Finals court up to speed

BOTH ATTACKERS AND DEFENDERS playing in this weekend’s National Sports Council (NSC) Inter-Parish Road Tennis Championships finals will fancy their chances on the newly laid court at Springer Memorial School.
That is according to Philip “Foff” Garner, one of the tournament organizers, who says he expects Friday’s and Saturday’s finals to be exciting and competitive.
Garner revealed that the new court was laid with two coats of emulsion paint, which will ensure that it is neither “too fast nor too slow”.
“The court is going to be perfect for top-class, high-quality road tennis,” he told MIDWEEK SPORT in a telephone interview yesterday.
“The two coats of paint will help to give the court a little speed, and I believe it will suit attacking players as well as defensive players.”
He said that the lighting had already been installed and the surroundings had also been looked after at the new venue, which will be hosting the finals for the first time.
Garner’s one area of concern was that he hoped the secondary school, which is located at Government Hill, could cater to the large crowd which he expected for both days.
He said the venue was one of the options after it was decided to move from Dover, which had hosted the three previous finals.
“I’m a bit concerned about whether or not Springer will be able to hold the crowd that we are expecting to turn out for the final.
“Especially for Saturday, which I expect to be the bigger night due to the fact that the “A” Class, “B” Class and 21-and-Under finals will be played on that night,” he said.
“From what we have been seeing throughout the competition, we are really expecting a tremendous crowd to come out, so I am really hoping that Springer is up to the task.”
Garner said he believed this final would be one of the most competitive in recent years.
The only team which he expected to be easy winners were the St Michael “A” Class duo of Julian “Michael Jackson” White and Mark “Venom” Griffth.
“They are two of the island’s best players, so I don’t think that Christ Church’s Marson Johnson or David Arendell will stand a chance.
“But the other finals are too close to call, and they can go either way. It’s all about which team turns up on the night,” he said.