By RENALDO MATADEEN Monday, July 16 2012

Chetwynd Lawn Tennis Club celebrated steps towards future growth by officially unveiling its brand-new hard court yesterday afternoon at the Northern End of St. Vincent, Tunapuna. President Steve Thomas lauded the surface as imperious and is confident it will fashion steady progress of the sport in the district.

Thomas revealed that it was the country’s first such court, modelled after the US Open Blue Courts, first inducted into the sport in 2005, to enhance visibility and bounce. On the pioneer court, he stated, “Myself and my executive were on duty for just four months thus far from March 2012. Chetwynd is run like a business for its own development. We travel throughout the Caribbean to play and this surface is a milestone for such a field-court club. It’s a family-type club and we believe in mergers with players from different clubs. This is the beginning of a bright future as we host matches.”

Thomas indicated that the club has played in Suriname and Panama and are eyeing bigger tournaments in Aruba and St. Croix, as well as local circuits in Tobago and King George V courts. He added that Chetwynd will continue to seek sponsors and funds to promote domestic tournaments and fraternising in meets with clubs from the East-West corridor.

Thomas also encouraged clubs to oppose them, such as rivals, Petrotrin/Fyzabad Tennis Club, who also shared in the historic session.

“Football is a beautiful sport but so too is tennis. We have fundraisers planned and we will be embarking on tournaments to Aruba and such as we aim to represent Trinidad regionally and we plan to breed future national champions here,” he said.

Thomas singled out contractor and local tennis aficionado, Roy Peters, as integral to laying the court. He reiterated that Peters’ determination and dedication made the project feasible in an astonishing two months amid minor challenges.

Assistant Secretary, Anne Griffith, also revealed that the club boasts 25 members with active participants of varying ages as they promote healthy lifestyles and community growth via exercise. She also indicated that future breakfasts and barbecues are in the works as they focus in improving fencing and other aspects of the lone court. Trinidad and Tobago Tennis Association president, Jermille Danclar, also praised the club and its contributions to the local tennis landscape.