By Yonalla Dalrymple
West Ruimveldt Primary was adjudged the best school on Saturday when the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) staged its 10s competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Some nine primary and one public school participated in the event which saw a number of individual awards also being presented.
Nathalie Ramdyhan of Stella Maris Primary received an award for the girls Red ball category with Marian Academy’s Alana Chung the runner up.
Ryan Fraser of Enterprise Primary received the award for the boys Red Ball category with Robin Baldwin of Georgetown International Academy, the runner up.
Prizes also went to Sarah Klautky for winning the girls orange ball category
According to National Junior Coordinator and Coach of the programme, Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan, she was heartened by the efforts made by primary school Physical Education teachers to keep the initiative alive in the schools. Ramdyhan said the competition format of the programme focuses on development and giving each player maximum opportunities when competing.
“The event is used to pinpoint talented juniors who can be fast tracked for development through joining tennis clubs or by being selected to the junior tennis squad,” she told Stabroek Sport, pointing out that the junior squad forms the core from which players are selected to represent Guyana regionally.
Daly-Ramdyhan said that she was happy with the performance of the schools and said that she was looking forward to the next upcoming tournament which will be scheduled for mid next year.
Schools and clubs which participated in Saturday’s programme were Marian Academy, St. Pius Primary, Enterprise Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, St. Agnes Primary, New Guyana School, Mae’s Under 12, Park Players Tennis Club and Non-Pareil Tennis Club.
The GLTA has been supporting this initiative locally since 2006 with coaches visiting primary schools monthly to assist PE teachers with the coordination of in-school competitions that lead up to this event.
