Fewer teams-but better badminton?

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 4

Fewer teams-but better badminton?

(By

G. S. SKELLERN)

The Canterbury A grade badminton competition, which begins in the Skellerup Hall this afternoon, comprises six teams — three less than last year. But this reduction may lie a blessing in disguise. No sporting organisation likes to 10-e teams from its premier grade. But a condensed competition this sea-on will give the leading badminton plavers a more interesting and stronger

contest than the discordant inter-club season last year. The withdrawals have come from the student teams, University and Lincoln College, the winner m 1972. They have been atlected by the annual ‘•comings and goings" and have lost several highlyranked players. University, which entered two A grade teams last year, can only manage to field its strongest r de in the P grade, and at this stage Lincoln has entered no teams in the mter-club competitions. University's fate has been a godsend for Knox and North Beach. The Canterbury division one players, Mesdames A Chambers and R. Moran, have transferred to Knox, and K. Crofskey, a former Taranaki junior representative, w 11 play for the defending champion side Other clubs have done some shopping in the offseason. Selwyn have gained the services of P. Curtain, a former top West Coast player, and Miss S. Wells, a Wellington division three representative year. R Sanders, who was the number two player in the first University team last tear, will contest this season’s badminton in the Canterbun second side, and the division one representative. Mrs K. Terry {formerly Miss Mitchell, joins Crofskey in North Beach. Mrs Terry replaces the division two player. Miss S Dench, who has changed to Selwyn. From all these changes and swappings, the premier competition contains six evenly-matched teams In the past the contenders for the top prize have been ciear-cut. but there will be much activity this season to gain the major honours. The vice-president of the Canterbury association. Mr A. G Duckmanton. said that the reduction of teams has probably turned out to be a good thing “It’s a pity University and Lincoln had to withdraw, but now extra strength has been put in to the other six teams. It should be a more inter-

esting contest this season.” The entry of six teams has also meant that two rounds can be played for the first time in several years. The players will be engaged in more badminton this year — they will contest 10 games rather than eight of last season. The most encouraging facet of the new season is that the A grade players can expect regular play. At the annual meeting, Mr Duckmanton was critical of the breaks in last year’s competition which caused the grade to continue in a low ebb. The programme has allowed for six rounds without interruption and then the players can complete in the Queens Birthday Week-end tournament before continuing three further rounds. The only real interruption is at the end of the programme when the final round will be delayed three weeks because of other commitments. The competition should be one of the most exciting for many years. From their four players, Knox and North Beach can field three division one players. Knox has W. Edgecumbe and Mesdames Moran and Chambers, and North Beach the highlypromising P. Whiting and Miss A. Ross, and Mrs Terry. E. Kirkland, a division two representative last year, fills the fourth place for Knox. The runner-up last season. Railway, remains unchanged and the Canterbury champion. G. A. Miller. will lead the side. He is joined by D. Le Page and Mrs P. Duckmanton, and the veteran, Mrs M. Miller. Selwyn has been strengthened with the arrivals of Curtain. Miss Dench and Miss Wells, and B Williams is the sole survivor of last years team. The top player. J. Lang, is not playing this season and Mrs B. Anderson, a division one representative, has moved to the Canterbury club. Mrs Anderson will be a great boost to the Canter-.

bury ranks which suffered a blow with the loss of the experienced G. Ellis who moved to Wellington earlier this year.

Canterbury will be fielding young men’s teams. The juniors. J. Anderson and B. Wilson, who have gained national prominence, will play in the number one team, and C. Wasley and B. Sanders, both promising players who are ready to break through at the senior level, will be competing in the number two team.

The youthful players will have a men’s task in containing the experienced senior players, but they have the ability and skill to succeed. With the loss of several leading men. the players have a great chance of progressing to the top provincial teams. The Canterbury club’s number one women are Miss C. Reay and Mrs A. K. Smith, the secretary of the association, and the number two Mrs Anderson and Miss R. Smith. Among these players there is much experience and they form an ideal complement for the males.