21
TennisTa Ie Official Magazine of the English Table Tennis Association
Edited by W. HARRISON EDWARDS
Published by Walthamstow Press, Ltd., 161 Hoe Street, London, E.17.
Vol. 13 DECEMBER, 1954 No.3
TOURNAMENT PROBLEMS HAS the time arrived when the E.T.T.A. should
take over control of Table Tennis stars and ration them out to the "open" tournaments?
This question has been posed by Ernest Moorhouse, secretary of the Scarborough Association, following the absence of big names from the Hull "'Open." He points out that not one of the 26 nlen or 24 women on the official ranking list took part although at least eight received invitations, to which incidentally they had not the courtesy to reply.
Mr. Moorhouse does not want to see the tournaments monopolised by the stars, but feels that unless the average players can get experience against them, they will always remain average.
He also makes the point that many ordinary players, who are after all the "bread and butter" of the tournanlents, know they have no chance of winning titles, but enter in the hope of meeting one of the big names and perhaps t3:king a game so that they have a good talking point to relate to their friends back in the club.
"Many of the finals in the Northern tournaments are no better than those of the local closed meetings," says Moorhouse, "and we need the leading players, particularly when there is a North v. South atnlosphere to provide an incentive to keep the' players to the bitter end."
Useiul Income Moorhouse is outspoken, in true Yorkshire
fashion, and says that the E.T.T.A. try to encourage the promotion of "Open" Tournaments partly because they receive 12-t% of all entry fees, a very useful source of income.
"When they require funds to send the favoured few abroad," he says, "it is the rank and file that gets the appeal, usually through their clubs. 1 suggest that some of this money is used to send
~ ~,players to 'oipen' tournaments.
"My task of organising the North East England championships has always been made easy by the generosity of Scarborough Hotels, and our invita.. tions to stars have carried heavy ammunition in the shape of travelling expenses and .free accommodation. Smaller tournaments are not so fortunate, and I suggest seriously that the time has come when the E.T.T.A. should use sonle of their funds to help the tournaments by evolving a rota system to .ration out top ranking players. It is necessary if some of the tournaments are to survive."
While there is a great deal of wisdom in Moorhouse's suggestions, it must be remembered that players are free to come and go as they please. They are after all not tied down by contract like the footballer to be ordered here and there.
Overloaded Tournaments Nevertheles-s this tournament situation must be
seriously examined. And that raises another point. The organisation
of sonle tournaments leaves much to be desired. Many of these one-day affairs are becoming overloaded with entries, causing late play which puts added burden on the players, involving thenl in extra expense of hotels through being unable to get home the same night. In one recent tournament a competitor who did not play her quarter final until midnight, finished up by spending the night in a police station, then having to go to work the next morning.
Spreading the tournament over extra days of course means extra expense which often cannot be met.
On the other hand midnight play is no good to the game from the spectator's point of view as well as the players, and organisers must seriously examine the position of whether or not it is worth while carrying on.
HARRISO'N EDWARDS.
One
World Championships - Utrecht. The 22nd World Championships will take place in Utrecht (Holland) from April 15/24, 1955. The Finals of the Swaythling Cup and Corbillion Cup Competitions are scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, and the Finals of the Individual events on Sunday, April 24.
A number of enquiries have been made as to the possibility of members of the E.T.T.A. and their friends going as supporters. It is understood a limited number of persons will be able to travel as an official party organised by the E.T.T.A. provided early indication is given by those wishing to be included.
In all probability the party will leave on Thursday, April 25, and return on Monday, April 25, the approximate cost being £27 per head, \vhich will ihclude travel by air, coach to and from airport in London and Utrecht, hotel accommodation and meals, and gratuities.
A season ticket, including seats for the finals, will cost £2. Seats in a better position for the finals are 6/and 10/ - each. If a s,eason ticket is required it will have to be ordered befor'e ,leaving England and a photograph of the holder has to be included on ,the ticket.
Any members interested in making the trip should write to the Adminis-
English Table
Tennis Association
Patron: Her M a j est y The Queen.
President: The Dowager Lady Swaythling, O.B.E.
Chairman: Hon. Ivor Montagu. Honorary SecretaryJTreasurer :
A. K. Vint. Administrative Secretary: Mrs. Kathleen Pegg. Office of the Association: 214,
Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2. (Telephone: TRAfalgar 2165).
MECHLOVITS MEMORIAL On Sepit~mber 7, 1954, a
memorial was unveiled on the grave of Mr. Zoltan Mechlovits, in Buidapiest in the presence of Inany past and p'resent members of Hungarian Table Tennis teams and representatives of other sports organisations.
Mr. Mecblovits was Captain of the first Hungarian team to come to England for the World Championship1s, winner of tbe World's Men's Singles title 1927/8, Mixed Doubles with M. Mednyanszky 1926/7, 1927/8, and twice winner of the English Veteran's Singles Championship in 1932/33, and 1938/9.
trative Secretary, England Table Tennis Association, without delay. Those who have written previously need not take any action as their names have been recorded. Entries in the various individual events must be made by the National Association conc-erned.
Players wishing to take part should advise the Administrative Secretary accordingly.
English Open Championship·s 1955. A communication has been sent to all Leagues giving details of special party rate tickets for the finals of the English Open Championships at the Empire Pool and Sports Arena, on April 1 and 2, 1955. Reductions are made in all the higher priced tickets on both days when an order for 12 or more tickets is made.
It is early days to know who is likely to take part, but it will be noted that the Championships are being held 10 days or so before the World Championships in Utrecht. Invitations have been given to Belgium, Ohina, Czechoslovakia, France, H ungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Sweden, U.S.A., and U.S.S.R. for their players to visit England for the Championships on their way to Utrecht.
Clubs are advised to communicate ticket requirements to their League Secretaries without delay. In the event of the demand for any particular price of seat being in excess. of the number available then a proportionate allocation will be made.
World Championships 1954. A reminder that copies of the 64-page Souvenir Programme published in connection with the World Championships held at Wembley are still avail able (price 2/--) as well as a small quantity of Souvenir badges (pri'ce 2/-). These can be obtained from the E.T.T.A. office.
Official Handbook. The Official Handbook for season 1954/5 has now been dispatched to all Leagues. We are most grateful to our printers .for their whole-hearted co-operation in enabling the Handbook to be out early in the season.
Television. On Thursday, November 18, in "Sportview," the Pr:esident of the Association, the Dowager Lady Swaythling, O.B.E., presented to Diane and Rosalind Rowe the Victor Barna Award for the season 1953/4.
Invitation Tournam,ents. It should be noted by County Associations and Leagues wishing to organise Invitation Tournaments which cover playe'rs in the area of another County that the invitation can only be given with the consent of the E.T.T.A. and the County Association concerned.
Team Selections. Team selections for November / December were made as follows:
v. Germany (Junior Mixed) November 16, 1954. - D. Blackhouse (Staffs), T. Densham (Surrey), L. Landry (Middx.), Miss J. Fielder (Kent), Miss F. Wright (Yorks). N onplaying Capt. T. Sears (Middx).
v. Wales (WomenD Noveluber 26, 1954.-Miss C. K. Best (Yorks), Miss A. Haydon (Warwicks), Miss B. Milbank (Essex), Miss J. Winn (Surrey), Miss B. Isaacs (Surrey), Miss P. Mortimer (Warwicks). Non-playing Capt. A .Thompson (Yorks).
v~ Germany (Mixed SeniorS) December 9, 1954.-A. W. C. Simons (Glos), K. Craigie (Surrey), D. C. Burridge (Middx), Miss C. K. Best (Yorks), Miss A. Haydon (\Varwicks). Non-playing Capt. 1. C. Eyles (Glos).
TABLE TENNIS Published on the 10th of each month
October to May inclusive. Postal Subscription 5s. for eight issues.
Circulation: The Walthamstow Press Ltd., 161, Hoe Street, London, E.17. (LARkswood 7501).
WELSH EDITION with sp,ecial Official Table Tennis Association of Wale'S Se,ction, 7d,. monthly, from Mrs. N. Roy Evans, 1, LJ;wyn-y-Grant Road, Penylan, Cardiff.
Advertisements: E.T.T.A., G ran d Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.Co2. (TRAfalgar 2165).
News, from aU quar,ters is warrm.ly welcome. Please send direct to the Editor: W. Ha'rrison Edwards, c/o Sports Press, 149, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. (CENtral 9951).
~ea~onal ~rertings to all l\eabers Two
/
Guest Critic
SPONGE MAY DRIVE CROWD AWAY
Says
PETER WILSON World Famous Sports Columnist of the "Daily Mirror"
AFTER last year's World Championships at Wembley I tried
out the famous-or infamoussponge rubber bat (which adjective you use depends 011 whether you use the bat or not) in .a "friendly" game against my Daily Mirror' colleague, Peter Laker.
At the time I wrote: ". . .. I can't imagine why it was ever suggested that this surface should be banned-and I'm certainly glad that the table tennis authorities never imposed the ban."
For some'one who has played the galne almost since he could standbut never competitively-the following points occurred.
It isn't true that you can't hear the bat striking the ball although you get that impression watching a match in a huge stadium like Wembley. The sound is muffled but it is eertainly there.
I did find it slightly more difficult to receive service when there was a lot of spIn on it and lny opponent said that after a push shot the ball seemed to com'e through n10re quickly.
In short, I thought there was rather a lot of fuss being made about just another development in a game where fortunately neither equipm,ent nor tactics haveever remained static.
Quoting Lench Now I am -not so sure. I have been
having a long talk with Johnny Leach who last year was quoted-on the subj.ect of young players-as saying:
"Because they get better results with much less effort (against players with no sponge experience) they get a completely false impression. Actually, THEY BECOME MUCH \VORSE OVERNIGHT (~lthough they think they are beUer).
""Points are lost so quickly that footwork becomes stale and they lose nearly all the ball control they ever acquired ... H~ut th3:t doesn't mean I am in
favour of banning. I agree with Victor Barna on this point that responsible officials, leading players and coaches should do all they can to discourage young players from using sponge."
Now I believe that Johnny Leach, the only native-born Englishman ever to win two world singles titles, might even consider an all-out ban on this substanee for, in his own words to me, the situation is '~vlorse than awful".
