BADMINTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 761, 6 September 1929, Page 13

BADMINTON

REVIEW OF TOURNAMENT PROMISING NEW PLAYERS By “Shuttje” 11 ith tlie conclusion of the New Zealand tournament, which ended last Saturday, the badminton season here virtually ends. Several of the clubs will be playing for some weeks yet, but their activities will be of domestic interest only. The Parnell Club, which had outstanding success at the tournament, closes its season this week. The club’s success is partly due to the high standards sot by its more experienced players, who gave the newcomers something to attain. But much credit is due to the new players for the aptitude they displayed. The Central Club, too, lias some most i promising material. This was revealed ! in several matches at the tournament. ! "Shuttle” would classify Miss Newton ! as one of the most promising of the : younger brigade. Another very proj mising young player is Miss Smith, - who went to the final of the women’s i doubles in the beginners’ events. Miss Ramsay displayed wonderful tenacity in her match against Mrs. Tletley, and again in the great double she and Morrison staged against Mrs. Hetley and McLean. Morrison is Devonport's most promising performer. Given good practice, he should make great alteration to his game next year. At present stern defence is the principal feature of both his and Miss Ramsay’s games. The general uncertainty of form was never better revealed than in the various men’s doubles matches at the tournament. Kelly and McLean had things all their own way in the top half of the championship draw, but had i to play some good games to overcome their handicap in the handicap events. Here one of the best matches of the whole tournament was put on by Martin and Rishworth against Griffiths and Southon. Starting level, the two pairs fought all the way in a match marked by most spectacular smashes and recoveries. Martin and Risliworth won. although they had been beaten by Griffiths and Southon in the championship events. This took them to the final against Kelly and McLean, which they also won, and by considerably more than their handicap, Rishworth being right on his game.

USEFUL SMASH The form shown by Martin and Southon in singles events was not surprising to those who have witnessed their performances at the Parnell Club. Southon owes much to his smash, one of the few smashes that is brought into action from the very back, of tho court. Kelly played without luck in his single against Martin. His singles form is not what he was showing at tho start of the season. Clyde Ellett is another whom the tournament found right off his game. But next year he should bo a different proposition. Ivan Ellett much improved, and Miss A. Ellett. of course, put up the best individual performance of the tournament, winning four separate events, two in partnership with Kelly. It was in her overhead that Miss Ellett was most plainly superior to Mrs. Hetley. Her grace on the court made her worth watching in any event in which she played. Perhaps the best match of all at the tournament was the mixed doubles final in which Miss Ellett and Kelly beat Mrs. Hetley and Meredith. Here Kelly produced a streak of his best form. It was much needed against such a skilful and crafty opponent as Meredith, who unquestionably showed Auckland players that they have much to learn in the way of short net play und in the concealment of their shots. Archdeacon Meredith himself admitted that, though he did not win a final, he nevertheless produced some of the best form he has shown in recent years. At "Wanganui he is undoubtedly much handicapped by inability to get good practice. Tho beginners’ events saw Parnell well to the fore. Tonks and Nash had already shown their quality by taking a set from the Ellett brothers in the open event, so it was not surprising to see Tonks and Miss Miller, a remarkably promising player, taking a set from Meredith and Mrs. Hetley in the championship final, and in the beginners’ class taking the mixed titlo without much difficulty. .Griffiths and Rowlings were extended in the final of tho first year doubles by Ellett and Paine, Paine showing really surprising form.

The Morrinsville contingent took back no trophies, but it learned a great deal, and the players showed themselves to be very keen sportsmen Miss Thomas is a player with a very line backhand, and Miss Cornish, a girl only 13 years old, is an active young lady who, by next year, should be able to extend much more experienced players. Hopkins is another promising Morrinsville player. CHANCE FOR FRANCE Rogers, of Wellington. impressed everyone. Though only a beginner, he plays an active and hard-hitting game France, lie stated, was the best player in Wellington, and he believed that France would make a good showing in singles against any of the Northern stars. Next year, at Wanganui. France may have his opportunity. As a happy gathering the tournament was just as great a success as it was from the point of view of the advancement of the game. The organisers are to be congratulated on the success of a gathering which took a lot of very hard work to run successfully. The handicapping was difficult. * because the committee was so utterly in the dark concerning the performances of players. Good players were put back. rather than poor players advanced, and this meant that by taking reasonable care the good j players could always come through. | Hence the finals were mainly between players from the scratch marks or thereabouts. An exception was Paul and Miss WTlson. who contested the final of the mixed handicap doubles against Kelly and Miss Ellett Miss Wilson, who is from Wanganui, should improve rapidly if she can obtain consistent practice.