Law firm comes up aces for Brac tennis
Young tennis enthusiasts on the Brac
(CNS Local Life): The tennis programme for children on Cayman Brac has received a corporate boost enabling the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands (TFCI) to continue the initiative this year. Walkers has provided the annual funding for the sixth straight year, the federation said in a press release.
“Continuity of funding is really important for programmes like these, their hold on life is tenuous without proper financial backing,” said Susan Lindsay of TFCI. “So we’re really grateful to Walkers for supporting the Brac kids again…”
The Walkers programme started in 2012, and led to tennis becoming part of introductory PE lessons in the Brac’s two primary schools and high school. Professional tennis player Neil Fernandez, of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, has been visiting regularly incorporating his coaching into the schools’ regular sports lessons, the TFCI said.
Layman Scott High School’s sports teacher Michael Hundt said of the programme: “There is no access to racquet sports on the island other than through this programme with Walkers; we’re really lucky, we value it.”
Primary sports teacher Lavender Bryan added, “I’ve learnt a lot of new skills, and so have the kids. We’ve seen a lot of progress.”
Thanks to Walkers’ support over the years, the TFCI has supplied the Brac schools with portable tennis nets, shorter racquets and child-friendly tennis balls, “which make the game really easy to pick up for young players”, the release said. The funding has also enabled the island to receive adult racquets, which have provided the community with the opportunity to play for free on the high school tennis court.
Walkers’ Cayman managing partner, Tim Buckley, said of the initiative, “We are pleased to be able to offer school children and the community in Cayman Brac access to this wonderful programme. It is really rewarding to watch keen young tennis players developing their skills while enjoying their time on the courts, thanks to the dedication of the Tennis Federation and their fantastic coaches.”
