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Over 100 high ranking athletes from across the island competed on September 15 and 16 at The PanCaribbeanBank Junior Classic Tournament at Tryall Club in Hanover.

Leah Brown, Brand Manager, PanCaribbeanBank was delighted at the support from players of regions outside of the corporate area.

“PanCaribbeanBank is a long standing supporter of the sport in Jamaica and it is especially impressive to see the spike in interest among our young athletes toward tennis in and around Kingston,” expressed Brown.

The young tennis players rivalled in the Girls and Boys 12s, 14s, 16s 18s and under categories at the annual tournament co-coordinated by Mobay Tennis which is sanctioned by Tennis Jamaica. The 2012 staging saw over 20 participants from the SOS Village participating for the first time. Points garnered by players in the tournament are put toward the national ranking of all the participants.

Regional Director of Tennis Jamaica, Simon Casserly, expressed satisfaction at the performance of this years’ participants; but was notably pleased with the sets played by Montego Bay based players.

“I am happy with the performance of our Montego Bay players, especially Shae Ann Kameka, Iesha Sterling and Shaeda Nickle because all these girls won in their respective divisions,” stated Casserly.

Mia Sampson came out on top in the Girls 10 and under division, with Iesha Sterling for the Girls 12 and under, Shae Ann Kameka in the Girls 14 and under and Shaeda Nickle in the Girls 16 and under. Full time medical student Phadria Kepple defeated Shellita Haughton in the Girls 18 and under category.

Winner of the Boys 10 and under division, Simeon Davis was joined by Myles Harrison of the Boys 12 and under, Daniel Hill of the Boys 14 and under and Ocho Rios based Nicholas Malcolm who was the victor in the Boys 16 and 18 and under categories.

One of the newer members to Mobay Tennis, 11 year old Tariq Simons showed spectacular sportsmanship – at this his first tennis tournament to date. Though defeated in the 12 and under and 14 and under categories, Simons made his way through to the semi-finals with great resilience and stamina on display during his six matches played over the two day tournament.

Brown highlighted PanCaribbeanBank’s commitment to enhancing the talents of young athletes in Jamaica.

“We believe youth development is essential in a growing nation. Our commitment to sports is just one of the avenues in which we help to uplift and highlight young Jamaicans as they make their mark regionally and internationally,” shared Brown.

PanCaribbeanBank has been title sponsor of the Junior Classic Tournament since its inception in 2009 and the All Jamaica Junior Tennis Championships for the past seven years.