ANOTHER group of young tennis players left the island this week ¿ this time bound for Monterrey, Mexico for the annual JITIC tournament which will see players from the Caribbean and Central America compete in various age divisions. The tournament is part of the COTECC Junior Circuit.

"This is a top tournament ¿ probably the best one the players from our area compete in," said Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president David Lambert this week. Play starts on Saturday.

Lambert will also be going to Monterrey to attend meetings for the association heads from the numerous countries. Head coach of the young players will be Steve Bean who was with the Davis Cup squad in Honduras recently. Also going will be a vice president of the BLTA, Colridge Place, who will be sitting in meetings with Lambert as well as helping Bean with the coaching and managing duties.

The players going will be Jack Keyes, Rickai Burrows, Kerian Joynes, Carolita Joseph, Alexander Cooper, Danzel Hollis and Tyler Smith.

Lambert said two charity events helped fund the trip to Mexico. "Money from the Celebrity Charity Classic as well as Colridge Place's Charity Birthday Golf Tournament helped finance the trip."

This tournament in Mexico is a level five as opposed to Bermuda's ITF Bank of Bermuda Foundation annual tournament which is a level three.

"There will be good players in Mexico," said Lambert adding, "all of the 30 nations in the COTECC will be there. It is the largest competition for the whole region which we are part of. Our seven juniors will be in the Under-13, Under 16 and Open (Under 18) divisions. Some have been before and they are going to be up against some excellent players.

"Last year we found that the exposure was fantastic for the young players. All of these players are looking for points. They have earned their places. We want to invest in young Bermudians," added Lambert.