Christ Church duo takes crown

Ian Yearwood started the veterans rout for Christ Church with this forearm return. (Pitures by Kenmore Bynoe.)

Peter Moore was in a teaching mode for Christ Church.

Kim Holder completed a grand slam with the women’s crown for St George.

By Kenmore Bynoe | Mon, January 16, 2012 - 12:03 AM

The Christ Church southpaw duo of Ian Yearwood and the stylish Peter Moore gave the home fans plenty to cheer about when they won the veteran’s crown with a clean sweep of St George in the finals of the National Sports Council’s Inter Parish men’s competition at the Dover Court on Saturday night.

Yearwood, who had to default last year’s deciding “A” team tie breaker due to cramp redeemed himself by stopping Cardinal Beckles, 21-11, 21-16. Yearwood was leading, 11-5, when the game was halted for more than 35 minutes.

When the action continued Yearwood surprisingly rolled over Beckles, who was frustratingly denied room to play his shots.

Moore, who is a tennis coach by profession, then showed the crowd, including Minister Stephen Lashley and St John’s MP Mara Thompson, how good an instructor he is by beating Golbourne Bailey, 21-15, 21-13. With rasping drives down the forehand and backarm, Moore provided plenty of Kodak moments as he bemused Bailey.

More than 1 000 fans had earlier ringed the Dover Court to see local queen Kim Holder continue her clash with former champion, Sandra Bailey, after the match was disrupted from Friday night. Holder came from a set down and took the crown, 19-21, 21-19, 21-13, to give St George their first title.

Neil Greaves formalized St Lucy’s capture of the B class title when he continued and completed a victory over Christ Church’s Simon Bayne, 16-21, 21-16, 21-16. The classy Kerry ‘TC’ Francis had beaten new-boy Gary Thomas, 21-19, 21-19, on Friday night.

However, the rains came again to delay an intriguing battle to determine the top road tennis parish when defending champions St Michael and Christ Church were locked in an intriguing contest between the Christ Church team of Anthony ‘Ears’ Mitchell and Dave Arindell versus Jeffrey ‘Borah’ Best and undisputed world number one player Julian ‘Michael Jackson’ White.

In spite of a hampering leg injury, Best had rebounded from a 16-21 loss in the first set to beat Arindell 21-14 in the second. Best was trailing 11-13 in the decider.

Both players displayed their prowess in all areas of the games with the fans witnessing top class rallies continuing for over two minutes.

That game was to continue last night with scores of fans looking forward to the finale as well as the big clash between Mitchell and White, who has dominated road tennis for over a decade.