S.I. badminton title to Otago man

Press, 29 August 1977, Page 17

S.I. badminton title to Otago man

I In an exact reversal of the I final of the Canterbury chamI pionship two weeks ago, the Otago player, Steve Wilson, beat Geoff Miller to win the South Island badminton championship at the Skellerup Hall on Saturday evening. Wilson, while not playing out standing badminton, produced enough delicate touches to beat Miller who, after winning the first game in fine style, lost the next two with a succession of unconvincing shots.

Miller, who has been in excellent form recently, was forced to play close to the net which did not suit his pattern of play. He is a player who prefers to stay back from the net and use his powerful smash whenever possible.

Wilson’s tactics were sound. He realised Miller’s strengths, and played away from them. His own play was not as tight as he would have liked. However, he did enough to deserve his win.

in a semi-final, Miller beat Peter Skelt, from the renowned Southland badminton family, in straight games, while Wilson beat his brother, Nigel Skelt, also in two games. Alison Ross predictably won the women’s singles title but at one stage it seemed that Diane Erickson could have upset all calculations when she took a 5-1 lead in the first game. Unfortunately she fell heavily on an arm, and was unable to continue in the same vein.

Chris Reay and Sandra Chapman were the beaten finalists, both losing in straight games.

Miller and Wilson combined to beat the Skelt brothers in the final of the men’s doubles. 6-15, 15-9, 15-10.

After losing the first game, Miller and Wilson gradually gained control to take the match.

One of the disappointments of the championships was the poor

showing of Canterbury’s topranked player, Peter Whiting. He was beaten in a quarter-final of the men’s singles and was a beaten semi-finalist in the men’s doubles with iris partner, Paul Boatwood.

Glenys Waller and Chris Reay succeeded in their challenge for the women’s doubles title, beating Miss Ross and Miss Erickson in the final.

Miller won his second title when, with Mrs Waller, he won the mixed doubles, beating Peter Skelt and Lyn O’Hara in the final.

One of the busiest players taking part in the competition was the talented Junior, Karen Bum. She won the open women’s plate, the girls’ singles, and combined with Suzanne Hope to win the girls’ doubles.

One of the most entertaining matches was the junior mixed doubles final, won by Nigel Wilson, the younger brother of Steve Wilson, and Christine Campbell. CHAMPIONSHIP Men's singles.—Quarter-finals: S. Wilson beat P Johnstone, 15-0, 15-3; N. Skelt beat P. Whiting, 19-15. 18-16. P. Skelt beat P. Boatwood, 15-7. 15-11: G. Miller beat L. Robinson, 15-8, 17-16. Semi-finals: Wilson beat N. Skelt, 15-2, 15-8; Miller beat P. Skelt. 15-3, 15-10. Final: Wilson beat Miller. 10-15, 15-5, 15-7.

Women’s singles. — Quarterfinals: Miss A. Ross beat Miss L. Ellis, 11-1, 11-1; Miss C. Reay beat Miss G. Ellis. 11-3, 11-3: Mrs S. Chapman beat Mrs P. Duckmanton, 6-11, 11-3. 11-5; Miss D. Erickson beat Mrs A. K. Smith. 11-0. 11-3. Semi-finals: Miss Ross beat Miss Reay, 11-0, 11-3: Miss Erickson beat Mrs Chapman, 11-1, 11-4, Final: Miss Ross beat Miss Erickson. 11-7. 11-2.

Men’s doubles.—Quarter-finals: Miller and Wilson beat R. Campbell and P. Burn, 15-8, 15-5; Whiting and Boatwood beat E. Kirkland and R. Reid, 15-3. 17-14; M.

