R. H. PURSER CHASING ROBSON'S RECORD

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 14

R. H. PURSER CHASING ROBSON'S RECORD

New Zealand’s outstanding player of the last decade, R. H. Purser (Taranaki), will be attempting to win his fifth national title in succession, and his seventh since 1962, when the New Zealand badminton championships begin at the V. R. Skellerup Badminton Hall, Aranui, on Tuesday. Purser, who has represented New Zealand on numerous occasions, including the world teams’ championships and the Commonwealth Games, is within striking distance of the record of the great J. E. Robson (Auckland), who won the national men’s singles title on nine occasions between 1948 and 1960.

However, Purser will have to maintain a high level of performance if he is to win yet another title,

for the competition this year, from both sides of the Tasman, will be the strongest he has experienced since the 1965 and 1966 seasons. In these years, a fellow New Zealand representative, D. B. Higgins (Hutt Valley) and the visiting Japanese player, M. Akiyama, beat him for the title. ' One of Purser’s strongest opponents will be the Australian title-holder, R. Livingston, who remained in New Zealand to compete in various tournaments since he helped his country to win the Whyte Trophy at Auckland in July. Livingston has been seeded second in the singles, behind Purser, who beat him in three games in the trophy tie. 'But there are a number of other good candidates for the title, eager to grasp their chance if one of the more favoured players should falter. B. R. Purser, a younger brother of the champion, made a fine debut for the Dominion

against Singapore in a Thomas Cup play-off in Christchurch in 1969. It has long been felt in some quarters that it is only a matter of time before he deposes his brother. The younger Purser caused an upset in the North Island and Auckland centennial championships last week-end when he beat Livingston in the final, 12-15, 15-7, 15-11. Other seeded players include the Purser'brothers’ fellow New Zealand representatives against Singapore, W. Johns (Auckland), M. Stossel and J. W. Compton (both Wellington), as well as D. Gloyn (Manawatii)‘ and D. Reeks (Auckland). The absence of the present women’s singles titleholder, Mrs G. Middieberg (Marton), a former Canterbury player, is unfortunate, but almost every member of the Über Cup team, which beat the Australian women, is available. Mrs Middieberg ruptured an achilles tendon in winning the championship last season and has been unable to play seriously since then. She beat Miss R. Glenie (Auckland) in winning her

first singles title, after being the runner-up four times. Miss Glenie, the New Zealand champion in 1967 and 1969, has gained the top seeding, ahead of her sister, Mrs A. Branfield, and Misses G. Tompkins (Wellington) and F. Walters (Auckland). Other defending titleholders are the Purser brothers in the men’s Roubles, Miss Glenie and Mrs Branfield in the women’s doubles and R. H. Purser and Mrs V. Gow in the mixed doubles. In the junior events, Canterbury’s P. Whiting, who was seeded ninth in the Dominion last season, has gained the fourth seeding. His play has developed considerably in the last 12 months and he could easily cause upsets against the three players seeded above him. Miss. A. Ross, Canterbury’s leading junior girl, and the holder of the under-14 national title, has failed to gain a seeding. But if she can regain, the form displayed at the recent provincial championships, she could also get further than anticipated.