SOUTH ISLAND TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29237, 22 June 1960, Page 13

SOUTH ISLAND TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

VEARLY all of South Wand’ll leading table tennis pliers will compete in Christchurch this week-end for the first major tournament of the 1960 season, the South Island championshipsThese championships' will begin on Friday evening in the reconstructed Selwyn Street Hall, and the finals will be played on Sun*

day evening. Main interest in the men’s singles event will centre upon the probable meeting in the final of X Armstrong (Canterbury) and B. A Foster (Otago). Armstrong has won this title for the last two seasons, and has been given the first seeding. Foster is reputed to be playing exceptionally well in Dunedin this year and he beat Armstrong in the final of the North Otago open tournament last week, in five games. Men's Singlet

Other strong contenders for the men's singles will include V. N. Brightwell and T. R. D. Flint (Canterbury), and the Southland players R. W. Mercer and R- L. Foster. Brightwell beat Armstrong in an inter-club match last week, but the result could be different in a five-game match. Flint, Mercer and Foster are all capable of causing upsets. The entry in the women’s singles is most disappointing. Miss J. Williamson will not be playing, as she will be meeting the touring Japanese players in international matches in the North Island. The South Island's other

international player, Mrs J. Ma* gorian, has also not entered, although she will not be required for the North Island tests against the visiting players. Seeded first and second are the two Canterbury women, Mrs T. May and Mrs J. Saadbolt Other notable absentees from this event include Miss R. Cameron (Otago) who beat both Mrs May and Mrs Shadbolt to win the North Otago open tournament last week-end, and Miss A. Eden (Nelson) and Miss Lindsey Butts (Buller). Several younger players, including Misses C. Halliday and J. Ward-Holmes (Canterbury), J. Sara (Nelson) and M. McKay (Marlborough) may do well in this event

Mercer and J. L. Catto, the title-winners for the last two seasons, are seeded first in the men’s

doubtaand the brotbeS RA. and R. I* Fos' W BrighWeU and and Armstrong and B. D. P. Williamwu, ail rombinaffona.which have beteh playing together for many •eusonk.

The junior events should be aiated from players outside rbury. The very promising Timaru youngsters, T. Underdown and P. Wood will be opposed by M. Mabbett and P. McLaughlan (Hutt Valley) in the boys’ events, and these players could also do well in the men’s section. Miss McKay from Marlborough appears to be in a class of her

own in the girls’ section, and her main opposition should come from the rapidly-improving Miss S. Hancock (Canterbury) and Miss J. Wallace (South Canterbury). Miss Wallace was the only player from the South Island who was chosen to attend the national junior coaching schools last month.