Sports

CLARKE BRINGS ROAD TENNIS IN THE LIMELIGHT

Article by David Harris

Road tennis originated in Barbados in the 1930s, the sport was created by the sons of working-class Barbadians who wanted to play lawn tennis but could not ventured onto the courts that were located the affluent urban predominantly neighborhoods like Belleville, George Street, and Strathclyde.

The boys took discarded tennis balls and began hitting them back and forth to each other with their hands on the roads in their neighborhood.

One of those boys Lance Bynoe lived in Peterkins Land, St Michael, a stone’s throw away from Strathclyde, Bynoe, an avid sportsman used his knowledge of table tennis and created a game that is liken to a combination of table tennis and lawn tennis.

Bynoe developed the standard features of the game such as the size of court and scoring rules, and promoted road tennis in the United Kingdom, the United States, Trinidad, St Vincent, and St Lucia in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 1970s and 1980s road tennis tournaments were held on Christmas, Easter, and other holidays for small prizes, by then several well-known Barbadians were playing the sport.

Calypsonian the Mighty Gabby (The Most Honourable Anthony Carter) won a road tennis competition in 1970, Keith Griffith one of the best footballers that Barbados has produced was a champion in the 1970s, and the Malcolm Marshall the great West Indian fast bowler was an exponent of the game.

Road started to lose steam in the 1990s before it was revived in the early part of this century, Dale Clarke the founder and chief executive officer of the Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA) played a major role in the transformation of the game.

The PRTA sought sponsorship to increase the prize money and set up seating around the courts at tournaments to give them a professional look.

The winner of the inaugural Monarchs of the Courts tournament which was promoted by the PRTA in 2014 Antoine “Lil Man Daniel received $10,000. Two years later Mark “Venom” Griffith drove away with a car value valued at 65,000 after winning the third edition of the tournament.

In 2017, Julian “Michael Jackson White and Sheldene Walrond the winners of the men’s and women’s titles respectively, won cars that were worth a combined value of $140,000.

This year, over 100 players (70 males and 36 females) participated in the Barbados Road Tennis Open tournament which was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports and members of the private sector.

The tournament served off on July 28 at the Deighton Roach Tennis Facility in Bush Hall, and climaxed before a huge crowd at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey; the winner of the men’s title Mark “Venom” Griffith won $20,000 and Kim Holder the women’s champion received $20,000.

The losing finalists Dario Hinds and Sheldene Walrond got $15,000, and the losing semi- earned $5000, and the losing quarter-finalist earned $2000, with the round of eight losing players taking home $1000.

Prize money of such magnitude for road tennis tournaments were unheard of before Clarke began promoting the sport over a decade ago.

Clarke believes that road tennis has made a huge impact on the sports and cultural landscape of Barbados in the last 20 years.

“In a society that regards sports as mainly a recreation activity the marketing of road tennis has seen the rise above its poor man tennis tag, and become one of the more lucrative sports on the island. A court can be found in almost every neighborhood, and athletes from other sporting disciples are playing the game, some of them are competing in the various tournaments, and other are using it to keep fit. Not only has players participation increased but the fan base has grown rapidly as well”, Clarke told Advo Magazine.

He said from a cultural perspective road tennis is the epitome of something that is truly Barbadian.

“If you examined modern Barbados, there are not many aspects of our culture remaining, road tennis and the Landship are two examples of the creativity of Barbadians. When you look into the origin of road tennis, it was created by the descendants of slaves who could not afford to play lawn tennis because it was played in affluent neighborhoods that were of bounds to them; and they used their imagination and invented a game of their own. In my opinion, whenever road tennis is played, we are watching an exhibition of Barbadian culture”, Clarke said.

Clarke explained the strategy he used convince the private sector buy into his vision to for the transformation of road tennis.

“The BPRTA created a marketing strategy that convinced businesses to sponsor road tennis. Our strategy included rising the image of the sport, and we did that by outfitting the players and officials in uniforms. We also established strong media partnerships and made use of the technology and the social media platforms to attract the demographic that used those devices. The most important feature of the marketing plan was playing the tournaments at venues where road tennis had never been played. At that time, the tournaments were being held in impoverished neighborhoods; we decided to play the tournaments at Coverly, the Gymnasium and BET (Barbados External Telecommunications). We created an ambience at these that attracted all classes of the society which increased the popularity of the sport. This was an evolutionary period for the sport, because Barbadians had finally realized that road tennis was a game for everyone. The attractive prize money that we offered also played a role in increasing the popularity of the sport”, Clarke said.

