Better and brighter badminton?

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 12

Better and brighter badminton?

By

DAVID LEGGAT

A more even contest than in recent seasons, and several new faces, should be the points of interest when the A grade inter-club badminton competition starts at the Skellerup Hall today.

Last year, two sides, Railway and North Beach

I, dominated proceedings, as they did in 1977. That year, both were more than 30 points ahead of the thiru-placed team and last season were both more than 50 points ahead of Knox.

The North Beach club’s No. 1 team has won the senior title in five of the last six seasons but this year the club has amalgamated with Christchurch. It has lost the services of Peter Whiting and Sandra Chapman, to Auckland and to a potentially strong South Brighton team respectively.

David and Alison Ross will lead the titleholder’s challenge, backed up by two players just out of the junior ranks, Mark Reid and Jane Clarke. Railway has lost Lindsay Robinson and Glenys Waller and their replacements are Mike Nolan and Robyn Erskine, both formerly with North Beach 11. Geoff Miller and Pat Duckmanton, both of whom won 14 of their 16 matches last season, will

again be turning out and their side seems likely to produce a strong bid for the title which has so narrowly eluded them for the last two seasons. South Brighton, back in

the top grade, could prove the surprise team of the season. It includes two Hagley II players from last year, Paul Boatwood and Ross Campbell, and the women’s section comprises Campbell’s sister, Christine, a successful junior last season, and Mrs Chapman.

The success of the doubles pairings could be important for this team, as could also be the case with Knox.

Warren Edgecumbe and Eion Kirkland won nine of their 16 club doubles matches last year while Janet Miles and Gillian Brookes won 11 of their contests.

However, Miss Miles has been replaced by Linda Kitchingham and provided she quickly forms good doubles partnerships, Knox should be a leading contender. The remaining teams might struggle. Brian Williams, playing No. 1 for Hagley I last year, won only six matches while Charles

Wasley, at No. 2, won nine. Their team-mates will be Rosey Kerr and Karen Burn, both with plenty of A grade experience behind them, despite their tender ages.

Stephen Chambers formed an impressive junior record last year, winning under-18 singles and doubles titles at two tournaments as well as winning the singles contest at the South Island championships. He will

find the jump to A grade difficult, however. He will represent Hagley II with David Bell, Jenny Hood and Colleen Austin. Brenda Anderson, a past Canterbury singles champion, returns to

regular play after a break of several seasons, playing

for Canterbury. Philip Burn, Audrey Smith and Don Le Page make up the remainder of the team. Grant Girdler and Colin Goh will lead University and will be aiming to improve on its seventh position in the nine-team competition last year.