ball tournament were Micah Mottley and Jacob Corraspe.

Luke’s mother Lystra, who is also a teacher at the school, said the players exceeded her expectations. “I am elated, it was tough to be quite honest. Actually we did not think the boys would have come first. We thought we would have come second or maybe third at best,” Lystra said.

Lystra said the tennis programme has been in existence for more than five years and parents have been supportive as students don’t miss classes and there is a smaller chance that injuries would occur.

“The parents have gravitated towards it because it is a lot safer than football. The competitions are on weekends as oppose to football when the competitions are during school days and school hours.”

Lystra said the school is hoping to use the tennis courts in Arima as opposed to the school’s compound. “One of the problems we are having presently is coach (Prakash Gannes) has been trying to get use of the tennis court at Arima for practice sessions on a Friday evening, but we are having a difficult time doing so. We just practice in the courtyard (at school) and in the auditorium, but we would like to get access to the (Arima) Tennis Court even if we have to pay a small fee.”

The Arima New Government tennis team trains twice per week on Mondays and Wednesdays and Lystra is hoping they get more funding to enhance the programme and allow them to compete in more tournaments.

Lystra said, “We would like to get some funding for uniforms, and if it would be allowed, maybe paint a makeshift court on the school. We’re not sure if we would be allowed to do that because other games are being played there. They need uniforms, they were the only school without uniforms (at the Bosses Academy tournament).”