Top badminton seeds advance to semi-finals

Press, 5 September 1980, Page 24

Top badminton seeds advance to semi-finals

The top seeds, Bryan Purser and Diane Erikson, progressed safely to the semifinals of the open singles at the New Zealand badminton championships at the Skellerup Hall yesterday. In doing so, the pair gave clear evidence that 'it will take excellent performances to prevent them winning the respective titles. Purser was too strong for the Waitemata player, Warren Brewin, who did not help his chances by making several . . unforced j. mistakes, while Miss Erikson produced a fine display to beat the seventh seed, Mary Livingston.

The other men’s semifinalists are. Nigel Skelt, who played too consistently and tightly for' John. Miles; Graeme Robson, who made no mistakes arid impressed with some deftly-placed drop shots and good coverage of the court against Peter Skelt; and Jacob van Seim who was a 1 comfortable winner over Geoff Miller. ;

In the semi-finals, Purser Will,meet Skelt and Robson will play van Seim! ' : ! ' The tightest women’s quar-ter-final: was i between Toni Whittaker arid Lyn Shirley. Mrs Shirley had a great opportunity when she. led, 9-6, in the deciding game. However, Miss Whittaker caught up,, only to fall behind >in setting. \ ’ ’/

But she gamely fought back, saved three match points and eventually held on to win, 12-11. Karen Phillips gave a sharp display to* beat Lyn Duncan, the third seeded Aucklander, after having dropped the first game, while Alison Sinton was always superior to Gaynor Weatherley, winning in .straight games. In the semi-finals, Miss Whittaker will meet Mrs Sinton ’ while’ Miss Erikson will; play Miss Phillips., . . ' ~ The- seeded; players in?the ' intermediate' singles (all advanced without mishap to the semi-finals, but there was an upset in the men’s doubles' quarter-finals. The top

■ seeds. Richard Kelly and Philip Horne went down to Miles and John Lawrence in three games. Horne and Kelly can blame only themselves, as they led, 13-6, in the third game, lost seven consecutive points, and eventually lost, 15-17.. Abbreviations used in the results: Auckland (A), Canterbury (C), Counties (Co.), Hutt Valley (HV), Hawke’s Bay (HB), North Shore (NS), Southland (S), South Canterbury (SC), Taranaki (T), (Wairarapa (Wair), Waitemata (Wait), Wellington (W), Western Sub-association (WSA). Results:—‘ ‘ , OPEN MEN'S SINGLES Quarter-finals: B. Purser (T) bed W. Brewin (Wait), 15-3, 15-4: N. Skelt (S) beat J. Miles. (A), 15-8, T 5-9; G. Robson (A) beat P. Skelt (S). 17-16, 15-4; J. van Seim (W) beat G. A. Miller (C), 15-4, 15-3. ' OPEN WOMEN'S SINGLES Quarter-finals: Miss D. Erikson (C) beat Mrs M. Livingston (A), 11-7, 11-4; Miss K. Phillips (Co) beat Mrs L. Duncan (A), 8-11, 11-3, 11-4; Miss T. Whittaker (A) beat Mrs L. Shirley (Wait), 7-11, 11-4, 12-11; Mrs A. Sinton (Wait) beat Mrs G. Weatherley (NS), 11-4. 11-9. INTERMEDIATE MEN'S SINGLES Quarter-finals: S. Lobb (HV) beat M. Chambers (C), 15-3, 15-4; Miles beat D. Ariss (A). 15-2, 15-5; J. Amaran (Wair) beat C. Smith (A), 15-4. 15-11; P. Horne (NS) beat A. Bayliss (W), 15-10,. 14-17, 15)3! - : INTERMEDIATE WOMEN'S SINGLES 1 Quarter-finals: Miss Whittaker beat' Miss L.’ Kitchingham (C)’, 11-0, 11-0; Miss S. Henare (A) beat Miss J. Taylor (Waik), 9-11, 11-7, 11-5; Miss C. Harris (A) beat Miss H. Mathieson (A), 11-8, 11-5; Miss Phillips beat Miss S. Torrie (HB), 11-0, 11-5. INTERMEDIATE MEN'S DOUBLES . Quarter-finals: Miles and J. Lawrence (A) beat Horne and R. Kelly (NS), 15-10, 10-15, 17-1.5; Chambers and M. Reid (C). beat D. Ross and P. Gulasekharam'(C). 15-9. 15-9; M. Lindsay (S) and L': Crawley (HV) beat A. Bligh and N. Garner (SC), 7-15, 15-8, 1.5-2; Lobb and Bayliss won by. default. INTERMEDIATE WOMEN'S DOUBLES Quarter-finals: Miss Whittaker and P Shepherd (A) beat Miss Kitchingham and Miss R. Kerr, 15-6, 15-5; Miss Henare and Miss Mathieson beat Miss Taylor and P. Froude (WSA), 15-12, 15-3; S. Stevens (W) and S. Turner (HV) b-'at Miss Torrie and D. Smith (HB), 15-12, 17-16; Miss Phillips and Miss Harris beat S. Shaw and J. Anderson (HV). 15-3, 15-8. INTERMEDIATE MIXED;

■ ... .. DOUBLES . .. i Quarter-finals: Horne andiMiss Whittaker heat, Ross . and Miss Kerr, 15-4; 15-7; Kelly', and Miss Henare-beat Ariss and Miss Kitchlngham, 15-4. 154; Lindsay and Miss Shepherd beat. Lawrence and Miss Anderson, 15-2.15-8; Miles and Miss Harris. beat Amaran and Miss Turner. 15-9, 15-9. -