Johnny's view is that where a close final in a major tournament would normally tak'e at least half to thr'eequarters of an hour, and possibly an hour of tense, cut-and-thrust play, with the employment of the sponge rubber bat-particularly if both players are using it-the whole thing may be over in under a ,quarter of an hour.
No Generalsbip His contention is that points are
either won-or lost-so quickly that there is no finesse, no generalship and none of the strategy which makes for a thrilling encounter at any sport.
Personally I am against any limitations on a game, except to eliminate foul play or unfair tactics, but of course y,ears ago when some 'Scrafty Cuthbert" thought of letting a square of looking glass into his bat, this had to be banned and led to the pr,esent Law 4, which states: ,sThe racket may be any material, size, shape or weight, provided it is not white, light coloured or reflecting."
Then there was, of course, the limitation ,on the method of serving, whereby in order to elin1inate the fantastic knuckle and/or finger spin the ball has to be thrown up so that no spin is imparted to it by the projecting hand.
Spe:ctators May Decide But what I feel is the crux of the
situation is how spectatQrs are going to react to the much' briefer m;atches which I aln assured two users of sponge rubber provide.
If it is really goJng to be a case of hit af4d miss in the big tournaments I think the crowds will stay away in
droves, and like it or not in table tennis, like so man~ other popular sportS' today, the spectator is sometimes even more important than the player.
I shall be interested to hear the views of Johnny Leach vvhen he returns from his Scandinavian trip. He told me before he left that he hoped finally to make up his mind about the sponge rubber bat after playing exhibitions against I. Ogimura and T. Flisberg, the finalists in last year's World Championships, who both, of course, used the Hsilent killer".
Rubbe:r for' Andreadis Personally I should like to see a
play,er using the ordinary rubber bat beat the S'spongers" off the table-and needless to say, I would like it to be J.ohnny, considering ,how much he has done for the' game in this country.
As it is, I understand Ivan Andreadis, the Czechoslovakian, has been getting a lot of practioe with V. Tereba and L. Stipek, both of whom have adopted the sponge bat, while Andreadis, as befits perhaps the greatest stylist in the game, has ren1ained fai thful to the ordinary rubber one.
Indeed, I would not put it past the experienced Czech so to perfect his game that he might at last capture the World Championship Trophy which has always previousJy s,o narrowly ,eluded him. . . , ~ ,
P.erhaps I may quote a final remark made by Johnriy L.each-but this' one was made last year:
Sponge WiD pie? " "Most definitely .sP9':lge bats will die a natural death as they did before
- 1 ever played." ·(That, ilicidentally, is -something which the"banners" forget).
"It is ab:nost impossible to obtain sound ball cont~ol with sponge. Even Flisberg alnd Ehrlich readily admit this. It only ,needs .time for rubber bat players to· adjust Jheir timing .and be able to oppose sponge with c,onfi'" dence ... and then the 'spongers? will fade out."
I wonder if he would say the same thing today. We should know more on his return from Scandinavia~
'Three
Jack ~ Carrin8ton's Noteb-ook
OTHER SPORTS HELP
SHADOW TRAINING AT
"DAILY MIRROR" COURSE
I R'ECAUL a time when, in company with others of a select
" Swaytbling Cup Possibles" squad, I was running and twisting and bending with religious fervour at t'he behest of a famous international star in charge of our physical prepartion. Suddenly one of our number, in fact a very high ranking candidate, feU out of the circle and announced his oneman strike. "This physical training stuff is useless to me," he declared, "it only shakes me up and unsettles my nerves and touch."
He could have be,en right, at that, because there are always exoeptions, and this guy certainly did display a unique style at the table. And got results with it !
An experienced trainer is always awar,e that there are such exceptions, but he is also sure that for the majority, while the start of a course of unwanted P.T. may lead to stiffness and sluggish reactions on the table, the long-term effect is to improve both the nerve ~nd the will by reason of the greater confidence which fitness brings in its train.
Pam Mortimer, Birmingham's latest international, has been running crosscountry for some months. Not to escape from the many boys who might care to chase the good-looking Pam. but to try to keep up with some 30 other lasses of the Birchfield Harriers
_ trainee squad. "Come rain, come
shine" is the Birchfield philosophy, and as you know, it is usually come rain this autumn.
Pam told me that for som,e weeks she had to beg her TT partners to place the ball within her reach if they ,vanted a game, she was so stiff and weary. But it all passed off, leaving a legacy of speed and determination which is quite noticeable in Pam's play this season.
So, when Ron Willis says "Start Training Now for Utrecht," it's time for you to listen. For 90% ,of ambitious players, training of some kind is the key to their hopes of breaking through to the front ranks.
It need not be cross-country running for everybody; nor even P.T. in the gy,mnasium. Often enough the extra stamina and dexterity can be developed by playing other games, especially those which call for frequent reversal of movement and split-second decisions. /
As an all-round form of training for TT, without the grind of gym work, I am sure you cannot beat BASKETBALL for men, or NETBALL for the girls. Two such games a week, for advanced players, would be far n10re beneficial than two more evenings on the tennis < table. (Assum
ing that this will still mean thr,ee TT ,engagements weekly for most strong players).
Please do not take me as agreeing with the details of Ron Willis' article, although supporting his main plea. "Attack is the best Defence" is a very misleading statement, which is only occasionally, and only partly true. And if I were to base an article on that text, I should not select for my centre picture the worthy Ron Etheridge, of Kent, whose strength, even with the new sponge bat, lies in his uncanny knack of absorbing the sting out of ,other peopIe's attacks, and placing his own shots with a complete absence of risk. Etheridg,e, in fact, is ,one whom I might feature for an article starting: "You do NOT need physical training if you have a good brain." It is :true that this hero of many time-limit tussles is now picking out some good attacking openings with benefit to his results, but I will kick my brown bowler over Woolwich Arsenal if friend Etheridge spent the summer doing gymnastic exercises, ,cross-country runs, or even short sprints.
I think he just spent a few shillings buying one of them there "psychological weapons!"
DOROTHY WORRALL SHOOTS A GOAL (Daily Mirrar Picture)
Five
England Unbeaten ENGLAND'S table tennis stars have every reason to be well pleased with
their performances over the past month, having played five' international matches withoui defeat.
Three of the victories go to the juniors, who beat France 8-2, Belgium 9-0, and Germany 6-3. Then our mixed team swamped Scotland 8-1, and the women won their mattch against Wales 7-2.
Of the new internationals Wendy Bates, of Hove, went through unbeaten against the French juniors, but Joy Fielder dropped a match to Monique Alber. Florence Wright made a winning debut against Germany, while Betty Isaacs and Pam Mortimer both won at their first app,earance for
TERRY DENSHAM
A CLEAN SWEEP
Spectators in small towns like Broadstairs are not surfeited with weekly doses of high-class Table Tennis, so the warmth of their response to '-'good stuff" soon compensates for any inconvenience of travelling which the players mqy incur. In the case of this junior internationaI between England and Belgium on November 15, there grew up .a real fellow feeling betwe,en the crowd and the boys-and this with very little discrimination in favour of the home side. Throughout the match worthy effort was well applauded, and indeed all six players were inspired to a high level by this friendly atmosphere.
The playing conditions could not have be'en bettered-there were actually seventeen normal lights over the playing area. Umpiring was firstclass, even when (in honour to the juniors?) the youngest County Umpire in England, 14t-year-old Ralph Caine, took the chair-his handling and microphone technique were splendid-and ~harlie Wyles~ the warnl-hearted host, was just the right man to make the young visitors feel at home.
'Vhat of the play? Although the score of 9-0 suggests a walk-over, most of the matches were in fact very well fought. Belgium had a young team averaging a good year behind ours, and with normal experience I should say that in twelve months' time they would be likely to take 3 games from an equivalent team of ours.
All our lads applied themselves well to the game in. hand and matched their intelligence, too, with a most intelligent trio of opponents. There \vas not much to test the nerve of our boys because the Belgian nerve was always liable to break first at the
England against Wales.
crisis, due to youth and inexperience and not lack of courage.
Densham, hero of this w"eekend with 6 international wins, had a bad patch in one of the Broadstairs games, and it is much to his credit that he pulled out by sheer "guts" when his beauti ful technique had temporarily deserted him.
Backhouse has penetrating power against juniors but will need better footwork if he is to make his mark in the seaior game: Landry is full of excellent promise and talent; attacking footwork fine, defensive footwork willing but wasteful, mental approaCl1 dangerously cocksure. With luck thi~ should balance out to a good player one day.
Team spirit and sporting spirit 100%-and that goes for Belgium too.
Results (English nam,es first): D. Backhouse bt A. Valentin 21-13, 23-21; bt A. Cussac 21-15, 21-10; bt C. MoIl 21-14, 21-13. T. Densham bt Moll 16-21, 21-14, 21-16; ht Valentin 21-17, 21-17; bt Cussac 18-21, 21-19, 21-16; L. Landry bt Cussac 23-21, 26-24; bt Moll 21-12, 11-21, 21-12; bt Valentin 21-9, 21-15.
Jack Carrington
WENDY'S WINNING DEBUT
Dartford is apparently a good centre for an international judging by the capacity crowd that cheered England to an 8-2 victory over '. France at the works canteen of Messrs. J. & E. Halls, on November 13. Tiered seating specially erected for the oocasion, was packed to its linlits.
That tiny bombshell from Sussex,
Wendy Bates, showed the way to an England victory with a great win over the French No.1, Monique Alber, 21-14, 21-19, and followed up by defeating Agnes Jousselin 21-18, 21-18, then partnering Joy Fielder to a doubles win over the' same two French girls at 21-8, 23-21.
Miss Fielder, like Miss Bates, making her int'ernational debut, beat Miss J ousselin, but found Miss Alber too strong.
The other French win was gained by Robert Saul who beat Derek Backhouse 21-16, 21-17, leaving Terry Densham to share with Miss Bates the distincti on of going th{ough the match with a hundred per cent record.
Denshanl showed his usual cultured forehand attack, while Backhouse pleased with his unperturbed smooth game.
