Anguilla Tennis Academy

It's not Kite surfing... Let's talk about Tennis

I used to play Tennis when I was in Paris long time before I started Watersports (windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing and Kite surfing). I was so happy to meet Jason few weeks ago. He is the Executive Director of this project, he has a fresh ambition, full energy and he wants to "push the mountain" (French expression) for Anguilla's Kids. I didn't meet this kind of inside rich person on this island before and it was important for me to share with you this new project in Anguilla.

Tennis Courts at the ATA Facility Inaugurated

In a ceremony held on Monday, July 9, at 8:30 am, many gathered to inaugurate and bless the tennis courts at the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s new facility in Blowing Point. With the start of an organized tennis programme in 1996, it was the dream of Mitch Lake to provide world-class tennis for world-class children. Although the ATA’s tennis classes have been primarily based on one deteriorating court in Webster’s Park, the ATA coaching staff has somehow managed to produce crops of successful tennis players for the past 12 years. With Mitch’s dream almost complete, it was fitting that as soon as the courts were ready, that they be inaugurated and blessed so that the children could benefit from them immediately during the 12th annual ATA Summer Camp. As visitors, invitees, children, and parents arrived Monday morning, they witnessed the courts adorned with banners from local sponsors, rackets abound, hundreds of yellow furry tennis balls, and lush palm trees surrounding the building and courts. With a podium centred on court number two, directly in front of an enormous banner that read “Anguilla Tennis Academy Summer Camp, ‘Shaping Lives and Building a Future Since 1996,’ the ATA’s Executive Director, Jason Allen, invited everyone one to walk on the courts for the first time.

Jason, with his voice initially trembling with excitement, began with his opening remarks in which he recognized the Honourable Minister of Finance and Tourism Mr. Victor Banks, the Honourable Mr. Edison Baird, Permanent Secretary for Sports Mr. Rodney Rey, Sports Director Mr. Alkins Rogers, the numerous sponsors, parents, and children. He thanked the many sponsors who have helped make the summer programme successful for so many years and mentioned how proud he was to be associated with such a worthwhile endeavour. He then asked Pastor Phillip Gumbs, Pastor of the Church of God ‘Holiness’ to come forward and bless the facility. After an eloquent prayer, Mr. Allen then commented, “before I welcome the next three speakers for some remarks, I need to say that this is obviously not the grand opening of the tennis academy, it is the inauguration of the tennis courts.

The courts would not have been constructed without the help of three major sponsors; National Bank of Anguilla, Caribbean Commercial Bank, and the Social Security Board.”
           

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