Mew Squash Champion A Player Of Talents

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31125, 30 July 1966, Page 11

Mew Squash Champion A Player Of Talents

TpOR the first year since D. D. Mochan took the title in 1957, the New Zealand men’s open squash rackets champion is not C. R. Waugh or an overseas visitor. And it is as well that the new champion is a stroke-maker, the significance of which should not be overlooked by leading juniors.

T. C. Johnston won because he has shots and is prepared to use them, and because he had trained to a state of fitness that enabled him to last an 86-minute final against an opponent prepared if necessary to run and rally indefinitely. It is also because Johnston and G. L. Bird were the most accomplished stroke-makers present, that their semi-final clash was easily the finest match of the tournament, and one of the best displays seen at any recent national event.

The packed gallery could not contain itself during this match and several requests had to be made for silence during rallies. But after the 33-mlnute first game in the Johnston-D. Burmeister final, about half left their seats, until the fourth and fifth games, suggesting that galleries have become much more knowledgeable and discriminating. Rallies of 70, 80 or more shots are no doubt enthralling and exciting when both players are trying

for winners at any reasonable opportunity. They can be very boring when one con. testant plays only for safety, and the other in the face of tight control, usually bides his time. Johnston beat Bird because, notwithstanding his fine variety of touch shots, and his often surprisingly powerful drives he made only 12 errors in four games and hit only three less winners than his opponent. He won also because he showed much superior fitness and will to win, because—unlike Bird—he knew which points were vital, and was mentally and physically prepared to meet each crisis as it arose. Had Bird taken his game point in the third game and led by two games to one, he might well have emerged the victor. Bird, possibly because his condition was fast deteriorating, seemed to forget his natural game. He made far too many touch errors, and the risk he took on this game point was an error of judgment as well as execution. Bird is in an unenviable position now, with a complete lack of South Island competition. But many have now decided that he simply cannot rise to the important occasion; certainly he has failed so often now that he may never become the national champion. Yet he will probably remain, for

some time, the man that the galleries always want to see. Burmeister and J. N. Isaacs, now of Hutt Valley, will both represent New Zealand for the first time in Australia this year, Johnston and P. Dibley completing the team for which Bird and Waugh were not available. Burmeister has trained in typical Waugh fashion and may be as good as the Waugh of some years ago. If fine length, tight placements, and superb retrieving make a good squash player, Burmeister is certainly that. He can hardly be blamed for making the most of his present assets, but he has still a long way to go. Squash players soon discover that they need much more than the endurance of a marathon runner to succeed overseas, and it is to be hoped that Burmeister will soon follow Waugh’s example, and strive to develop touch play of good quality. J. S. Walker and J. Stevens, tourists in 1963 and 1965, have both lost their places, Isaacs having almost assured himself of a tour, by beating both in straight games in the classic plate matches. If, as planned, the world official world championships are held in Melbourne next year, an event for which both Waugh and Bird should certainly be available, competition for places in the New Zealand

team will be easily the keenest yet B. Tietjens (Auckland) has now won the junior title for the last three years, and his future progress will be watched with interest. Recent junior champions have mostly carried on. Johnston won this title in 1962 and was considered most unlucky not to tour Australia the next year. In 1964 he was desperately close to eliminating K. Hiscoe, the title-holder and twice world champion, in the Australian championships. Burmeister won his junior title at Christchurch in 1963. Now Tietjens is so far ahead of the other juniors that it will be only for the best next season, when he is out of junior ranks. He will have to be prepared to work hard, and it is to be hoped that suggestions that he, like Bird, lacks the extra devotion and determination necessary, will not prove justified.