by BERNARD BABB

MORE THAN 100 PLAYERS from 12 countries are on show in Barbados this week with the staging of the 26th annual Brandons Veterans Tennis Championships.

Several of the Caribbean's big names of yesteryear are among the players in competition, which began on Monday at the Yacht Club courts on Bay Street.

Tournament director Peter Phillips, a top Jamaican player of the 1950s and 60s, said over 100 matches would be contested during the week in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles.

Both men and women singles matches are being played in the 45-and-over age-group as well as 60-and-over while the doubles are open to all veterans.

Victory for Bahamian

In some of the opening action on Monday, Bahamian Leo Rolle, one of the Caribbean's top players of his era, defeated American Michael King 6-2, 6-1, while Roger Cenac (now based in Boston) defeated Barbadian Ian Odle 6-1, 6-1 in the over 45-division.

In the over-60s, No.2 seed Spencer Kit of The Bahamas defeated Barbadian Johnny Burke 6-1, 6-2.

Defending singles champion Tyrone Mapp of Barbados made an impressive start to the tournament as he defeated Errol Williams 6-0, 6-0, while Peter Symmonds stopped Canadian John Long 6-4, 6-2.

Among the women, Sue Rogers of Barbados defeated Sylvia Head of The Bahamas 6-1, 6-1, while the doubles team of Margot Thomson and Helen Roper (Barbados) defeated Valerie Ambrose (United States) and Terri Monnard (Bahamas) 6-3, 6-4.