The teams were presented with silver spoons by the Mayor of Dartford, ~1rs. E. Ager, on behalf of the E.T.T.A., while Mr. T. Chilton, President, N.W. Kent, who staged the rnatch, made personal gifts' of boxes of chocolates to the girls, and pens to the boys.
Results \(Eng~jsh names first): D. Backhouse bt G. Cherguy, 21-16, 21-6; lost to R. Saul, 16-21, 17-21; T. Dens'h(lJffi bt Cherguy, 21-18,21-19; ht. Saul, 21-18, 18-21, 21-15; Miss J. Fielder lost to Miss M. Alber, 16-21, 15-21; bt Miss A. Jousselin, 21-11, 21-17; Miss W. Bates bt. Miss Alber, 21-14, 21-19; bt. Miss Jousselin, 21-18, 21-18. Backhouse and Densham bt Cherguy and Saul, 21-18, 18-21, 21-14; Miss Bates and Miss Fielder bt Miss. Alber and Miss Jousselin, 21-8, 23-21.
Conrad Jaschke
GIRLS TIP BALANCE Although our boys had obviously
learned something from their defeats by Eric Arndt at the Kent Junior "Open," they could not prevent this skilful young German going through with a hundred per cent record when England beat the German juniors 5-3 at Sperry's Sports Club, Brentford, on November ]6.
Nevertheless, both Backhouse and Landry took a game from Arndt.
Landry started off well in the opening match against Arndt, but tended to fall back later in the game and lost at 16. In the second he went to work with a will, stayed up at the table, swapped hit for hit and finally hustled Arndt into a stream of errors to run out winner at 2] -] 4.
Laurie played the same .game in the third, and shot ahead to a 4-1 lead. Arndt fought back to 5-all, and the rest of the game was a dingdong affair with Arndt ev,entually at 20-19 up. A quick counter from Laurie took Arndt by surprise and up sailed a sitter . . . to the univ'ersal horror Laurie hit it into the net.
Derek Backhouse disappointed with a sadly off-colour display against Franz Wedig, and was beaten over three games.
Terry Densham put England back in the picture by beating the amazingly energeti,c Sussman. But it was a close thing, Terry missing a matchpoint when'Sussman made a counterhit from six feet behind the table to level 2O-a11. Two hair-raising winners from Terry clinched the match.
Joyce Fielder with good retrieving, beat Oda Mielenhausen, to level the match at 2-all. Florence Wright put us in the lead for the first time with an efficient win over Gisela Eikhorst.
It was level pegging again when Arndt beat Backhouse. Miss Fielder and Miss Wright, by winning the doubles put England in the happy position of being unable to lose.
Densham and Landry then sealed the Germans' fate with a doubles win over Sussman and Wedig. To recover -after being two matches down was indeed a great performance, but most of the credit belongs to Miss Fielder and Miss Wright.
Arndt was the subject of much discussion during the match. He does not approach the standard of Freundorfer as a junior, there being some obvious chinks in his armour . . . which could hardly be said of the redoubtable "Conny." At the Kent Junior Open, all Arndt's opponents fell back against his attack and were hit all round the arena. However, at this match both our boys kept in at the
table and attempted to dictate the game, with much improved results.
Results (English names first): L. Landry lost to E. Arndt 21-13, 21-14, 19-21; D. Backhouse lost to F. Wedig 21-18, 16-21, 14-21; lost to Arndt 21-13, 15-21, 19L-21; T. Densham bt R. Sussman 22-24, 21-13, 22-20; Mis J. Fielder bt Miss O. Mielenhausen 21-17, 11-21, 21-14; Miss F. Wright bt Miss G. Eikhorst 21-11, 21-14; Densham and Landry bt Sussman and Wedig 23-21, 21-16; Fielder and Wright bt Mielenhausen and Eikhorst 21-10, 21-17.
Peter Madge
HELEN ALONE Miss Helen Elliot was Scotland's
only winner' in the international aga'inst England at Eltham Baths on November 19, beating Miss J(athie Best 19-2], 22-20, 21-16. The Yorkshire player missed her opportunity in the second game when she pulled up from ]8-20 to level at 20-all, on1y to put two successive strokes off the table. This was by far the best match of the evening, providing good table tennis.
Scotland came near to gaining another victory when Vic Garland and Eddie Still took the opening game from Johnny Leach and Brian Kennedy and held on to 17-all in the second before the English players pulled themselves together and took over the initiativee
It was not a happy evening for Kennedy, for he was also in trouble in his singles against Still, losing the first game.
Apart from these matches the English team li.ad things much their own way, and Ann Haydon gained the widest victory when she beat Mrs. Irene Cababe 21-3 21-7.
Results (English names fil'st) J. P. Shead bt. J. Campbell 21-7,
21-15. B. Merrett bt. M. McMillan
21-3, 21-12. B. Kennedy bt. E. Still 11-21,
21-16, 21-13. J. Leach bt. V. Garland 21-17,
21-11. Miss C. K. Best lost Miss H. El
liot 21-19, 20~22, 16-21. Miss A. Haydon bt. Mrs. I.
Cababe 21-3, 21-7. Leach/Kennedy ht. Garland/Still
14-21, 21-18, 21-9. Merrett/Shead bt. Campbell/McMillan 21-15, 21-16. Miss Best/ Miss Haydon bt. 1\1iss Elliot/Mrs. Cababe 21-6, 21-12.
W.D.E.
BEST TOO GOOD A terrific three games battle be
tween Kathie' Best and Shirley Jones provided the highlight of the women's international when England defeated Wales 7-2 at Bolton, on November 26. It was the only one of the nine matches to go the' full distance and was so close that the result could easily have gone the other way before Miss Best got the decision at 21-16, 22-24, 23-21.
Miss Best looked like winning in two straight when she led 20-17 in the second ganle, and all credit to the young Welsh player for the wonderful way in which she fought to force a final game.
In that dramatic third game there was never more than a point or two between them as the score gradually mounted to 20-a11. Then Miss Best, using top spin down the backhand, eventually outmanouvred her opponent to get the two vital last points.
The Welsh girls fought extremely well, putting up a much better show than the scores suggest. Audrey Bates, in particular played some of her best table tennis for years. She was responsible for both the Welsh successes, beating Barbara Milbank 21-18, 21-16, after being led 10-5 in the first game, then winning the doubles in partnership with Gretta HoldeD against Miss Milbank and Jean Winn.
Pam Mortimer and Betty Isaacs~ England's two new "caps" did all expected of them., Miss Mortimer beat Miss M. Cotton 21-12, 21-9, and Miss Isaacs overcame Betty Rowe 21-16, 21-]4. The two English girls then combined against their Welsh singles opponents to win the doubles 21-] 3, 21-5.
Results (Englisll names first): J. Win bt G. Holden 21-9,21-17; B. Milbank lost to A. Hates 18-21, 16-21 ; B. Isaacs bt Mrs. V. Rowe 21-16, 21-14; B. Mortimer bt M. Cotton 21-12, 21-9; A. Haydon ht B.Gray 21-14, 21-17; C.. K. Best bt S. Jones 2~-16, 22-24., 23-21. Doubles: Best-Haydon ht JonesGray 22-20, 21-13; Winn-Milbank l~t to Bates-Holden 15-21, 14-21; MortImer-Isaacs bt Mrs. Rowe-Cotton 21-13, 21-5.
W.D.E.
HARRY VENNER England and Surrey
Coaching and Exhibitions arranged'
Enquiries 66 TAVISTOCK CRESCENT. MITCHAM, SURREY.
Seven
SPOTLIGHT ON JUNIORS focused by PETER MADGE
countries taking part and playing exactly the same programme as the senior Worlds-three days of team events followed by four days of individual events.
All European countries will be invited to send two teams; three boys and a captain, and two girls and a captain.
These teams will split up and go to various towns in Gennany for matches prior to assembly in Ruit for the championships.
The team events are for boys only this year. Should there be sufficient support, girls team events will be held in subsequent years.
A wonderful gesture by the German Association and one that cannot be anything other than a huge success.
BATH '~OPEN"
Building alterations led to the cancellation of the Bath "Open" on Nov,ember 20.
TALKING POINT Many tournaments have experienced
difficulties in finding sufficient umpires now that organisers are obliged to state on entry forms that players are not expected to umpire.
May I suggest as a solution the formation of a London Tournament pmpires' Bureau with a maximum of 50 members who would be willing to devote three evenings and Saturday afternoon during the tournament season. Members need not necessarily be county umpires, chief requirements being availability and a reasonable knowledge of the laws of the game.
As an incentive to members I would suggest they be issued with an annual certificate by 'Lhe E.T.T.A. admitting them free to all Inatches open to the public including exhibitions and Wembley.
As things stand at the moment umpires often pay to attend rnatches as spectators then find themselves roped in to officiate.
FRANI( BATEMAN
T.T. FOR TV Plans are afoot for part of the
finals of the Metropolitan Open to be televised on January 8, 1955.
1"lf-:_:·:-:·: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.:-:.:-:.: :·:-rlf
ANDY COLLINS (left)
and HENRY SMITH
'THE two gentlemen in this picture are from the renowned Briar
ClytIe School, at Lowestoft, where table tennis is practically compulsory! An entire coach-load fron1 the school turned up to .play at the Kent Junior Open. In that coach were our two friends, respectively the youngest and the smallest entrants in the whole tournament. To everyone's delight they were drawn against each other. Andy, from Wolverhampton, aged 6-!-, played Henry, aged 9, but a head shorter, a native of Great -Yarmouth. Andy won by 21-19,19-21,21-18, and a grim struggle it was indeed! Neither of these two "giants" haa ever seen the game played before going to the School. I hope we'll be seeing them and all their friends for a long time to come.
* * * GERMAN JUNIOR OPEN
The German T.T.A. has organised a magnificent junior tournament to take place at Ruit, near Stuttgart, from June 18 to 26 next year. It will be virtually a World Junior Championships, with probably twenty
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Nine
,SERVICE LAW A Perennial Problem
THE law about service has changed nl0re often in the
past twenty years than any other rule of the game-five times since 1937, four of these since the War. And we don't seem to have reached finality even yet. To understand the reason for all this a look at history is needed.
