The second iteration of the Primary School Road Tennis competition, backed by the European Union and organized by the National Sports Council, wrapped up with dramatic title battles on the outdoor courts of Barbados’ Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on June 27. The tournament brought together 20 competing primary schools from across the region, all of which walked away with custom road tennis kits to support ongoing development of the sport at the youth level.
In the most anticipated clash of the boys’ singles draw, St Giles Primary’s rising star Nathan Stuart delivered a thrilling comeback victory against St Cyprians’ Giovanni Weir. After dropping the opening set 17-21, Stuart clawed his way back into the match, leveling the contest with a 21-18 win in the second set. The final set went down to the wire, with Stuart edging out Weir 22-20 to claim the individual gold in one of the tournament’s tightest matches.
Stuart’s win was far from the only celebration for St Giles Primary. The school’s boys’ team overcame stiff challenge from two title contenders, Westbury Primary and Warrens Primary, to secure the boys’ team championship, completing a historic double for the institution.
In the girls’ division, the spotlight fell on Charles F Broome Memorial’s Zabrina Greenidge, who put on a dominant display in the singles final to defeat Warrens Primary’s Nia Innis. Greenidge claimed victory in straight sets, 21-9 and 21-14, to take home the girls’ singles crown. For the girls’ team competition, Blackman & Gollop Primary emerged as the top team, finishing ahead of second-place St Giles Primary and third-place Charles F Broome Memorial to claim the team title.