Close Competition Again Likely In Squash Rackets

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30110, 19 April 1963, Page 13

Close Competition Again Likely In Squash Rackets

At the start of the 1962 squash rackets season an important and necessary decision was made to reduce the A grade interelub competition to six teams, and with many less participants than the 58 who appeared in 1961. the competition was of a much higher standard The same six teams will again contest this season’s event, and as set era) of the province’s most promising youngsters are likely to show the benefit of experience gained last year, a further significant advance is likely.

Club selections for the opening series on Tuesday indicate that the A grade this year will see few changes in personnel although there have been some transfers. Officers’ club, the present champion, will again rely on the well-tried combination of D J. Triggs, M R Blank. G C P. Beadel. and J F. Cotter.

Triggs may be a little short of match play, but Blank is in good form. Last season Beadel and Cotter performed particularly well and this strong lower bracket will again be difficult to match.

Collegiate ha, gained C. C Kissling from University, and also D. G Hamilton—recently returned from England—who

will be the only newcomer for the initial matches. The top pair will again be J. H. N. Pine and B J. Shirlaw.

Both University and Christchurch have again selected two teams <rf even strength. In addition to Kissling. University will be without R. A. Lathem who is in Wellington, and L J. Walpole will not play interclub

University has gained R. M Garrett from Collegiate, who will be in the second team headed by M. J. Simons. G. A Davidson and P. M. Hill will give University A a very strong top bracket, for last year Davidson and Simons played together with Hill at No 1 for University B. J. W. G. Foulds. P. D. Preston, R. Goodall, and D. D M. Stewart are other University selections. The former city champion. R. G Pattinson. will head Christchurch A. which will be completed by M. D. Grant. M. O Holdsworth, and P. R. Hadley. Christchurch B will consist of N W McGillivray. L. G. Milne H S. Gair, and E. R. Morris Tbe strong Christchurch club has several other former A grade members keen to win places, but P. L. Mackenzie, ranked third in Canterbury, is apparently not available at least for the opening round.