‘The Caribbean Queen of Tennis’
Born in Trinidad and Tobago in about 1940, Ria Mark – born Ria Chong Ashing – developed her love of lawn tennis growing up in the 1950s. After attending Chelsea College of Physical Education in Eastbourne from 1963-1966, she returned to Trinidad and Tobago to teach Physical Education at Bishop’s Anstey High School in Port-of-Spain. During the 1960s and 1970s, Ria Mark emerged as one of the most notable players in tennis in Trinidad and Tobago, and in 1987 was inducted into the Trinidad & Tobago Sports Hall of Fame. From the Pan Am Games to the Phillips Trophy win in the Bahamas in the 1970s, and having won every open tournament in Trinidad and Tobago, Ria Mark established an impressive local and international record as a tennis champion.
As Jelani Beckles noted in the Trinidad Guardian on 6 January 2016,
‘[Ria] Mark, known as the “Caribbean Queen of Tennis” passed away on October 21 [2015] at age 75. Mark was the national women’s singles champion on ten occasions during the 1960s and 1970s and medalled at the 1962 and 1968 Central American and Caribbean Games. Mark’s late husband Ken was also involved in local tennis, serving as a national team manager, event organiser and administrator. Mark had an impact on the lives of many girls as she taught Physical Education at Bishop’s Anstey High School in Port-of-Spain from 1966-2000 and taught tennis at St Augustine Girls’ High School. At her funeral service Mark was described as a dedicated mother, generous colleague and devoted worker.’