Improved Since Going To Aust.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 24

Improved Since Going To Aust.

The former New Zealand squash rackets player, M. J. Simons, who has moved into world class since going to Australia three years ago, has no plans of returning to New Zealand. Simons, who was in Christchurch yesterday on a brief visit, said he will be in Australia for at least another two years and will then be moving

on. Where to, he does not know, “but definitely not to New Zealand.” The improvement in his play, which was crowned by his selection for Australia this year, could be attributed to the greater standard of competition . in Melbourne, regular daily practice against top-class players, and “a general awareness of what you

have to work for to reach the top,” he said. For the last three years he has played for Victoria, behind the brilliant 18-year-old, G. Hunt, who is ranked two or three in the world. Last year, he won the Australian Universities championship and three months ago toured South Africa and Rhodesia with the Australian

team. He is rated about fiftJ or sixth in Australia. Simons reached the thirj round of the British amateu® championships last year, ami is on his way to them again! His best result, he thinks] was beating P. Robinson, th® defending title-holder, in th® quarter-finals of the Soutli African championships thii year. He was, himself, dim] inated in the semi-finals.