DuBoulays serve off junior tennis for 25 years
Dunstan Duboulay
TUESDAY AUGUST 05, 2008, GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia – The 25th ITF Junior
Tennis tournament served off yesterday with the official opening ceremony, held
on Stadium Court at the Saint Lucia Racquet Club courts.
Managing Director of DuBoulays’s Bottling, local bottlers of Coca-Cola and
sponsors of the tournament for an unbroken period of twenty-five years, was full
of praise for those who had contributed to the success of the tournament.
As he spoke, memories flooded through the minds of many sitting there, recalling
many great matches, the successes and failed attempts of Saint Lucian and
Caribbean players, as they competed against better-trained international
players.
some of the participants
He spoke of the tournament’s humble beginnings at the former Cunard La Toc
Hotel, before it moved to its present home, the Saint Lucia Racquet Club.
According to DuBoulay, the tournament was geared to develop tennis in Saint
Lucia and the Windward Islands, and so successful was it that it grew into what
it is today; an international tournament recognized by the International Tennis
Federation, and have experienced players from almost every nation on earth
participating.
He was full of praise for the many players who entertained many throughout,
and looked forward to a funfilled 2008 tournament.
Also addressing the opening ceremony was Saint Lucia Sports Minister Lenard
Montoute, who informed the gathering that come next year’s tournament, the
Coca-Cola sponsored ITF Junior Tennis Tournament will be played in a brand new
facility, the Saint Lucia National Tennis Centre.
It was the first time in many years, in which a definitive statement is made by
any administration on the national tennis centre issue, which is to be
constructed by the Taiwanese Government.
However, this year is a significant one for sports in not only Saint Lucia but also
the Caribbean. The DuBoulays through Coca-Cola has been sponsoring the ITF
Junior Tennis tournament for twenty-five years, a feat unsurpassed by none in
the Caribbean.
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