Service- in the Past
Even in the ~arly days of the game, some fifty years ago, there was trouble over service. The service bouncing both sides of the net was devised to cut out unreturnable lawn-tennis-style serving, ,and became universal when the Laws were first standardised.
Finger-spin was permitted-provided thalt the ball was not rubbed across the bat wi:h the hand, and that the ball was not dented by excessive pressur,e by the finge~s. (Yes; even t'hat possibility was mentioned in Knotty Points in ,the ninet,een-thirties !)
Then, in 1936-37, the American World Championship team brought to Eur.ope novel forms of spin service. The ball was squeezed from between thumb and forefinger, or from between the knuckles, so th:lt it rebounded from the bat and bounced across the net to reach the receiver carrying a spin which he found it almost impossible to assess and counter. These services wer-e fast, and the ball was often hidden f>fom the receiver until it met the server's bat, thus adding to his difficulties.
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Ten
by GEORGE WHITE
The United States won the Swaythling Cup that year, and players from other countries w,ere quick to see the value of the new development. Others, with less nimble digits perhaps, were equally swift to raise the cry "Ban finger-spin"-just as more r,ee-ently we have heard the call "Ban sponge." The international legislators went into a huddle, and finger-spin was outlawed from 1937-38 onwards.
Unfortunately the umpire 'could seldom be -oertain, at l,east in time to award a point, that finger-spin was being used, and the sim~le prohibition did not work perfectly. Later, the umpire was instructed to warn a player in case of doubt, and to advise him to serve from the flat hand; in any further case, even of doubt only, a player failing to follow this advice was to be penalised.
But umpires hesitated too apply this instruction except in the mos,t flagrant
cases. Ther,e were players who did not scruple to pull out an iHegal service to win a critical point-and they usually got away with it. So, for 1947-48, the l.T.T.F. adopted a new Service Law (earlier introduced locally in the U.S.) making the flat-hand service compulsory. The following year a Knotty Point interpretation w'as added saying that the flat hand must be kept horizontal, and that the ball before being stn;,ck must travel "in a vertical plane."
The 1947-48 Law provided that the ball might be released "by the free hand either lifting upward or dropping away." Two seasons later, the "dropping away" alternative was cut out.
Even then, the instructions were badly worded. One flaw was the use of the phras1e in a vertical plane where in a vertical line was intended. Criticism of this from the late A. J. Wilmott at an E.T.T.A. General Meeting may be re.m'embered. Following this criticism, every word of the Law and the in'erpretation was studied 'closely, and revised wording was put forward by the E.T.T.A. and internationally adopted for the 1951-52 season.
This wording has stood unchanged until this season. Even now it has been altered only by leaving out one word - that apparently important word vertically.
Service in the Presen,t First thoughts on hearing that the
word vertircally was to disappear from the Law sugges'ed that there was to be a material sim plification, and that there must be a relaxation of the rigid -requirements as to the way the free hand moves befor'e the ball leaves it-for these movements naturally determine the path of the ball until struck by the bat. But these requirements have not been varied.
A clos'er look at Law 10 and Knotty Point 6 makes itc1ear that, so long as the Law says "the free hand, while in ,contact with the ball in service, shall be horizontal" and the Interpretation says "the free hand n1ust not turn over or move sideways," whether vertical is ,mentioned or not, there is only ,one possible result if all these reCfuirem,ents are met-the ball must be thr,own up vertically. Geometricians or ballistics expects might per
haps discover other possibilities-but neither players nor umpires are expected to have such technical knowledge.
The change then, is in fact no change. Those who have strictly followed last season's Law may not relax. Players who were ca,reless or neglectful should still strive to improve in the same way. And unlpires should still penalise the same faults -always renlembe'ring "that Law 10 is not intended to impose on the server an exact geometrical pattern, but to prevent attempts to secure advantage by either evasion of the rule or general careless disregard."
Service' in the Future It seems that, when it decided to
amend Law 10, the 1954 I.T.T.F. Congress overlo,oked the need to review the Kn()tty Point interpretation of that Law. The prohibition of the fr,ee hand moving sideways laid down in the interpretation was originally justified by the requirement in the Law itself for the ball to be proje,cted vertically up in the air. Now the word vertically has gone, this claus,e is no longer an interpretation ~it is in fact an addition to the Law, and, as such, outside the scope of the Knotty Points Appendix.
This Appendix is described as being decisions of the I.T.T.F. Rules Committee, whonl one would not expect to have authority to vary or extend the Laws. It seems strange that what is, on the face of it, an obsolete decision has not already been discarded.
Apparently we must wait for the next Annual Congress for this to be straightened out. It is to be hoped that at the same time the Rules Committee will be given authority-if, as it seems, they do not now possess it -to make at least provisional alterations in the Knotty Point decisions when thes'e get out of step with changes in the Laws themselves.
However, sorting this out will still not solve the fundam'ental problem of the ServiQe. It is the policy of t:he game that service should be a means of putting the ball into play -not a means of producing a pointwinning ace at will. This policy involve,s prev'enting use of finger-spin. Experience has shown that it is insufficient merely to say "thou shalt not ... "; the umpire must be able to see that finger-spin is not being employed. The problem is to devis'e a rule which w'lll achieve this result, yet neither impose unnecessary restrictions upon the 'server nor introduce additional problems for the umpire. The present regulations cannot be regarded as anything better than the nearest ,approach to this ideal which has so far be'en tried.
League History
LONDON BUSINESS HOUSES The London Business Houses A.S.A.
Table Tennis Section, to give its correct title, is the second largest League in England. This season employees of 130 Business Houses, from Lensbury, L.E.S.S.A. and Ministry of Works, all of whom run seven teams, down to small clubs with only one team, are taking part in its activities.
Registration is not required, but all players must be employees of the House and Members of the House Club they represent for a period of four consecutive weeks immediately before playing, and are not eligible upon termination of their employment.
All Business Houses must be situated within 25 miles of the Royal Exchange and matches are usually played in canteens and offices. Many clubs have accommodation difficulties, but only two play all their matches away from home.
The League Championships are divided into Men's and Ladies', home and away matches being played by teams of four (8 singles and 2 doubles). Ladies may play in either or both Leagues. There are 19 men's and 6 ladies' divisions, mainly on a geographical basis. Each week over 1,000 players take part in these nlatches.
L.C.C. (Staff) are the holders of the Jaques Cup (Men's Premier Division) and Great Eastern A.A.A. are the holders of the S. Jones Cup (Ladies' Division I).
There are also Men's and Ladies' three-a-side knock-out team competitions (not based geographically) played under Wilmott Cup rules. Despi te increased travelling and conse-
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quent expense 120 men's and 44 ladies' teams have entered this season. The holders are Lensbury (Men's) and G.E.C. (Ladies).
Since the League restarted in 1945/6 several well-known players including Ron Etheridge, Brian Brumwell, Roy Turner, Phyllis Hodgkinson and Barbara Milbank have won the Singles events. Bernard Crouch has won the Nestanglo Cup (Men's Singles) for the last three seasons, beating Ron Crayden in the final twice. The present holder of the Dallas Norris Cup (Ladies' Singles) is Betty Isaacs.
The individual Championships (8 events) are again being held at Newington Hall, Manor Place Baths, Southwark, on January 31st, February 1st-3rd, and February 7th-10th, 1955.
Each season representative teams are entered in the Wilmott Cup, J.M. Rose Bowl, and London Table Tennis Federation, whilst a very enjoyable match against the Royal Air Force last season is being repeated next January.
The Association award representative badges to players with three or more appearances in a season. In 1953/4 these were presented to O. J.
"Doherty, L. Owen, D. C. F. Crisp and A. E. Older, Miss K. P. Burge, Miss B. E. Milbank and Miss B. Isaa'cs. Altogether twelve men and six ladies played for the league.
Dnder its enthusiastic Chairman, "Bill" Lewis, there seems to be no reason why the London Business Houses League should not go from strength to strength.
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Area News: WELSH PROSPECTS
ONOE more it seems that we must look to tlhe wO'men,
rather than to the men, to· uphold the prestige of Wales. And, judging by the results achieved by Shirley Jones and Betty Gray in the East of England, and the Bucks. tournaments, the girls are wen ,pre1pared to accept the burden.
But, alIt-hough we women have a rightful pride in the task given to llS, I tlhink we all would rejoice if the Principality looked like becoming more of a power in men'\) ~a ble tennis.
Shirley Jones, Betty Gray, Audrey Bates, Vera Rowe, and to an increasing extent, Gretta Holden need no jntroduction wherever th~ gam'e is played in Great Britain. Their enthusiasm for tournaments is astonishing ~nd the time, and money, spent travel: bng to the four 'corners of the island in s'earch of honours is refl,ected in their high standard in all events and in the sixth position in World Ranking occupied by my country.
.But the men lag sadly behind. I don't want to detract in any
means from ,the magnificent service to Welsh table tennis by Walter Sweetland and Stan Jones but even they will readily agree that in the time of their prime, business and other difficulties made it almost impossible for them to get the best out of the 'game for themselves and for Wales.
Now, Stan has retired and Walter although still giving of his all fo; league, county and country, is scarcely the force he was.
Can the replacements reach the high level of skill and application attaIned by Wal,ter and Stan? Up to now, accomplishment of the others have been like flashes in a future of grey doubt. John Davies, Michael Jones, David Phillips-all have sparkled on occasions-but none has looked like a Sweetland or a Stan Jones.
John, always ,capable of doing well in ,the top class, practises rarely, and does not play club matches. Michael newly out of the Service, has not yet s'ettled down, while David, on the t?reshold of a University, has little tIme for the game. Not truly the right sort of jumping off ground for a successful Welsh team of the future!
Twelve
Glyn Morgan, now back in serious competitive play, may provide one answ'er, but the others who have fought their way up to recognition, have dropped back without making a deep impression.
We shall continue to work hard for a strong men's team, but our future is brightest on the women's side, where Shirley, Betty, Audrey and Vera will 'still be a power in the world, and wheJ;e Gretta Holden is a worthy forerunner of a field that seems to contain much more potential talent than exists amongst the men.
