The Summerhayes Tennis Club has served its way to a significant landmark.
And earlier this month, members and invited guests gathered at the club’s long-standing headquarters in 5th Avenue, Belleville, to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
The Summerhayes’ story is an interesting one as its formation, way back in 1912, came about because Barbados’ cadre of black professionals of the time, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants and educators, who played tennis, were not welcomed at the established “white” clubs.
This was explained by president of Summerhayes’ John Wilson in his address at the centenary celebrations.
It is known from an old map of the area that prior to 1900 there was a tennis lawn on the site where Summerhayes is presently located and that the famous Spartan Cricket Club’s ground was located next to the same tennis lawn at that time.
Whereas the Summerhayes Tennis Club remained and flourished on this historic sporting site amid all the commercialization along Pine Road and Belleville, Spartan moved to the neighbouring Queen’s Park ground.
Revealing that the various tennis clubs in Barbados did not begin playing against each other until 1965 when the inter-club competition started, Wilson said Summerhayes’ success as an organization could be measured in two ways.
“Firstly, how it is appreciated and valued over time by its membership. It should be no surprise that Summerhayes’ membership over the years has been steadfastly loyal and supportive to the institution that’s always been their home away from home and a meeting place of fellowship, camaraderie and undoubtedly where some important networking might be done too,” he said.
And secondly, he said while the club could boast of 11 men who had been members for over 50 years, Summerhayes had always participated in national inter-club competitions since the inauguration 47 years ago. (PR/EZS)
