Armstrong, Hamel top seeds

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 20

Armstrong, Hamel top seeds

By

DAVID LEGGAT

After dominating men’s table tennis, in Canterbury for several seasons, Maurice Burrowes and Wayne Adamson have been relegated to third and fourth places respectively in the seedings for the Canterbury open chainpionships tomorrow. However there can be no doubt that Stuart Armstrong and Michael Hamel deserve their top two placings. Between them, they have won every title to be contested this season.

Armstrong has won the singles title at the Easter championships. the MidCanterbury championships

and the A grade club championships while Hamel achieved his second win over Burrowes in four days when he won the South Canterbury title last week-end.

Adamson has struggled to find his best form this season and has been beaten by both Armstrong and Hamel in club matches. Yet Adamson cannot be discounted. He has won the singles title the last three years and has the ability to produce a little extra for the big occasion.-

The aggressive Yee Chow Boi could surprise. The former South Island champion, he has been in fine form during the winter competition, beating Armstrong in

straight games.- The durable veteran, John Armstrong, is the sixth seed and he has won the title five times.

Lloyd Richards, in his first year at the University of Canterbury, is the seventh seed and the promising young left-hander, John Richards, has been seeded eighth.

Jan Morris has won the women’s singles title for the past six years, However she will have a tough battle to overcome the determined Marlborough player, Debbie Looms. Both were members of the national training squad which spent last weekend with the prominent English coach, Peter Hirst.

Miss Looms beat Miss

Morris with a remarkable display to win the South Island singles title in Christchurch last, year and is certain to pose a big threat to Miss Morris.

The seedings for the championships, which will be held, at the Selwyn Street Hall, are:— Men.—Singles! S. Armstrong 1, M. Hamel 2, M. Burrowes 3. W. Adamson 4. C. B, Yee 5, J. Armstrong 6, L. Richards 7, J. Richards 8. Doubles: Adamson and Burrowes 1, Hamel arid R. Dixon 2, Yee and H. Redmond 3, N. M. Ling and S. Armstrong 4.

Women.—Singles: Miss-J. Morris 1. Miss D. Looms 2, Miss P. Shadbolt 3, Mrs T, May 4, Miss C. Kehoe 5, Miss J. Stead 6, Miss F. Doyle 7, Miss K. Bowden 8. Doubles: Misses Morris and Looms 1, Misses Kehoe and Shad, bolt 2. Mixed doubles.—Burrowes and Miss Morris 1, Adamson and Miss Looms 2.