TENNIS CHAMPIONS SOAK UP THE SPOTLIGHT

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) held a successful Spring Classic tennis tournament. RBC was the title sponsor of this junior tennis event. After the completion of over 100 matches, the BLTA crowned the champions in the following divisions:

Under-12 Boys

Champion: Chase Newbold

Runner Up: Cory Conyers

Under-12 Girls

Champion: Caitlyn Pratt

Runner Up: Danielle Saunders

U14 Boys

Champion: Patrick Mactaggart

Runner Up: Reeves Mahelis

U14 Girls

Champion: Tatyana Madu

Runner Up:

Briana Houlgrave

U16 Boys

Champion: Jackson Mactaggart

Runner Up: Patrick Mactaggart

U16 Girls

Champion: Saphirre Ferguson

Runner Up: Tatyana Madu

U18 Boys

Champion: Dentry Mortimer Jr

Runner Up:

Sharano Hanna

Under-18 Girls

Champion:

Saphirre Ferguson

Runner Up: Caila Bowe

The BLTA congratulates all the winners and runnersup of the 2023 RBC Spring Classic. On hand to present the winners with their trophies were BLTA president Perry Newton and vice president Chilean Burrows. The double crown winner Saphirre Ferguson, who captured the U16 and U18 Championships, was recognised for her outstanding tournament performance. Saphirre did not drop a set in either finals - a tremendous feat.

The BLTA thanks the tournament director Tara Mactaggart, tournament referee Esther Newton and tournament officials for the good governance throughout the event.

The BLTA also thanks the tournament participants and parents who continue to develop their children. We are witnessing a steady increase and interest in tennis. We had several newcomers to the tennis scene, including Ethan Butler and Spencer Taylor (both advanced to the Round of 16), Jordan Storr, Taiden Culmer and

Daliyah Culmer (all played in the quarterfinal rounds)

Theo Weir, Drew Roker and others.

This is very positive tennis growth. We welcome the new faces of tennis.

The Sportsmanship female trophy was awarded to Victoria Sandi-Aguilar

Italian Open To Award Women Equal Prize Money By 2025

ROME (AP) — The Italian Open plans to award women the same amount of prize money as men starting in 2025.

When Iga Swiatek won last year’s tournament on the red clay of the Foro Italico, she earned less than half of what Novak Djokovic took home for his title. Swiatek received a cheque for 332,260 euros ($364,000) while Djokovic was paid 836,355 euros ($916,000).

Billie Jean King has often said that she was moved to form the women’s pro circuit after earning $600 for her 1970 Italian Open title — while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for winning the men’s tournament the same year. “For the first time in history we have started the process that over three years will lead to equal prize money between the women’s and the men’s tournaments,” Italian tennis federation president Angelo Binaghi said yesterday at the presentation for this season’s event, which will be held May 10-21.

“We’re talking about 8 million euros (nearly $9 million) for each event,” Binaghi added. “We can make this big leap because the first female CEO of a big bank in Italy has provided us with the necessary resources.” and the male trophy went to Cailan Bowe.

Continue to display a great attitude and you will excel.

We are thankful to God for the safe and successful close of the RBC Spring Classic tournament. Until the next time.

Elena Goitini is the chief executive of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, the Italian Open’s main sponsor. Having received an upgrade in status by the ATP and WTA, the Italian Open is expanding from eight to 12 days this year and will feature 96-player draws for men and women — up from the previous status of 56 players in each event.

Carifta From Page 11

personnel practiced baton exchanges and other relay techniques for the highly-anticipated race at yesterday’s practice session. Additionally, the field athletes worked on their jumping techniques ahead of this weekend’s event.

The team usually practices in the morning session at 8am and once again in the evenings at 3:30pm.

John Ingraham, head coach of Team Bahamas from Grand Bahama,

Carifta Swim

FROM PAGE 11 who will be travelling as a part of the coaching staff. But she said she’s not pressured at all because of his fame.