He is pleased with the tremendous growth of the 15 years and its expansion beyond Barbados; and believes it is critical for the future development of the sport that the coaches and officials must be certify and the equipment be standardized for the game to be accepted internationally.

“Sports is a billion-dollar industry and once the officials and the coaches are certified, the players will have an opportunity to ply their trade globally. We could create an opportunity where coaches and players can travel the world to teaching people to play road tennis; and the island could become a hub for the certification of road tennis with coaches and officials coming here to be certify annually in the courses that we are offering; similar to what the governing body of football FIFIA and FIBA the ruling body does he explained.

“In a way Barbados will creating jobs, we will be creating jobs on a global scale which will be a boost for the island’s sports tourism. Picture this, we will host international road tournaments in Barbados that is being covered by the overseas media and generating foreign exchange from the business of road tennis”, he added.

Clarke has not organized a road tennis tournament during past five years, but he has been promoting the sport in Europe, Africa, North America and throughout the Caribbean.

“Road tennis is Barbados indigenous and I am willing to play a role in the development of sport, because I think it that it has the potential to bring enormous benefits to the country”, Clarke said.

Sports

National Senior Games Activities To Extend To September

With the National Senior Games track and field circuit no longer being held on two consecutive days, athletes will now have time to prepare for several events.

This was outlined recently by National Senior Games Coordinator, Ytannia Wiggins, during a stakeholders’ meeting in the school hall at Harrison College, Crumpton Street, St. Michael. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, which bears responsibility for the Games.

Ms. Wiggins noted the field events will be held on Saturday, May 31, at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, while the road races, involving running, cycling, walking, and skating, will take place on Sunday, June 1, on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track events at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.

The coordinator also announced that a major Active Living, Active Ageing Sports Festival will take place on September 20 and 21, at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. The two-day festival, hosted in partnership with the National Sports Council (NSC), promises to be a dynamic mix of sporting demonstrations, friendly competitions, and wellness activities for seniors and their families.

Billed as a celebration of wellness and community, the festival aims to promote fun, fitness, and connection at every stage of life – from the actively ageing to the young-at-heart.

Additionally, as part of the September activities, the Ministry will partner with Q in the Community to launch the Q-Sports Series – a lively segment of short, fun activities designed especially for seniors. This initiative seeks to bring sport and movement directly into communities, encouraging active lifestyles in familiar, welcoming spaces.

Media personality Patrick ‘Salt’ Bellamy will join the festivities with his signature “40 Fuh Life” 5K Road Race, marking his transition into the Masters category of the Senior Games. The inclusion of a pre-senior, 40 – 49 age group into the games serves as a vital bridge, encouraging ongoing participation and helping to ensure the sustained growth and vitality of the Games for years to come.

Ms. Wiggins also shared that her team will be working with the We Gatherin’ Committee to host a series of pop-up events in communities across the island, throughout the year. They are designed to build excitement, increase visibility, and bring the spirit of the National Senior Games directly to the people.

In partnership with the NSC, the Games will also support daily senior fitness sessions held at the Wildey Gymnasium, from 10:00 a.m. The sessions will not only promote the upcoming Games but also align with the Ministry’s broader mandate to encourage active ageing.

Ms. Wiggins noted that the organisers hope these movement sessions will inspire more community members to get involved with the Games and embrace healthier and more active lifestyles.

She added: “The idea is simple – we’re creating a space where our elder community can come together, support one another, and embrace a lifestyle of active living and ageing. It’s about building meaningful connections and making movement a natural part of everyday life.

“With Barbados’ ageing population steadily growing, it’s more important than ever to create inclusive opportunities that prioritise wellness, mobility, and social engagement. We’ve been having real conversations about how we can better reach and involve seniors – not just as participants, but as valued members of a thriving, active community.” (PR/GIS)

Sports

Senior Games Going Digital As Registration Starts April 14

Registration for the Barbados National Senior Games 2025 will open on Monday, April 14, with athletes now able to do so fully digital, for the first time.

This was disclosed by National Senior Games Coordinator, Ytannia Wiggins, last Wednesday, during a meeting at Harrison College to provide potential athletes and other stakeholders with information on how this event, also dubbed National Senior Games 2.1, would be structured, as it commemorates its 21st Anniversary.

The meeting was convened by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, under whose aegis the National Senior Games falls.

The 2025 Games will comprise both competitive and recreational participation categories and will be held over a series of months. Whit Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track and field activities, being held for one day instead of two.

