Gardiner new selector

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 38

Gardiner new selector

Barry Gardiner, of Christchurch, has added the designation of national squash selector to an enviable list of sporting achievements. Mr Gardiner was the only new member of the selection panel elected at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association in Rotorua at the week-end.

He joined the incumbents, Trevor Colyer (Auckland) and Butch Gifford (Morrinsville), with Tony Naughton (Wellington) being the unsuccessful candidate.

As well as being a longtime Southern Districts squash representative, Mr Gardiner was a New Zealand

league test reserve (in 1958 and 1960) while living in Greymouth and then played rugby for South Canterbury, becoming an All Black trialist.

During his rugby-playing career the undoubted highlight was being part of South Canterbury’s epic 17-14 win over France at Fraser Park, Timaru, in 1961. After 18 minutes South Canterbury was reduced to 14 men and Gardiner was converted from flanker to fiveeighths, winning praise from the Rugby Almanack for his spectacular tackling. He moved to Christchurch from Timaru six years ago.

Also at the annual meeting Alan Watton, of Napier, was elected unopposed as president with the retirement o( Mike Greig. The new vicepresidents are Tony Gemmill (Christchurch) and Ray Southey (Wellington), Don Woollett (Hamilton) having withdrawn his nomination.

A move for a “user pays” principle with players on the national grading list paying bigger affiliation fees than social players was narrowly defeated by delegates. Senior affiliation fees were Increased from $6.50 to $9 for 1988 and the fees for juniors from $6 to $7.