Emmanual Gadson, back from South Carolina where he is in his senior year in high school, said after getting his first taste of competition, he’s thrilled for his encore.

“I plan to see if I can win a few medals,” he stated. “I’m just going over there to have some fun. I expect that there will be a lot of competition, but I’m going to be prepared for it.”

Comparing this year’s team to last year, Gadson said there are a lot of “new faces who I am just trying to get to know. So I’m looking forward to competing with them.”

Tristen Hepburn will have his work cut out for him in the boys 13-14 division - he will be participating in a total of 11 events.

“I expect to at least come back with some individual medals this time in all of my events,” said Hepburn, who will be competing on the team for the second time. “I know it’s going to be hard, but I am prepared for the competition.”

Looking at the make-up of this year’s team, Hepburn is confident that the Bahamas will five-peat talked about why he intentionally divided the practices into two sessions.

“The reason why I did the morning and evening sessions is to get the bodies and minds of the kids adjusted to the morning and evening sessions which prepares them for when they run in the morning and when they run in the evenings at the CARIFTA Games,” explained Ingraham.

He added that the coaching team is working feverishly with the relay teams so that the team is flawless as the Bahamian crowd loves the exciting race. because it’s a “very strong team.”

He alongside the other seven assistant coaches are working hard to ensure the kids are ready and he is positive that they are going to do a great job.

Officials expect the home crowd to give Team Bahamas a big lift as they go for gold at this weekend’s April 7-10 CARIFTA Games.

Colours for the Easter weekend track and field extravaganza are black on Friday, white on Saturday, aquamarine on Sunday and gold on Monday.

Christon Joseph is one of the competitors in the boys 11-12 category. The seventh grader at St Anne’s School said he is looking forward to his maiden voyage on the team. “I feel good, and I would like. I deserve it,” he said. “My goal is to at least get more medals this year and improve as I get older.”

Joseph said he would like nothing better than to see the team capture its fifth straight title.

Grand Bahamian Skyler Smith, competing in the girls 11-12 division, is a seventh grader from Bishop Michael Eldon High School who is excited about making her first trip to the games as well.

“I’m excited, but I’m nervous because I know there will be a lot of competition over there,” said the 11-year-old Smith.

“It’s very nerve-racking, but I’m happy to be on the team with some people who I know and who can win, so hopefully they can help me.”

Smith said she wants to be able to help the Bahamas hold onto their five-year reign as champions. And Seannia Norville-Smith, who is also competing in the 15-17 age group, said she has a heavy schedule ahead of her as a competitor in the 50, 100, 200, 800, 1,500m free and 50 fly.

“I’m looking forward to potentially medalling in my events and being a part of Team Bahamas,” said the 15-year-old student attending high school in Orlando, Florida.

“I feel the team is very strong and we should definitely win again for the fifth time straight.”mers were named to the team:

Girls 11-12 - Alissa Ferguson, Saleste Gibson, Madyson Julien, DNDN McKenzie, Kimaya Saunders, Skyler Smith and Jaylah Threadgill.

Girls 13-14 - Lelah Lewis, Alanna Murray, Trinity Pratt, Zoe Williamson and Alexia Zatarain.

Girls 15-17 - Rhanishka Gibbs, Katie Goulandris, Kyana Higgs, Keianna Moss, Seannia NorvilleSmith, Mia Patton and Elle Theberge.

Boys 11-12 - Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, Harold Simmons, David Singh and Kaylan Williams.

Boys 13-14 - William Farrington, Michael Fox, Tristen Hepburn, Donald Saunders and Dijon Simmons.

Boys 15-17 - Jack Barr, Nigel Forbes, Emmanuel Gadson, Ellie Gibson, Marvin Johnson and Caden Wells.

Open water girls teamLayla Saidi Males.

Open water boys teamAiden Bain and Caellum Darville.