ITF honours Forde

THE head of local tennis has been honoured on the international scene.
Dr Raymond Forde, president of the Barbados Tennis Association, was presented with the 2010 Award for Services To The Game by Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), during the federation’s annual general meeting in Washington, DC, recently. 
He was one of the three administrators who receivethe 2010 award.
Forde, who has been president of the local tennis association for the past 12 years, was recognised for the expansion of the junior development programmes in the island, the improvements to the facility at the National Tennis Centre, Wildey, St Michael, the staging of many coaching and officiating courses, and his work with the regional tennis bodies.
A former top junior, Forde is still an active player; earlier in the year he won the inaugural National Senior Games over-50 singles and doubles titles. He is active in the field of sports medicine and has worked extensively with the Barbados Football Association and the Barbados Turf Club.
In his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to the successful council members with whom he has had the pleasure of working over the past 12 years. 
Forde made reference to the challenges which small island developing tennis nations face, in particular the constant quest for financing.  (PR)