GAME OF BADMINTON

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6953, 5 July 1929, Page 2

GAME OF BADMINTON

MAKES BIG APPEAL TO TENNIS PLAYERS.

The appeal that badminton makes to tennis players, and the success with which many .famous tennis players have taken up this attractive winter game, is well shown by a glance at the English badminton records. The All-Eng-land badminton championships were inaugurated in ]9OO, and the first to -yyin the men's singles was S. H. Smith, the famous lawn tennis player, who the same year won the all-comers singles at Wimbledon and was then defeated by R. F. Doherty. Since that date many famous lawn tennis players havo also attained prominence at badminton, among whom may bo counted. Mrs. Lambert Chambers, Tvho, as Miss D. K. Douglas, in partnership with H. N. Marret, -\v on the all-England badminton combined doubles in 1904. Five years later this same event was won by Miss Boothby ana A. Prcbble, Miss Boothby having the same year captured the all-England tennis title for ladies’ singles. Prcbble, although never actually a finalist at Wimbledon, reached the semi-finals of the doubles on two occasions. In 1909 he and C. P. Dixon were.defeated by Gore aiid Roper Barrett, . and in 1912,' partnered by Sir George Thomas, he went down to' Koper Barrett and Dixon. ;■

A.: H. Fyzee, the well-known Davis Cup player, is another badminton enthusiast. Miss Kitty McKanc, now r Mrs. Godfrcc, held the all-England badminton singles championship in 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1924, the ladies’ doubles, partnered by her sister, in 1921 and 1924, and the combined doubles in 1924 and 1925. Sir George Thomas, one of the fore-

most badminton players, and the greatest authority on the game, has written a book on badminton, which is considered the standard work on the game.