Badminton becoming more popular

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 46, 7 May 1985, Page 20

Badminton becoming more popular

Badminton is a sport which is increasing in popularity every year in the Waimarino. Ohakune Badminton Club member Robert Taylor, (right) is such a keen player that he even turned out to play last week with a broken arm! Junior and senior members of the club play at Ruapehu College gymnasium each Tuesday evening. In addition to their C and D grade teams, the club has also formed a B grade team for the first time this year. The club teams will be competing against Waiouru and Taihape this season, as well as playing friendly matches against Wanganui and Turangi clubs. President of the Ohakune club, Mrs Lyn Brannigan, says that membership has grown considerably over the last year, with many more younger players taking part since the club was allocated more time in the gymnasium. Previously, juniors played in the primary school hall while the senior members played in the college gym. Juniors now play from 6pm to 7pm, then juniors and seniors play together for - half an hour which greatly helps the children with their skills Lyn believes. During the junior games,

senior members coach the children. "It is important to get the children playing well at this stage, as to be good senior players they have to learn young," says Lyn.

Although the club is based in Ohakune, membership is open to anyone in the Ruapehu region — one youngster even travels from Waiouru each Tuesday for his weekly game.