NANCY ROY EVANS
GLOUCESTER SNIPPETS Our e~pedment of introducing Peter
Cruwys and Bob Morley in the county ~hampionship match against Glamorgan proved a success, for w'e won six out of the seven men's event5 in our 6-4 victory. Aubrey Simons was given a
AUBREY SIMONS
tough ,match by John Davies., and Morley dropped a set to M. Jones.
Our girls, up against the strong Welsh pair of Shirley Jones and Betty Gray, just hung on and tha t was all.
With the whole emphasis on attack and the match completed in two-and-ahalf hours, this was the type of play that draws the crowds.
Our next county ganle is away to Yorkshire in early January.
The County League programme is now under way. B.ristol opened with a 9-1 win over Cirencester, A. Lovell and M. Priday winning all their games including the doubles. Another doubles win for this pair enabled Bristol to draw five-a},} with Gloucester Juniors at GJoucester. B. Thomas, of Gloucester, went through the progranlme without defeat.
Newcomers to :the county association are Cheltenham Youth League. They are
our first Youth League and we hope other similar organisations will affiliate.
Bristol, without Aubrey Simons, just beat Bath 5-4 in the Wilmott Cup, due to the fine performance of "sponge mer... chant" Barry White, who won all his matches. Bristol have anobher "sponger" in Basil Bucknell, and if Simons is avail... able to join these two in the later stages, could be the "dark horses" of the Cup.
Bucknell, by the way, recently beat Simons twq straight in their local league. It was Aubrey's first defeat by a local player since he lost to Charlie Dawes just after the war.
Congratulations to Norman Doble, on being Bristol's first holder of the E.T.T.A. coaching diploma.
Bristol have now form·ed their West of England "Open" Tourna'ment committee, and it is hoped that under ideal conditions this wiU rank as one of the best meetings of the season.
IVOR EYLES
MEMO FROM MERSEYSIDE The Liverpool interest in both nhe
"Wilmott" Cup and the "Rose Bowl" was of short duration when in the 2nd round they succumbed to our near rivals Manchester, the women losing 8-1 and the men 9-0.
Liverpool's only success in both matches was the win of Mrs. Moya Jones, and it must be confessed that although some of the sets went to three games, the Mancunicans had the edge on us, and the issue was never in doubt. Good luck Manchester, and try to repeat your success of 1948-49 when you won hoth ,competitions.
Entries are nO-N being received in Liverpool for the Handicao Singles competition, .for the "Maxwell Fyfe" (Men) and the "D. M. Foulis" (Women) Cups. Every player receives a handicap, giving the poorer player a fairchance against stronger opponents. These competitions are in their 3rd year and although handicap comnlittees "stick their necks out," the only complaint we have received to date, was from a competitor stating he was "under-handicapped."
Com1mencing January 8, 1955, the Wirral League is holding a Festival of Table Tennis week in Birkenhead, whkh includes the Wirral Closed Tournament and concludes on January 15 with a Junior inter-county match between Lancashi.re and Cheshire in the afternoon, and a National C,ounty Championship (Premier Division) matoh between Cheshire and Essex in the evening.
The WirralCommittee have decided that the Men's, Women's and Boys' Singles will he played under the group system for the preliminary and 1st rounds. They feel this is better than having a Consolation Singles, and will assure the poorer players of at least 3/4 games.
They confidently expect that this sys... tem will attract a large entry and therefore appeal to all Wirral players to get their entry form in early, in case the lists havt! t,o be closed.
BILL STAMP
SCOTTISH WHISPERS The margin between the best men and
best women in sport is usually fairly wide, but this is far from being so in Scottish Table Tennis, where Helen Elliot can justly ,claim to be her 90untry's No. 1 player.
She demonstrated this in the first Tournament of the season at Elgin on October 30, by carrying off the "open" singles at the expense of Vic Garland, the holder, and Scotland's No. 1 man.
Giving a fine demonstration of allround play, she completely dominated the rnatoh to win in straight games, 21-11,21-11,21-17. In the semi-final she beat J. Miller, a sponge bat player, who in the previous round had accounted for Eddie Still, Scotland's No.2.
Results: Open Singles: semi-finals: Miss H. Elliot (Edinburgh) beat J. Miller (Edinburgh) 21-23, 21-13, 21-15; V. Garland (Aberdeen) beat R. Forman (Dundee) 21-15, 21-16. Final: Miss Elliot beat Garland 21-11, 21-11, 21-17.
Women's Singles: Final: Miss. Elliot beat Mrs. I. Cababe (Edinburgh) 21-14, 21-10.
Open Doubles: Final: R. Park/A. Masson (Aberdeen) beat R. Topley/T. D. Gilmour (Dundee) 13-21, 23-21, 21-16.
The Scottish T.T.A. have announced their first ranking list.
Men: No.1, V. H. Garland (Aberdeen); 2, E. Still (Glasgow); 3, R. Kerr (Edinburgh); 4-6 J. Campbell (Glasgow'), A. Metcalf (Glasgow), M. McMillan (GlJasgow); 7-8 A. D. Culloch (Paisley), R. L. Forman (DUlude'e) ; 9-12 G. S. Fraser (Edinbul"gh), J. Gilmour (DUiDdee), A. L. Laidlaw (Edinburgh), E. A. Teasdale (Edinbol"gh).
Women: 1, Miss H. Elliot (Edinburgb); 2, Mrs. I. Cababe (Edinburgh); 3-6 Mrs;.O. Hawkins (Glasg;ow), Miss H. Houliston '(Edinburgh), Mrs. M,. Josephson (Glasg~w), Mrs. M. Mattison (Glasgow).
The season opened with the affiliation of two new leagues, Bathgate and District, and Dunfermline. Unfortunately, those staunch supporters of the past, Dunoon and District, have had to withdraw. There is plenty of table tennis activity up and down the pountry, but it is at present without organisation and little can be done to sp,read it further.
BOB DYKES
WESTERN COUNTIES BULLETIN Leagues are now w'el1 under way and,
judging by some of the results. coming in, especially from Division One, keen rivalry is anticipated for leadership.
Birmingham travelled to Cardiff, and after a terrific match came away with both points, beating last year's winners 6--4. W. Sweetland played well for the losers, beating R. Moseley and Bob
MacKay. Ann Haydon had to fight every in~h against Audrey Bates, eventually winning in the third set.
During November Cardiff beat Bristol at home 7-3. For the losers, B. White and B. Bucknell played brilliantly to beat D'avid Phillips and Michael Jones, the Welsh internationals.
Newport heat Bath 8-=-2. Bath were unfortunately without David House, but I do not think the result of the match was affected. ~revor Jones, with sponge bat, ,played briUiantly for the winners.
Bath made amends later when they brilliantly beat a strong Gloucester team by 6-4. David House played in this match and beat R. Moreley 2-0, but failed against Brian Merret, losing 2-0.
Gloucester beat Cheltenham 6-4, mainly due to Brian Merret and R. Morley, who reveal good form in winning their matches.
Bristol "seconds" are 'making good progress in the Second Division with away wins over Newport II and Weston. At the other' end of the table Taunton are having a rough passage, failing to win a single tie against Weston and losing 3-7 to West Wilts.
Results: First Division: Birmingham 10, Newport O. Cardiff 7, Bristol 3. Gloucester 6, Cheltenham 4. Newport 8, Bath 2. Cardiff 4, Birmingham 6. Bath 6, Gloucester 4.
Second Division: Weston 10, Taunton O. Newport II 3, Bristol II 7. West,on 4, Bristol II 6. Taunton 3, W. Wilts 7.
GROVE MOTLOW
CORNISH NOTES
Facilities for women's table tennis in Cornwall are few and far between, but the Cornish Ladies are not lacking in keenness to improve matters. Full marks then for going ahead this season and forming their own league.
Known as the West Cornwall Ladies' League, it is composed of :six teams drawn from the S1. Tves, Hayle, Camborne and Redruth areas. Matches will be over a programme of nine singles and one doubles.
Cornwall, playing in the South Western Division of the County championship, have lacked good women players and will weloome this new league as a source from which to draw countyplayers.
R. D. I. CHARLESWORTH
STAFFORDSHIRE NOTES
Making his last local appearance before taking up a business appointment in London, Fred Kershaw, prevented a clean sw~ep by Birmingham players when he won the Men's Singles for the second successive year in the Woodfield Invitation Tournament, which attracted a large entry from Midland players. Birmingham, Coventry, Derby and Burtonon-Trent were all strongly represented.
Kershaw, who hails from Wolverhamnton, has played a big part in Staffordshire rise in table tennis, and will be greatly missed. However, it is hoped that he will find time to represent his county in some of their matches, though it will mean extra travelling.
SPORTS OUTFITTERSOF ALL LEADING
r~~of~ MISS HELEN ELLIOT
winner of the following titles: World's Women's Doubles 1949/50 Scottish Women's Singles 1945/53 Scottish Mixed Doubles 1949/53 S~ottish Women's Doubles 1946/53
English Open Mixed 1950/51
Miss Elliot wears "UMBRO" table te·nnis wear
Thirteen
decided. This tournament is open to Tennis, Miss 1. S. Rew, Messrs. C.Southern News: all local players except men from Wyles, F. Trew, F. G. Mannooch, Division I, thus giving the average T. Ealey, W. H. Cripps, F. Young and players a- chance to show their paces. C. Jasohke.
Portsmouth New Ord.er C. H. STAPLES Schools.' Association
One of the strongholds of Hampshire TT is the Portsmouth and Dis Form'ed last year with 20 schools, Kent Supporters' Associationtrict League, who have just changed the Kent Schools' Association are dothe competitive programme to the three-a-side set-up (nine singles and one doubles). All teams are now settling down to the new order of play.
A total of 105 teams, an increase of 17 over last season are competing in nine Divisions of which two are Women's.
Registrations are down, with 462 at present as against 561 the previous season.
In a recent Inter-Town match, Portsmouth Women's team defeated the strong Bournemouth team which included County players Misses Gilbert and Davis, by 9-1, a splendid performance, because until last season the local women's team had not won a match for 15 years.
Youngsters, to Watch
Two promising junior players, D. Eneas and R. Hawker, both of the Copnor Club, Portsmouth, are more than holding their own against senior players in Division 3, their team being se,cond at present.
