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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Nassau, Bahamas -
The J Barry Farrington Tennis Classics officially opened this weekend with the tennis legend himself on hand to hit the first ball. The event is taking place over the course of this week at the Carmichael Athletic Community Center in Flamingo Gardens.
The tournament is the brainchild of Bradley Demeritte, who says it was Farrington's motivation and push that led him to be one of the most successful players in Bahamian history. He brought in tennis pro Bradley Bain to assist him in manning the tournament and the many children who are participating.
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MP for Carmichael Dr Daniel Johnson expressed his pleasure that a tennis torunament of such high stature would grace the courts of the Carmichael Community Center, which was recently resurfaced by a Carmichael resident and young men in the area.
Dr. Johnson noted that the entire park has been getting a facelift that will inevitably transform the lives of the young children by teaching them the fundamentals of sports.
He noted that this summer, hundreds of children are participating in summer camps in and around the center, including judo, boxing, tennis, soccer, baseball, and rake n scrape.
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He lobbied the first ball with Farrington, who encouraged the children to stay focused. He said tennis is a particularly good sport to get into, because it can carry through to old age. He added that the focus and discipline you get from playing tennis translate into success throughout life.
Indeed, Mr. Farrington is still playing tennis today, as is Edith Powell, veteran in female tennis in The Bahamas, who was also on hand for the official opening.
Center Director Clayton Fernander is assisting in organizing the tournament, and Bristol Wines is assisting in sponsoring the event
Demeritte noted that this tournament is only the start, as he would like to organize a country-wide tennis tournament. MP Johnson, who is also Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, said he would support such a venture.
photos by: Athama Bowe and Felicity Ingraham
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