Badminton HASTINGS TOURNEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 13

Badminton HASTINGS TOURNEY

Commentary on Play and Players GOOD UMP1RES NEEDED Last Friday night most of the spectators lert the Driu Hau as soon as the A grade championshipa were concluded, but in the ensuing an-nignt session there were some close and exciting matches. Perhaps the best of all was the final of the men's handicap singles, desperately i'ought between two strong men whose physique would not oe lnterior to that of some neavyweignt wrestiers. Both had played nearly all night, and. eventuauy Jfayton (l4St. olbs.) beat O'Connor (15st. 71bs.) by a single fall — I mean point. Payton's last scroke, at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday morning was the last of the tournament. The B grade men's championship was won by a promising junior in. Gosnell, of the Hastings Methodist Club.- Against Galgjer (Dannevirke), Garland (Napier) and Sharpe (Hastings), Gosnell had three close games aud the fact that he won them all shows that he has a good match temperament. He is stronger than he looks, and in the final was just too good for Sharpe. Although the latter tried hard, his clearing shots were not deep enougk to worry his opponent. In the inen's B grade doubles, J. B. Wilson and 1°. Walker recorded one of the most popular wins of the whole tournament. The suc.essful management of what was by far the largest alfair of its kind yet hold in Hawke's Bay was mainly due to the fact and efficiency of Wiison, as secretary ; but his play in the oue or two events for wliicli he entered was noc affected by his responsibilities. His partner, Walker, is a very good doubles player. Although not so strong in singles, xboth he" and Wilson bqve good overkead shots. Mackay's Success, Another popular victory was that of W. Mackay, the only Maori competitor, in the C grade men's singles. The C grade events are coniined to first-year players, but Mackay, who i3 well known as one of the best allrounu athletes in Hawke's Bay, will soon be as good at badminton as he is at almost every other game. Two of the women' s B grade cfiampionskips were won by Miss G. Jeukins, whose badminton was far better than ske played in Palmerston North a few weeks ago. In the later stages of the B grade singles Miss Jenkins was never in danger of defeat. In the doubles she was partnered by Miss Pulcie Carr, a good match player whose net play is particularly effec- , t.ive and. they also had easy victories in their two final giames. iu the womens' C grade singles the youngest competitor in the tournament scored a meritorious win. As Miss Watson has played badminton on not more than half-a-dozen occasions her understanding of the generai principles of singles tactics is surprising, she alternates really high clearing shots in a manner worthy of an esperienced player. The value of B and C grade events was illustrated by the fact that every handicap finalist was an A grade player. In badminton as in temiis it is almost impossible to give a beginner an A grade opponent, but in the lower grades %o experts are allowed. * Lack of Good Umplres. 1 While the gienerai management ot the tournament left little to be desired, efficient umpires were few and far between. l'he two main qualifications of an umpire are (a) a willingness to call the score ; (b) a knowledge of the rules. The first is far more important than the second. The only Hawke's Bay men who possess both qualifications are Mawsou, of Napier, and Collinge and N. Wilson, of Hastings,, and as all three are leading players they can seldom act as umpires. While on tlie subjeet it mgikt be wortli while to explain tlie duties oi! a linesman. In championship finals oue man is usually appointed to watch each outside line of the coui't. His duty is to call "out,'' 011 eaoli and every occasion when a shuttle (or a tennis ball) lands outside that line, loud enougk for uihpire and ' players to kear. It sounds simple, but good line umpires are very rare. » 11 ' "■