The second stage of the Portsmouth "Special" Tournaments is being held on December 19, where the final rounds of the Singles events, together with all rounds of Doubles, will be
OBTAINABLE
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ALL GOOD SPORTS OUTFITTERS
Fourteen
Kent may not as yet rank as one of the leading table tennis counties from the playing point of view, but their hard working officials are rapidly building them up into one of the most go-ahead counties in the country.
Their latest effort to popularise the game has been the formation of a Supporters' Association, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country. It has the full blessing of the Kent Executive Committee and apart from being mere followers of the sport they are being allowed to assist in searching out young players and to give them assistance, especially the juniors.
Me1mbership is open to all at aln annual subscription of 2s. 6d., and for an additional fee of 7s. 6d. there are special privileges which include free admission to County matches.
The Supporters' Association are also given the right to nominate one junior boy or girl f,or free entry into the Kent Junior championships, and they are exploring the possibility of running a talent spotting competition, on som,ewhat similar lines to the Daily Mirror tournam,ent.
The governing committee of the new association is in the hands of well known names in Kent Table
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ing some grand pioneering work among the youngsters. They have been encouraging the childr'en to run their own competitions, with excellent results, and thi1s has led to an increased number of schoolchildren in the County junior championships.
Further encouragement to the youngsters is the staging of several of the County junior rnatches in schools.
Double Loss,
Civil Servic'e promotion f.or Alf Davies has meant a double loss to Kent. A draughtsman by profession, Davies has been transferred to Cheltenham to take over a section of the drawing office in a Government department, and with him goes his wife, Mair. Both the Davies's are ranked county players, AU No. 4 among the men, and Mair No. 5 among the women.
Yorkshire-born AU, who sets a fine ,exanlple of sportsmanship with his modes'ty and Icourtesy towards opponents, is captain of the N. W~ Kent League. Apart from his table tennis, he has also won titles at lawn tennis and is a good badminton player.
No doubt one of the Cheltenham clubs will soon snap up the service of this husband and wif'e partnership.
N.W. Kent "O'pen"
Judging by the way entries are rolling in, the N. W. Kent "Open" at Barne'shurst from January 16 to 22, promises to be one of the biggest meretings of the London season. Aubrey Simons and Brian Kennedy are expected to be am,ong the challengers for the men's singles title to be def'ended by Michael Thornhill, and providing they are not in India, twins Diane and Rosalind Rowe, the world doubles champions, have promised to defend their ~itles. Entri'es close on Decelnber 13.
CONRAD JASCHKE
NOTE TO PRESS SECRETARIES
Contributions are invited for Area News and Around the Leagues. Copy by the 20th of the month, please.
AROUND THE LEAGUES EXETER and -DISTRICT have lost
S. Bridle" the Devon County player, to TAUNTON League. He has joined Y.M.e.A., and is playing for their ~'A" team in the First Division, wh~re .they should become strong challengers' to T.M.O. Blues, the pre
" sent league champions. WheatS!heaf, ..... form e r Taunton
League champions, have lost their clubroom and are now forced to play all their fixtures away.
J * * * EXETER'S secretary, Ray North,
gained a maximum at his first appearance in the First Division for Centre "A" against St. Thomas Methodists "A."
* * * Co-op ,Cobras and Conservatives
were the only undefeated teams at the end of the first month's play in the BRIGHOUSE LEAGUE.
BrentwoodH.C. provided the shock of the CHELMSFORD LEAGUE with·. an 8-2 win over C.T.T.C., who won' the League and Cup K.O. competitions last season without defeat. In the WATFORD LEAGUE Glenn broke Knutsford's hundred per cent record to go to the top.
* * * To maintain a' hfgher standard
HERTFORD and DISTRICf, have restricted their Premier Divisi on to five teams, who will meet each other twice at home and twice away.
The First Division has ten teams and the Second Division nine.
* * * WEST HAM are running an under
14's league, with 12 teams. SUNDERLAND's women's individual championship is to be played on the American tournament principIe of each meeting ea,ch other.
* * * BARNSLEY and DISTRICT ran a
handicap tournament last month for the benefit of Ken Wignall, who because' of illness has to go' away to convalescence. Wignall has be~n a member of the league for 20 years.
* * * A record entry of 250 was received
for the HAMMERSMITH "closed" last month. Miss P. May scored a "hat-trick" winning the singles, the women's doubles with Miss K. Allan, and the 'mixed doubles with W. Lap"" po. K. Whedor won the men's singles, while t~ m,en's doubles went to A. Farley and J. Purdy.
HEREFORD'S first . tournament proved such a success that they are already planning another for later in the season. Margaret Newcombe (Belnlont Centre) won "the women's singles and mixed doubles with E. G. Ward (R.A.F.). Norman Gawthorpe (Rockfield) won the men's singles.
* * * A consolation for N. W. KENT,
who have just lost Alf Davies to Cheltenham, is news that Derek Driver, who played for Kent both as a junior and senior, is expected home soon from the Middle East where he is serving with the Forces. Also expected home shortly is another former junior, Henry Buist, due to leave the R.A.F. next May.
These two, with Brian Hellberg and George Savage should forIl\ the back---. . bone of the N. W. Kent team next junior side in the Worcestershl~ season. County League.
* * * * * * 'School of Electronic "A," one ~"f Their 5---4 defeat by SOUTHEND
the youngest sides ever to compete in was a -double blow for ROMFORD. the First Division of the MALVERN Not only did it mean their,exit from LEAGUE have taken the lead at the the Rose Bowl; but it signalled the end of the first six weeks' pl~y. Much retirement of Marje>rie Brown, who of their success has been due to the went out with flying' colours, having fine play of Roger Brann, .who in his won both her singles matches. first season in the top division has But Miss Brown will not be en-accounted for several of the league's tirely lost to the League, for she established players. plans to assist the selectors by keep-
The League, which oonsists of 24 ing a watchful eye on the up and teams, have entered two senior and a coming youngsters.
COACHING Weekly Summer Co.urses
at
Ken Stanley's Table Tennis Academy, BURNLEY
Commencing 2nd April, 1955 until 3rd September, 1955
Courses will cater from the beginners standard to a specialised \veeks training f~r top ranking players.
Full particulars from !{en Stanley, -St. James's Hall, St. James's Row, Burnley, Lancashire.
(stamped addressed envelope please)
More and more players- are takJng my specialised correspondence coaching course-why don't you?
Fifteen
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND DIARY
Yorkshire had a first-class win ove'r Glamorgan, taking all the six men's singles. The relegation bogey doesn't loom quite so large this season for the "Tykes." Middlesex and Essex scored expected wins over Cheshire and Lancashire respectively, and it looks as though Essex and Surrey will be the principal challengers in the struggle to depose Middlesex.
Sussex are all out to regain Premier Division status, and their chances were improved when E1ssex beat Kent. Jack Carrington came in as reserve for Essex, at the last moment, and won all his three matches, while Ray Dorking impressed when beating "spongeman" Roy Etheridge. Sussex nearly sljpped up against Helifordshire, but the old war horse, Charlie Seaman, saw the'm through by beating Brian Barr after trailing 18-20 in the third. Devon are the other challengers for promotion, and they made no mi'stake against luckless Berkshire, who already seem doonled to return to the Southern Division.
In the Second Division North, Warwickshire opened their challenge with a good win over Lincolnshire, and the'y must be favourites to win this section and regain a place in the higher division.
Bedfordshire certainly look as though they are booked for a return trip to the Second Division, althougb they were' hard pressed against Cambridge'shire, as John Thurston had an inspired evening, winning all his three matches, including a first-class win over Colin Crowe.
It'ls early days yet in the Midland Division, and this may tum out to be the closest race of all, with Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire leading the way, and Leicestershire not to be des,pised. They were unlucky not to at least draw with Warwickshire, the ladies' doubles being lost at 23-21 in the third, while Rogers and Burraston just failed to overcome O'Regan and Harrison, respectively.
Sussex, with three good wins behind them, are now favourites to regain the Junior title which they lost to Surrey so narrowly last season. The result, however, may be in doubt until March 12, when the Sussex team journey to Suffolk. The Eastern county may yet regret dropping a point to Kent. In the background are Middlesex, who had a good win over .Kent, Beryl Spooner exceeding all expectations by overcoming Joyce Fielder-a first-class performance.
Geoff Harrower
PREMIER DIVISION G loucestershire 6 Glamorgan 4 Middlesex 9 Cheshire 1 Essex 8 Lancashire 2 Glamorgan 2 Yorkshire 8
SECOND DIVISION SOUTH Berkshire 2 Devon 8 Sussex 6 Hertfordshire 4 Essex 6 Kent 4
SECOND DIVISION NORTH Durham 3 N orthurnberland 7 Lincolnshire 3 Warwickshire 7
SOUTHERN DIVISION Hertfordshire 7 Oxfordshire 3 Hampshire 6 Buckinghamshire 4
EASTERN DIVISION ~orfolk 3 Suffolk 7 Bedfordshire 6 Cambridgeshire 4
MIDLAND DIVISION Staffordshire 5 Warwickshire 5 N orthamptonshire 1 Derbyshire 9 Warwickshire 6 Leicestershire 4 Derbyshire 5 Staffordshire 5
JUNIOR DIVISION Kent 5 Suffolk 5 Sussex 7 Essex 3 Bedfordshire 3 Surrey 7 Middlesex 7 Surrey 3 Hertfordshire 5 Bedfordshire 5 Surrey 2 Suffolk 8 Middlesex 8 Kent 2
COUNTY DIARY SECOND ,DIVISION NORTH
December 11. Yorkshire v. Linoolnshire, Old Town Hall, Knaresborough, 7.15 p.m.
SOUTHERN DIVISION December 11. Oxfordshire v. Buckinghamshire, S.S. Philip & James
Church Hall, Leckford Road, Oxford, 7.30 p.m. December 11. Hertfordshire v. Hampshire, Robert Gilling Hall, Bur-
ford Street, Hoddesdon, 7.30 p.m. SOUTH-WESTERN DIVISION
December 11. Devon v. Dorset, Oddfellows Hall, Ker Street, Devon-port, 7.00 p.m.