McCartney and M. Lindsay neat Johnstone and Robinson, 15-9, 15-1; P. and N. Skelt beat D. Bell and P. Watts, 15-0. 15-5. Semifinals: Miller and Wilson beat Whiting and Boatwood. 18-17, 15-12; Skelt and Skelt beat McCartney and Lindsay, 15-11. 17-15. Final: Miller and Wilson beat Skelt and Skelt, 6-15, 15-9, 15-10. Women’s doubles — Quarterfinals: Miss Ross and Miss Erickson beat Mrs S. Goddard and Mrs L. Bassett, 15-2, 15-2; Mrs T. Perry and Mrs Duckmanton beat Mrs G. Foster and Mrs Chapman, 15-6, 15-5; Miss L. O’Hara and Mra R. Erskine beat Miss Ellis and Miss Ellis, 15-2, 15-5; Mrs G. Waller and Miss Reay beat Mrs C. Austin and Miss J. Lester, 15-2, 15-2. Semi-finals: Miss Ross and Miss Eriekson beat Mrs Perry and Mrs Duckmanton. 15-9. 15-4; Mrs Waller and Miss Reay beat Miss O'Hara and Mrs Erskine, 15-11, 15-10. Final: Mrs Waller and Miss Reay beat Miss Ross and Miss Erickson. 15-10. 15-7. Mixed doubles.—Quarter-finals: Miller and Mrs Waller beat G. Rogers and Miss Burn. 15-5. 18-13; N. Skelt and Miss Ross beat Whiting and Mrs Chapman, 15-1, P. Skelt and Miss O’Hara beat Boatwood and Miss Erickson, 15-8, 15-6:' Wilson and Miss Reay beat S. Hoffman and Miss G. Ellis, 15-4. 15-10 Semi-finals: Miller and Mrs Waller beat Skelt and Miss Ross, 15-10, 15-12; Skelt and Miss O’Hara beat Wilson and Miss Reav. 15-11, 12-15. 15-10 Final: Miller and Mrs Waller beat Skelt and Miss O’Hara, 15-6. 15-11. Men’s plate.—D. Ross beat R Campbell. 15-10, 11-15. 15-2. Women’s plate.—Miss K. Burn beat Miss L. O’Hara. 12-11. 11-0. A RESERVE Men’s singles.—Semifinals: L. Robinson beat L. Goh. 13-15, 15-9. 15-10; D. Bell beat D. Reid, 15-1. 15-3. Final: Robinson beat Bell 15-4. 15-2. Women’s singles.—Semi-finals: Miss L. Kitchingham beat Miss L.

Bassett, 12-10, 11-2; Miss J. Hood beat Mrs S. Goddard, 11-5, 11-7 Final: Miss Hood beat Miss Kit chingham, 11-8, 9-12, 12-11. Men’s doubles.—Semi-finals: P Lim and T. L. Luke beat J. God dard and Reid. 12-15. 15-9, 15-12, P. Watts and D. Beil beat Goh and E. Oh, 7-15, 15-7, 15-2. Final: Lim and Luke beat Watts and Bell, 1-15. 15-11, 15-12.

Women’s doubles.—Semi-finals: Miss Hood and Miss Kitchingham beat Mrs C. Austin and Miss J. Lester, 17-14, 15-13; Mrs M. Miller and Mrs D. Smith beat Mrs Goddard and Miss Bassett, 15-6, 15-6. Final: Miss Hood and Miss Kitchingham beat Mrs Miller and Mrs Smith, 12-15, 15-4. 15-10. Men’s plate: A. Jackson beat P. Watts, 15-5, 5-15, 15-9. Women’s plate: Mrs Austin ( beat Miss Lester, 11-8. 11-2. i JUNIOR Boys’ singles.—Semi-finals: P. I Coll beat K. Gee. 15-9, 15-5; A. Ball beat T. Flynn, 15-8, 15-4. Final: Ball beat Coll. 15-6. 13-15, 18-16. Girls’ singles.—Semi-finals: K. Burn beat C. Campbell, 11-7, H-l;l S. Hope beat C. Erickson, 11-7,1 11-6. Final: Burn beat Hope, 11-2. 11Boys’ doubles.—Semi-finals: Ball and N. Wilson beat Gee and Flynn, 5-15, 15-2, 17-16; P. Coli and M. Coll beat M. Reid and D. Eastwick, 15-2, 15-7. Final: Coll and Coll beat Ball and Wilson. 12- 15-6, 15-7. Girls’ doubles. — Semi-finals: Burn and Hope beat Erikson and S. Wilson, 15-7, 15-0; Campbell and Brimicombe beat L, and R. Bland, 15-2, 15-0. Final: Burn and Hope beat Campbell and Brimicombe. 15-3, 18-17. Mixed doubles — Semi-finals: Gee and Miss Burn beat Ball and N. Robertson, 15-4. 15-13: Wilson and Miss Campbell beat A. Duckmanton and Miss S. Wilson, 15-7, 15-3. Final: Wilson and Miss Campbell beat Gee and Miss Burn, 4-15, 18-14. 15-11.

Boys’ plate: M. Reid beat D. Eastwick, 15-7, 15-6. Girls’ plate: Miss Brlmicombe beat Miss Wilson. 11-7, 4-11, 11-3.