The Anguilla National Tennis Association (ANTA) has had an exciting year participating in international & local tournaments, welcoming new board members and continuing with the mission to promote and develop the sport of tennis at all levels and ages in Anguilla.
On November 7th, at the Annual General Meeting, the association elected two new board members, Mr. Val Banks as Chairman and Ms. Sandra Brooks as Assistant Secretary. Well wishes and great appreciation were given to outgoing executive members Mr. Marvin Hazell and Ms. Avenella Gumbs.
The ANTA sanctioned Anguilla’s first ever International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior and Senior Championships. Players from all over the world gathered in Blowing Point from November 12th – 19th. Local junior players competed against top international players and gained invaluable experience. The outstanding exhibition match, played on the last day between top ATP players Philipp Kohlschreiber and Nicholas Monroe, was the highlight for all!
On Saturday November 26th a team of local junior tennis players, ranging in age from 8 yrs to 17 yrs accompanied by ANTA board members and Coach Calyde Hughes, travelled to St. Martin to attend the annual Rights of the Child Sporting Event. The Anguillian team recorded impressive results with big wins all around proving the exceptional level of our talented young players. The ANTA looks forward to offering junior players many more opportunities to compete within the region.
The ANTA’s “December 2016 Grand Slam” tennis tournament is currently underway over the next two weeks from Dec 2nd-16th. Local juniors will play matches at various hard courts around the island while competing for national ranking points. The “Grand Slam Christmas Jam” – a celebration to award the winners and raise funds towards youth tennis – is planned for Sunday December 18th from 2 pm to 5:30 pm at the new Village Bake House in Crocus Hill. The public is invited to join us for nibbles, live music & more! Tickets, US$10, include admission and raffle. Children are free! Purchase tickets at the door or contact Sandra Brooks at 729-0452.
The Anguilla National Tennis Association would like to thank everyone who supported us this year. We have many new exciting ventures, planned for 2017, including the establishment of partnerships to refurbish The Valley tennis courts, grass roots tennis programs for primary schools as well as introducing new Junior Tennis training programs at various locations. For more information about the ANTA – Anguilla’s National Sport Association (NSO) for tennis, Junior & Adult memberships or other ways you can support national youth tennis, please contact us at anguillanta@gmail.com.
Season’s Greetings from the ANTA Board!
Chairman – Val Banks
Vice Chairman – Rory Purcell
Treasurer – John Lawrence
Assistant Treasurer – Suzan Baronnier
Secretary – Mimi Connor
Assistant Secretary – Sandra Brooks
Tournament Director & PR – Michelle Owen-Vasilis
Membership Director – Axa Webster
– Press Release