MIDLAND IDIVISION December 11. Wor,cestershire v. Staffordshire.
JUNIOR DIVISION December 11. Kent v. Essex, Cliftonville School, Margate, 4.30 p.m. December 11. Middlesex v. Suffolk, The Canteen, E.M.I. Ltd., Blyth
Road, Hayes, Middlesex. December 11. Surrey v. Sussex, Guildford Wednesday T.T.Cor Mount
Street, Guildford, 7.15 p.m.
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His book - TABLE TENNIS FO,R ALL (price 9s. 6d.) now available in the second printing, with 38 plates, reveals all the methods and technique which have taken him to the top-and it can do the same for you. Get hold of it soon.* published by Nicholas Kaye and sold at all bookshops *
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Seventeen
NATIONAL CUP RESULTS AND DRAW WILMOTT CUP
Second Round Results ZONE 1 (A)
Northumberland1, Huddersfield 8. Halifax 5, Dewsbury 4.
ZONE 1 (Bi) Chesterfield 3, Lincoln 6. Scunthorpe 6, Barnsley 3.
ZONE 2 (A) Barrow 4, Southport 5. Nelson 6, Burnley 3.
ZONE 2 (B) Chester 0, Stockport 9. Manchester 9, Liverpool O.
ZONE 3 (A) Shrewsbury 3, Northampton 6. Birmingham 5, Coventry 2.
ZONE 3 (B) Kings Lynn 1, Cambridge 8. Norwich 3, Oambridge Univ. 6.
ZONE 4 (A) Bedford 2, Watford 7. North Middx. 9, Luton O.
ZONE 4 (B) Dagenham 3, Ilford 6. Southend 3, Romford 6.
ZONE 5 (A) London Civ. Sere 9, Univ. of London O. London Banks 0, South London 9.
ZONE 5 (B) East London 8, Wandsworth 1. Walthamstow 5, T'ravell Trade~ 4.
ZONE 6 (A) Croydon 9, Sutton O. Byfleet 2, Staines 7.
ZONE 6 (Hi) Slttingbourne 0, Bromley 6. North West Kent 7, Beckenham 2.
ZONE 7 (A) Brighton 9, Eastbourne o.
ZONE 7 (B) Salisbury 4, Southampton 5. Portsmouth 4, BournemOlUth 5.
ZONE 8 (A) Reading 5, Maidenhead 4. Slough 8, Oxford Univ. 1.
ZONE 8 (B) Exeter 2, Gloucester 7. Bath 4, Bristol 5.
Third Round Draw (on or before De~embeT 11, 19~4)
ZONE 1 (A) Huddersfield v Halifax
ZO'NE 1 (B) Lincoln v Scunthorpe
ZO'NE 2 (A) Nelson v Southport
ZONE 2 (B) Manchester v Stockport
ZONE 3 (A) Birmingham v Northa:mpton
ZONE 3 (B) Cambridge V niv. v Cambridge
ZONE 4 (A) North Mddx. v Watford
ZONE 4 (B) Romford v Ilford
ZO:NE 5 (A) South London v London Civ. Sere
ZO'NE 5 (B) Waltham,stow v East London
ZONE 6 (A) Croydon v Staines
ZO,NE 6 (B) Nor,th West Kent v Bromley
ZONE 7 (B) Bournemouth v Southampton
ZONE 8 (A) Reading v Slough
ZONE 8 (B) Gloucester v Bristol
ROSE BOWL Second Round Results
ZONE 1 (A) Leeds 5, Northumberland 4.
ZONE 1 (B) Barnsley 7, L1ncoln 2.
ZONE 2 Liverpool 1, Manchester 8. Chester 7, Burnley 2.
ZONE 3 (A) Coventry 1, Birmingham 8. Northampton 1, Leicester 8.
ZONE 3 (B) Kings L,ynn 7, Peterborough 2.
ZONE 4 (A) Bedford 8, Luton 1N ortb Mrddx. 5, Watford 2.
ZONE 4 (B) Ilford 8, Thames1de l. Romford 4, Soutbend 5.
ZONE 5 (A) South London 6, London Bus. Houses 3. London Banks 6, Ins. Off. 3.
ZONE 5 (B) Central 9, Travel Trade O. Wand'3worth 3, E,ast London 6.
ZONE 6 (A) Thames VaUey sC.,Clroydon w.o. Staines 8, Leatherhead 1
ZONE 6 (B) l\laidstone 8, Bromley 1Woolwich 1, North West Kent 8.
Letters to the E.ditor
ONE "CLOSED'" ONLY I have read with interest Mr. Jaschke's
COlnments on League registrations and Ron Etheridge's observations.
I can agree to some extent with Mr. Jaschke's points, and can also sympathise with Etheridge and those like him, who are only ooncerned with getting ,the practice, providing it is only for good practice and not pot-hunting!
This question of playing in several leagues, leads to the problem of playing in County Closed Cha-mpionships. In the London area, and indeed in many other areas, it is possible to play in more than one County "Closed." A player has only to be registered for a league in that County and he is then eligible to take part in the County Closed ChampionSihips.
When it COUles to Counties, I feel the player should have to chose to which County he proposes to give his allegiance, then stand or fall with that County and its players. I think it is important that players should regard their County as an object f.or their loyalty and interest, rather than a means to suit their own convenience.
ELSIE CARRI1'!GTON (l1ssex).
* * * Most players register in more than
one league to play competitively more than one night a week. The majority of clubs are run so that competitive p lay is going on upon every good itable whenever it is open, and unless they run teams in more than one league the enthusiast must look for another second claim and possibly further clubs before being satisfied. Some clubs will only take
ZONE 7 Eastbourne 1, Bournemoutb 8. Brighton 6, Ports,mouth 3.
ZONE 8 (A) High Wycombe 3, Maidenhead 6. Slough 5, Oxford 2.
ZONE 8 (B) Salisbury 1, Blristol 8.
Third Round Draw (on or before D'eceInber 11, 1954)
.cO:NE 3 (A) Birmingham v Leicester
ZOINE 4 (A) North Middx. v Bedford
. ZO'NE 4 (B) Southend v Ilford
ZONE 5 (A) London Banks v South London
ZO,NE 5 (B) East London v Central
ZONE 6 (A) Croydon v Staines
ZO'NE 6 (B) North West Kent v Maidstone
ZO'NE 8 (A) Slough v Maidenhead
players prepared to register and play for them and not for practice only.
There have been reports that some facilities are not used up to capacity, but r suggest that over the whole London area, there are more people wanting to play seriously than there are table hours to accommodate them.
The best rule, when "closed" pompe,titions are held at the end of the season, is that competitors nlust have played in 50 per cent 'Of their teams' League matches.
J. M. BLACKMAN (Kent, C.U.)
HAYD10N SHOULD RESIGN One cannot pick up the magazine these
days without noticing that a large amount of space is devoted to Ann Haydon. I notice you do not give publicity to the fact that her father is a member of the selection committee of the E.T.T.A., a situation that would not be tolerated either by competitors or offi;;ia1s in any other sport.
I a'm not complaining of Miss Haydon being selected as an international, but :her father should resign from the selection commiHee immediately his daughter becomes liable to be selected.
Last season I noticed that Alan Thompson was a member of the selection com'mittee while his wife (Kathleen Best) was playing as an international, ,but I am glad to note that this is not the case this season.
FRANK GEE (Manchester).
NEW RlTLE ID'EA I would like as a newcomer to the
sport of T.T. to suggest that a new rille pe made; that in any game where scores are level .at 20 all, any ball .touching the net should be 'let.'
This would avoid the disappointment of a last point scored by a fluke.
W. DUELL.
Nineteen
FIXTURE ENGAGEMENTS In the Open Tournaments below, events shown in the column are additional to M.S., W.S., M.D., W.D., and X.D. in every case. The closing date for entries is shown in brackets after the title. Suitable entries are inserted in this diary
without charge but all organisers should send information to The Editor at the earliest date possible.
Date
Dec. 10
10-11 Jan. 3-8
7-8
10-11 15-16 16-22
21-22
23
27-29
29-30
Feb. 2-12
12 & 19
18
21-25
Feb. 28/ Mar. 12
Mar. 12
18-19
26
Mar. 29/ April 2
9-11
15-24 25-30
Twenty
Details and Venue
Wales v. England Drill Hall, Newport. Welsh Open
Metropolitan "Open" (Nov. 24) Polytechnic Extension, Little Titchfield Street, London, W.I. Pontefract Open Town Hall and Assembly Rooms, Pontefract, Yorks French Open Belgian Open N. W. Kent Open (Dec. 13) Barnehurst Residents' Club, Parkside Ave., Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Kent. South Yorks Open (Jan. 8) Firth Browns Canteen, Saville Street, Sheffield, Yorks. Southampton Open (Jan 8) Royal Pier Pavilion, Southampton. Cheshire Open (Jan. 15) Drill Hall, Volunteer Street, Chester.
Kent Open (Jan. 10) Marine Gardens Pavilion, Folkestone. Middlesex (Herga) Open (Jan. 10) Herga L.T. Club, Courtfield-ave., Harrow. Midland "Open" (Feb. 5) Friends Institute, Moseley Road, Birmingham 12.
England Vo Wales (Jnr. Boys) Assembly Hall, Worthing. Surrey "Open" (Feb. 5) Municipal Baths Hall, East Street,
Epsom, Surrey. West Middlesex Open (Feb. 22) West Ealing Club, Mervyn Road, West Ealing, London, W.13. Yorkshire Junior Open (Mar. 2) Messrs. Blakeborough's Canteen, Brighollse, Yorks. West of England Open (Mar. 9) Bristol South Baths, Southville, Bedminster. Grimsby Open (Mar. 19) Pier Pavilion and Town Hall, Cleethorpes. ENGLISH "OPEN" Empire Pool, Wembley. North East England Open (Mar. 30) Burniston Road Barracks, Scarborough, Yorks. WORLD CHAMPIONSIDPS Thameside Open (Apt 12) Hydro Hall, Y.M.C.A., Greengate Street, Plaistow, London, E.13.
Extra Events
B.S. G.S.
B.S. G.S. V.S.
B.S. G.S.
B.S.
B.S.
