Tennis head would admit transexual to championships

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 36

Tennis head would admit transexual to championships

By

JOHN BROOKS

The chairman of the Canterbury Lhami I ennis Association’s management committee 1 Mr C. A. Hunt' would be prepared to permit Renee Richards, the controversial transexual, to play in the provincial championships 10 days from now.

other tennis pia\er.” he yesterday. “I do not think there would be anv fuss if Ms Richards. who was Dr Richard Raskin d before the, •ex change operation, was not accepted for the woi-ien’* section of the I nited States ■ Open tournament at Forest She has expressed interest *1 in competing on the New i Zealand circuit, but her ’ depend on acceptance of herii entry for the Australian open. 1 The chairman of the Auck- : 1 land association’s promotion' i committee (Mr B. W. Ryder, ] has been quoted as saying Auckland would not be the : first to put Renee Richards!' into a women’s open chain- i pionship. i J But Mr Hunt said he is believed Canterbury would i

playing at Wilding Park. “I would imagine that the question of iter eligibility might have to be taker to the International Lawn Tennis Federation fur a ruling, but at present 1 cannot see \ i that any association has the I right to refuse her entry for; a tournament. “It .hou'd not be left toi state or provincial organisations to say 'yes’ or ‘no’ to I her applications. Un-1 doubtedly. attitudes would' vary from place to place.” ! Mr Hunt said he did not i think the 42-y ear-old Ms i Richards’s strength and ■ height would give her a I marked advantage over top players. “After ail, they have faced; tall, strong players such as' Margaret Court before and. I in any case, they would I probably have the edge in j speed and agility.” Mr Hunt said'in the inter-1

. ests of uniformity Canterbury would probably seek a » ruling from the New Zealand ■ a sedation if Ms Richards aoplied to enter the championships. ,; “But if it was just up to :■ us to make the decision. I : i think we would let her in.” ■j The tournament. from ; December 31 to January 3, will be known as the Bank of New Zealand Canterbury > i championships, and additional sponsorship has been : obtained from Havwrights, I Ltd. i There will be an element iof uncertainty about some of l the big name competitors until tlie last few clays of this month, when their movements will be known. , Mr Hunt said most of the 'ranked New Zealand players were expected to enter; the lone positive defection so far iis the national singles cliamj pion, Judith Connor, who is lin Australia.