Ms. Wiggins said: “The team has embraced digital forms. While we used fillable PDFs last year, we’ve now created an online version with QR codes and shareable links – perfect for WhatsApp and other social channels. It’s currently being tested by our committee; it includes accessibility features, and provides instant registration confirmation while compiling our participant database – something that was requested by participants last year.”

Although the new method is digital, some seniors will still be able to submit hard copies of forms at specific locations. Explaining how this will be done, she stated: “At the Ministry, one of our key goals is building our relationship with BARP through capacity building and mutual support. This year, BARP will have registration forms available at their office and will welcome members to the Members’ Lounge, where they can get help filling them out. For those opting for the digital version, assistance will also be available. It’s about helping each other, sharing knowledge, and growing together as a community. Forms will also be available at various locations across the island.”

Ms. Wiggins added: “The registration forms will open on April 14 and will be available on the Games website. Our website is currently being updated to include key features such as registration, past statistics, social media links, and important updates. We welcome any feedback or suggestions as we continue to improve!”

National Senior Games 2.1 will officially launch on Saturday, May 24, with a motorcade in and around communities and end with a health and wellness fair, at Golden Square Freedom Park, The City.

The coordinator, noting that June 9, Whitsuntide Monday, has been designated as the marquee event under the Games, said the Committee’s goals were simple. “We want to look at improving participation across the communities, to strengthen partnerships and align with our national priorities on health, wellness, and inclusion. So, for us, National Senior Games 2.1 our 21st birthday is not just going to be a sporting event, we are looking at it as a national movement.

“That’s why we’ve realigned the Health and Wellness Fair – originally started in 2024 – to take place in September this year, in recognition of the Month of the Elderly. We’ll officially launch the event on May 24, with a motorcade, which will conclude in Golden Square,” she stated. (PR/GIS)

Sports

Breaking Barriers-Barbados to England and Back – By ROLAND BUTCHER

Article by David Harris & Photos by Christopher Williams

Former England’s cricketer Roland Butcher launched his autobiography Breaking Barriers-Barbados to England and Back before an appreciative audience at the Three Ws Oval of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Wednesday night.

Butcher, 71, the first black man to play Test cricket for England was born in East Point, St Philip on the eastern part of Barbados and moved to England at the age of 14.

In 1974 Butcher joined the English County Middlesex, six years later Butcher an attacking middle-order batsman was selected for two One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Australia. On March 12, 1981, created history created history when he made his Test debut against the West Indies at Kensington Oval.

The launch was hosted by the office of Pro Vice and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the UWI Professor Clive Landis. Several members of the cricket fraternity in Barbados attended the event, among them were the legendary Barbados and West Indies opening batsman The Most Honourable Desmond Haynes, ex Barbados and West Indies batsman Philo Wallace, the vice president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Calvin Hope, former Barbados wicketkeeper Erskine King, and outgoing chief executive officer of the BCA Dr Roland Toppin.

*The Most Honourable Desmond Haynes received a copy of his teammate and longtime friend Roland Butcher book ‘Breaking Barriers’*

Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC0 Mac Fingall, president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Randy Harris, and director of the Barbados Olympic Association Dr Adrian Lorde

Butcher and the book’s co-author Dr Sasha Sutherland read excerpts from the publication.

There were video greetings from several people connected to Butcher including his son Paul, and captain of the West Indies women’s team Hayley Matthews.

*Roland Butcher signs a copy of his book ‘Breaking Barriers’ for Shaquan Mason Captain of the Empire Under 13 Team*

Tributes were paid to Butcher by Landis and Britian’s acting High Commissioner to Barbados Charley Williams.

Butcher told the audience that even though he was a professional cricketer, and his wages were better than a normal job cricketer of his era played cricket because they loved the game.

“When I said there was no money, the money was better than just a normal job. Desmond will tell you also we played the game because loved the game. We probably would have played for nothing. We had a great love for the sport and got a lot of enjoyment from it”, Butcher said.

Haynes spoke about Butcher’s skills in the field that their former captain at Middlesex Mike Gatting once told him that “Roland was once of the best fielders in the world”.

“I used to be very keen to see Roland fielding in the covers especially when we were playing in the Sunday League, I never saw Colin Bland (who is rated as one of greatest cover fielders, but I think Roland was fantastic fielder in the covers”, Haynes said.

Butcher said his friendship with Haynes began in 1976 when they called to trails for the Barbados cricket team.

“We were teammates and at Middlesex – and more recently we West Indies selectors’; and then were both fired from that job”, Butcher said to the amusement of the audience.