FIRST YEAR SUCCESS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 13

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS

BADMINTON AT NEW PLYMOUTH. REVIEW OF SEASON’S ACTIVITIES. The membership of 93 made the New Plymouth Badminton Club one of the largest in the Dominion, while the courts were without doubt unexcelled, states the first annual report of the New Plymouth Badminton Club (Inc.), which will be presented at the annual meeting on Monday night. Considerable expense was incurred on the club’s formation by the purchase of racquets and equipment, and the facilities for play thus offered were appreciated by members and visitors, continued the report. It was pleasing to note that there was a small credit balance on the year’s working. This satisfactory state of affairs was due to the efforts of Mr. B. E. H. Collinge on his assumption of the additional office of treasurer in January.

There was cause for gratification in the improvement in the standard of play during the initial season and the top players had worthily upheld the reputation of the club in competition play. The club competitions were well patronised and resulted as follows:—Championships: Men’s singles, C. H. Strombom; women’s singles, Miss R. Rawle; men’s doubles, R. Ninkie and C. Little; women’s doubles, Misses R. Rawle and P. Wylds; combined doubles, Miss P. Wylds and C. H. Strombom. Handicap events: Men’s singles, J. Hutchinson; women’s singles, Miss O. Firth; men’s doubles, J. Blakeney and R. Ninkie; women’s doubles, Misses R. Rawle and D. Abraham; combined doubles, Miss Wylds and C. Little. TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Solid support was given by members to the first Taranaki meeting and congratulations are extended to the following successful club members: A Grade women’s singles (Egmont Cup), Miss R. Rawle; B grade men’s singles, C. Aroa; A grade men’s doubles, J. Blakeney (New Plymouth) and E. Handley (Wanganui); B grade men’s doubles, P. Bennett (New Plymouth) and W. Rix-Trott (Marton). A grade combined doubles, Miss E. Griffin (New Plymouth) and E. Handley (Wanganui). Handicap events: Men’s singles, C. Aroa; women’s singles, Miss O. Firth; women’s doubles, Misses O. Firth (New Plymouth) and A. Kemp (Hawera). Messrs. B. E. H. Collirige and R. Allan participated at the New Zealand championship meeting at Wanganui and the experience thus gained had proved invaluable. In addition to these two members, the club was represented by Messrs. C. J. E. Smith and H. Purser at the annual meeting of the federation. Honour was conferred on the club by the election of Mr. C. J. E. Smith to a seat on the New Zealand Council. The institution of a ladder comprising 15 women and men stimulated much interest and the thanks of the club was due to Mr. C. Little for undertaking the duties of ladder secretary The interchange of visits between town and country clubs proved immensely popular and greatly added to the making of a successful season. Possibly the most important matches were on the occasions of the visit of a team of 24 players from the Hawera club, and a further visit of a team of 24 men from the Glenholm and Hawera clubs. Return matches were played. The club captain was largely responsible for the great success of the inter-club visits. A representative C team met Mokau in the second round of the Spalding Shield contest and suffered defeat. Congratulations are extended to the Inglewood club, the winner of the trophy. _

The club appreciated the services given by Mr. S. M. White, honorary secretary, who resigned in January last on his departure for Australia, and also of Mr. D le C. Morgan, the club’s auditor. The club is indebted to the Defence Department for the facilities offered for play at the Coronation Hall. Thanks are extended to the Press.