GBTI CEO Tracy pleased with Open lawn tennis tournament

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) John Tracy Tuesday night said that he was pleased with the staging of the just concluded GBTI Open lawn tennis tournament held at the company’s courts Bel Air Park.

Tracy, speaking at the presentation ceremony at the GBTI Sports Club, Bel Air, applauded the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) for the smooth running of the tournament and for hosting such high profile tournament during the rainy period.

He also praised the GTA executive and tournament committee for having the tournament completed in such short time even after a delay in the commencement of the tournament.
“I’m very pleased to hear the report of the tournament co-ordinator Andrew Sawh, Tracy said in delivering the feature address.

The respective divisional champions displaying their prizes at Tuesday’s presentation ceremony.
The respective divisional champions displaying their prizes at Tuesday’s presentation ceremony.

“It was partly our fault that the tournament started on the 17th July. We endeavoured to paint the courts before the tournament but as you all would know we had very exceptional rainfall which pushed back the original staring time for the tournament.  I thought it best not to start the tournament in the rainy period and to see it completed in the shortest possible time is commendable,” said Tracy. Tracy also said that he was pleased with the record turnout although he said that they had discussed the large number of categories that were being played over the years with the association.

“I’m also pleased to see there were 12 categories and 94 participants which I think is a new record for this tournament.”

He congratulated all the participants stating that he too was a player who did not win tournaments but said that for those who did not win, the experience should be used to strengthen their game.

Tracy said that the sport in Guyana was on the back burner as  the association did not have the number of sponsors it should, but added that tournaments such as the GBTI Open seeks to show that the sport is in capable hands and should not be taken for granted.

The GBTI CEO applauded the media for the full length coverage of the tournament from the start to the end. Meanwhile, GTA president, Ramesh Seebarran, congratulated all the players who turned out for the fourth edition of the tournament and acknowledged the winners, but said that this is not the end of the road for all the players.

“You see the GBTI Tournament is the premier tournament simply because of the magnitude of the sponsorship and the facilities that are available to us,”  Seebarran said

He told Tracy that the GBTI Open came at the opportune time for the association as it was used as preparation for the junior team that will be travelling to St Vincent and the Grenadines to compete in the regional  tournament and the junior St Lucian Open.

Seebarran thanked GBTI for its support towards the development of tennis in Guyana and also for the successful hosting of the tournament.

Tournament coordinator Sawh commended the players for their prompt arrival and their discipline throughout the tournament and stated that there were no hiccups on any of the 18 days of action-packed tennis matches.

Nicola Ramdyhan, who acted as the players’ representative, gave a few remarks on their behalf at the closing ceremony.

Anthony Downes retained his men’s singles crown while Ramdyhan won the ladies singles.

Godfrey Lowden captured the men’s O35 title while Afruica Gentle, Jonathan Christie, Kizzy Richmond and Darren King won the girls’ 18, boys’ 18, ladies novices and men’s novice titles respectively.

Downes, in partnership with Jason Andrews, won the men’s doubles and Nicola and Shelly Ramdyhan the ladies doubles crown.

Carlos Adams and Owen Lewis won the men’s O35 doubles whilst Shelly Ramdyhan and Leyland Leacock and Jesus Lamazon and Khawn Rodney won the mixed doubles and novices doubles titles respectively.
Divisional winners each received trophies for their efforts.