B.S. G.S. V.S. J.S. (Mixed) B.S.
B.S. G.S. B.D. V.S.
B.S. G.S.
B.S.
B.S. G.S.
B.S.
B.S. V.S. Y.S.
B.S. G.S.
Organising Secretary
Mr. E. S. Lee, The Polytechnic, 309, R,egent Street, London, W.I.
Mr. T. Horrocks, "Rockland," Bondgate, Pontefract, YQrks.
Mr. C. Jaschke, 22, Sidcup Hill Gardens, Sidcup, Kent.
Mr. R. D. Renshaw, 7, Luna Croft, Gleadless, Sheffield 12.
Mr. K. H. Miles, 46, Bevois Valley Road, Southampton. Mr. S. H. Dutton, 35, Carrick Road, Curzon Park, Chester.
Mr. F. Betts, "Elsmycdene," 88, Surrenden Road, Folkestone, Kent. Mr. K. A. Martin, 55, King's Way, Wealdstone, Middles~x.
Mr. M. Goldstein, 415, Moseley Road, Birmingham 12.
Miss L. E. Rymill, "Imatome," 192, Goring Way, Goring-by-Sea, Sussex. Mr. C. T. Dean, 67, Osmond Gardens, Wallington, Surrey.
Mr. & Mrs. S. J. Riddick, 29, Thorney
hedge Road, Chiswick, London, W.4.
Mrs. B. Senescall, 64, Monkgate, York.
Mr. B. J. Bucknell, 29, Eastfield, West
bury-on-Trym, Bristol.
Mr. J. Browne, 245, Yarborough Road, Grimsby.
Secretary, E.T.T.A., 214, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2. Mr. E. Moorhouse, 26, Sherwood Avenue, Scarborough, Yorks.
U,treoht, Holland. Mr. R. Markwell, 61, East Avenue, Manor Park, London, E.12
EASTERN SUBURBAN "OPEN"
Ken Craigie, the Surrey international appears to have carved his own little nitch in the Eastern Suburban "Open", having carried off the men's singles for the third successive year in the finals at Ilford Baths on November 6. He had little difficulty in the final, beating Len Adams (Middlesex) in straight games 21-16, 21-10.
p.eter Pudney (Essex) provided an upset when he defeated Alan Rhodes (Middlesex), to become the only
KEN CRAIGIE
unseeded player to reach the semi-finals, but failed when he came up against Adams. ,
Another Ess'ex player, Bobby Stevens accoun1ed for K'eith Hurlock, the Surr'~y international in a spectacular match full of hard hitting and tren1endous retrieving, but he in turn w,ent down to Jackie Head (Surrey), who having had a fine win over Derek Burridge, showed a welcom,e return to form.
It was however, Betty Isaacs (Surrey) who took most of the honours, winning the women's singles to mark up her first "'Open" success. She beat Joy Seaman (Middlesex), the No. 1 seed, Joy Fielder and Barbara Milbank in successive matches, performances which must have carried weight when England selectors chose her for the international with Wales on November 26. Betty mixed a ttack and defence in a good solid all-round game.
RESULTS
Men's Singles: Semi-finals: K. CRAIGIE beat J. Head 21-17, 21-17; L. AD.AMS beat P. Pudney 21-17, 21-12.
Final: CRAIGIE beat Adams 21-16, 21-10. Women's Singles: Semi-finals: Miss B. ISAACS beat Miss
J. Fielder 21-19, 21-9; Miss B. MILBANK beat Miss J. Winn 25-23, 21-16.
Final: Miss ISAACS beat Miss Milbank 21-18, 21-23, 21-118.
Men's Doubles: Semi-finals: R. J. STEVENS and I. W. J'O'NES beat L. Ada:ms and R. Crayden 21-18, 6-21, 21-16; K. CRAIGIE and A. RHODES beat R. McCree and L. Sawyer 21-14, 21-16. <
Final: R. J. STEVENS and I. W. JONES beat K. Craigie and A. Rhodes 21-10, 21-19.
Women's Doublles: Sem,i-finals: Miss J. WINN and Miss Y. SEAMA,N beat Miss J. Rook and Miss P. Gall 21-19, 21-14; Miss B. MILBANK and Mrs. E. CARRINGTON beat Miss B. Isaa'cs and Miss M. Fry 19-21, 21-14, 21-11.
Final: Miss WINN and Miss SEAMAN heat Miss Milbank and Mrs. Carrington 24-22, 23-21.
Mixed Doubles: Sem·i-finals: J. HEAD and Miss Y. SEAMAN beat A. Rhodes and Miss J. Win'll 21-=---14, 21-16; L. ADA.MS and Mr.s. E. CARRINGTO'N beat J. Lowe and Miss B. Isaacs 13-21, 21-12, 21-18.
Final: HEAD and Miss SEAMAN beat Adams and Mrs. Carrington 21-19, 21-12.
Boys' Singles: Final: L. LA,NDRY beat T. Densham 21-10, 16-21, 21-16.
Girls' Singles: Final: Miss J. FIELDER beat Miss S. Pickard 21-11, 21-15.
HULL AND EAST RIDING "OPEN"
Florence~ Wright, of Barnsley, Yorkshire's first girl junior international stole most of the" honours in the HULL and EAST RIDING "OPEN" at Madeley-street Baths, Hull, on November 6, winning the women's singles, and the mixed douhles with L. Blyth (Leeds). She also reached the final of the Junior Mixed Singles, where she was beaten by the local Hull youth Arthur Teal.
Arnold Shepherd (Manchester), the Cheshire ventriloquist who won the season's first "open" at Nottingham, also completed a double by winning the men's singles and doubles with Blyth.
The absence of Yorkshile's three internationals, Kathie Best, Brian Kennedy and Ray Hinchliff was a big disappointment to the organisers, but local players did well with Kathleen King, Peter Smith and Dennis Pinchbeck reaching doubles semi-finals.
RESULTS:
Men's Singles: P. SKERRATT (Scunthorpe) heat R. Dove (Sheffield) 21-14, 21-15; A. L. SHEPHERD (Manchester) beat J. W. Crookes (Sheffield) 21-7, 21-17.
Final: SHE·PHERD beat Skerratt 21-17, 21-9. Women's Singles: Miss F. WRIGHT (Barnsley) beat Miss
M. 1. Lightfoot (Leeds) 21-13, 21-16; Mrs. B. CASSELL (King's Lynn) beat "'M'fs. D. Wilkinson (Manchester) 21-15, 18-21, 21-16.
Final: Miss WRIGHT beat Mrs. Cassell 21-18, 21-15. Junior Singles: A. TEAL (Hull) beat S. R. Sladdin (Halifax)
21-13, 21-7; Miss F. WRIGHT (Barnsley) beat J. R. Moorhouse (Scarborough) 17-21, 21-14, 21-12.
Final: TEAL beat Miss Wright 21-9, 21-4. Men's Doubles: A. L. SHEPHERD (Manchester) and L. F.
BLYTH (Leeds) beat P. Smith (Hull) and D. Pinchbeck (Hull) 21-12, 21-8. J. BEAUMO,NT (Huddersfield) and B. PENNINGTON (Huddersfield) beat D. Hartley (Leeds) and S. Dyson (Huddersfield) 21-16, 21-16.
Final: SHEPHERD and BLYTH beat Beaumont and Pennington 21-17, 21-8.
Women's Doubles: Mrs. J. BRADDOCK (Manchester) and Mrs. D. WILKINSON (Manchester) beat Miss M. Rhodes (Leeds) and Miss P. Ingleson (Leeds) 21-13, 15-2L 21-16; Mrs. B. CASSELL (King's Lynn) and Miss J. K. WALKER (Leeds) beat Miss J. E. C·rossley (Huddersfield) and Miss M. Taylor (Huddersfield) 21-16, 21-14.
Final: Mrs. BRADD'OCK and Mrs. WILKINSON beat Mrs. Cassell and Miss Walker 21-16, 21-11.
Mixed Doubles: R. DOVE (Sheffield) and Miss M. I. LIGHTFOOT (Leeds) beat K. Park (Leeds) and Miss J. K. Walker (Leeds) 21-12, 21-16; L. F. BLYTH (Leeds) and Miss F. WRIGHT' (Barnsley) beat D. Hartley (Leeds) and Mrs. K. King (Hull) 21-16, 21-18.
Final: BLYTH and Miss WRIGHT beat Dove and Miss Lightfoot 21-23, 21-13, 21-19.
Twenty"'one
SO'UTH LONDON "OPEN" F,or sheer dogged determination and the ability to
fight back from a seemingly hopeless position, Miss Jean Winn (Surrey) takes this month's tournament honours for her victory in the final of the South London "Open" at Manor Place Baths on November 13.
Against Miss B,etty Isaacs she was 13-17 down in the final game when with beautifully controlled play against her opponents' rock-like defence that had been causing so much trouble, took eight points in a row to win at 22-20, 19-21, 21-17. Miss Isaacs had also been within a point of winning the first game.
Miss Winn had a close shave in the semi-final before overcoming Yvonne Baker (Essex) 18-21, 21-16, 24-22.
Harry Venner paved the way to winning the m'en's singles, with a s'emi-final win over the previous holder Jackie Head. In earlier rounds he had accounted for Tony Miller and Micky Thornhill. In the final Venner out hit the tempestuous lvor Jones (Essex) to win 21-19. 21-13. It was a short brief ,encounter, but after Jones had -led up to 19 in the first game Venner took over complete command.
Miss Winn and Miss Joy Seaman retained the women's doubles, but Ivor Jones and Alan Sherwood lost their filen's doubles in the final to Bobby Stevens and Ray Raybould, 22-20, 21-15. Jimmy Lowe and B,etty Isaacs to the mixed.
RESULTS Men's Singles: Semi-finals: H. VENNER beat J. Head
21-19, 21-13; 1. JONES beat D. Burridge 21-12, 17-21, 21-14.
Final: VE,NNER beat Jones 21-19, 21-13. Women's Singles: Semi-finals: Miss J. WINN beat Miss
Y. Baker 18-21, 21-16, 24-22; Miss B. ISAACS beat Miss B. Milbank 21-19, 21-15.
..................... 111 ••••11.11 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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