UPSET IN BADMINTON

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 18

UPSET IN BADMINTON

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. A day after he had stressed the importance of a national coach, the Australian men’s singles badminton champion R. Livingston, was beaten by a little-known player who accredited his win mostly to the New Zealand coach. P. Shirley, of Hawke’s Bay, last night beat Livingston, 15-10, 10-15, 15-5, in the first round of the men’s A grade singles at the Wellington badminton champships. Shirley’s win tops off a string of upsets he has caused in recent weeks. At the North Island championships last week he beat the New Zealand No. 5, W. Johns, and last month, in the Hawke’s Bay championships, he beat the New Zealand No. 4, M. Stossel, and the No. 6, F. Glrvan. Shirley must now be favourite to take the Wellington title, and he will then go on to the national championships in Christchurch. Asked if he could beat Livingston again, Shirley said he didn’t know but he wouldn’t get a chance at the nationals because “I meet Richard Purser before 1 could meet Livingston.”

Yachting.—Officers elected at the recent meeting of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were: Commodore, Mr B. B. Thompson; vice-commodore, Mr W. G. Beckett; rear-commodore, Mr J. W. McKenzie; committee, Messrs W. McG. Armstrong, J. W. Farrell, E. D. Kalaugher, H. A. Littler, W. N. White, J. W. F. Macky, P. C. Sheffield, M. Singleton, R. W. Stanton, D. H. Walker.