BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AN END

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 15

BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AN END

OBSERVER

By

A badminton season that has at all times been extremely interesting, when one takes into account the visit of the Australian team, was brought to a successful conclusion at an early hour on Friday morning with the completion of the Southland championships.

In spite of a big number of entries, 270 in all, and the introduction of two new events in the handicap singles for men and women, the tournament was completed in four nights. The actual running of the tournament was in the capable hands of J. Wren, D. Reed, F. H. Hughes, J. Braithwaite and R. Pollock, who kept the courts full at all times. The two-way loud speaker installed after the second night’s play by L. Swallow, did much to assist in keeping players in touch with the committee.

The tournament was watched by a big gallery of spectators throughout its progress, and the finals in most cases provided them with interesting and even games. A suggestion that might well be given consideration by the committee before next year’s tournament is the hanging of scrim or some similar material on the end wall of the hall. This would give far better sighting of the shuttle and would cost very little in time or money. L. Swallow’s win in the mens singles championship was well deserved. He displayed good form in all his matches and impressed with his powerful smashing and his fine deep lobbing. He was rarely caught out of position on the court. His semi-final against McCallum was the best game in this section, both players giving great exhibitions. The women’s singles, as expected, resulted in a win for Mrs Salisbury who was too strong overhead for any of her opponents. The men’s doubles championship was a good section and in spite of the reshuffling of many of the recognized club combinations some fine games resulted. By the.end of the championships McCallum and Hobbs had welded themselves into a really strong pair and their game with Checketts and Thompson on the final night was worth going a long way to see. In the final Swallow and Stevens ran to. any early lead in the first set and it was not until the second set that McCallum and Hobbs produced their best. The Dunedin pair deserved the win in this section. In the women’s doubles Mrs Salisbury and Miss Ronald won. in the final from a good combination in Miss McCallum and Miss Cutt with the score at 15-8, 15-11. ~ _ The mixed doubles gave Mrs Salisbury her third title. She was partnered by Glennie in the final against Thompson and Miss Cutt, and the result was a good game characterized by some really good driving by Glennie. F. Lee scored a good win in the handicap singles and revealed that he is a promising young player who should take his place in the championship ranks before long. One of the back markers, Miss M. Woods, came through well to defeat Miss Reid in the final of the women’s handicap singles. ...... Sleeman and Maxted, a hard-hitting pair, played well to defeat a long-han-, dicap pair in Smith and Fraser at 15-13 in both sets of the final of the men’s handicap doubles. Alcorn and Miss Barrett scored a popular win in a strenuous game in the final of the mixed doubles handicap. Against Glennie and Mrs Salisbury they won in the third set of a torrid game. Alcorn had a heavy programme to fulfil on the last night and stood up well to take this match. All the B grade events were wellcontested and some promising pairs were noticed. >. Henry and Jones, of the Invercargill Club have made great improvement during the last few months and they played well to defeat a good pair in Buchanan and Mackay in the final. Misses Rodger and Mowatt won the final of the women’s doubles fairly comfortably from Mrs Dillon and Miss Hallamore at 21-2.

Mullen and Mrs Prendergast performed well to take the mixed doubles event from Thorburn and Miss Donaldson in a well-contested game. Measles reduced the number of players during the tournament. R. Gimblett went down before the series started and Challis after a listless display on the Monday night succumbed on the Tuesday and took no further part in the matches. Most of the clubs will now be closing for the season. The Britannia Club is holding a dinner and dance on Tuesday night to wind up the season.