The Tribune

AFTER three wins for the Bahamas against Barbados, Austria and the “International” team, the United States of America proved too strong for the Bahamas tennis team in the final day’s play off for first place, overcoming them by three matches to two.

The Bahamas women’s paring of Dyphany Mortier and Sue Kimball in the 40+ /60+ pairing completed the week without a loss overcoming the USA pair of Cinta Kemp and Teresa Schuerholz 0-6, 6-0, 11-9 having saved match points during the third tie break set.

The team of John Antonas and Sue Kimball in the 60+ mixed pair also recorded a Bahamian win 7-6 (4), 6-2 over the USA team of Tom Smith and Irene Graham.

However, in the other three matches, the USA proved too strong with the closest other match being the loss by Mas Kimball and Kit Spencer to Norm Chryst and Art Abbott 7-5, 6-3 in the 60+/65+ mens pairing.

This means that the USA are the 2013 Champions with The Bahamas in second place. In other matches in the play offs Belgium beat Barbados 3-2 for the third and fourth places. Austria overcame Canada 3-2 for fifth and sixth places. The seventh pace was obtained by the “International Team” who beat Great Britain 3-1.

Bob Beverley , the USA Captain commented: “This has been a wonderful week of tennis and we are delighted to have come first. There was both

strength and depth in our team this time and I thought we would always be in potential competition for the title. However the week was much

more than great tennis.

“The friendship and camaraderie has been wonderful which is a tradition of the International Clubs (IC’s). The weather and what The Bahamas has put on socially has been outstanding for us to really appreciate your country and what a wonderful winter tennis destination it is. This has been one of the best tennis weeks of my life and I know that this is also the feeling of the many other participants from around the world.“

Kit Spencer , the president of the Bahamas International Club (IC) who organized this event which was first held two years ago, said: Firstly

a big thank you to SG Private Banking, our sponsor who made the week possible, to the staff of Breezes who were invariably helpful and to the small but very efficient group of IC members who helped put on this event.

“The motto of The IC organizations is ‘Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean.’This has truly been in evidence this week proving tennis is “A game for life”. The on court tennis has been of a very high standard for the older age groups in the event with many players having had world rankings in their age groups as well as winning many veterans titles, or playing Davis and Fed Cup in their younger days.

“I was pleased to be able to also compete myself and congratulate our Bahamas team on some great performances to take second pace. I think

we have showcased the Bahamas to our group of International teams from around the world.”

Spencer also thanked the Ministry of Tourism for organising a wonderful ‘Afternoon Tea’ event at Government House, which truly gave the visitors a wider appreciation of what the Bahamas has to offer outside of a wonderful winter tennis destination.

“This event was originally planned as a one off two years ago but proved so popular that we were persuaded to repeat it,” Spencer said.

“We have already had many competitors saying they want us to make this a bi-annual event as they will be back again if we do - hopefully we

will be able to get the same support from all those who helped to enable us to do it again ”.