Australian Star Plays in NZ Championships

The Wellington-hosted New Zealand Championships were notable on a number of counts. They were acclaimed as a particularly well-run tournament (Ivan Houghton (pictured) was Manager, Frank Stanley Secretary); the finals were attended by the Governor-General Rt Hon Keith Holyoake; the current Australian Men’s Champion (Cliff McDonald) was among the entries (overseas participation of this standard was exceedingly rare); and the men’s final was one of the most exciting and spectacular ever seen at the nationals.

New Zealander Murray Dunn faced McDonald in the final in front of a boisterous crowd. He came back bravely after losing the first two games 22-20 and 21-13 by winning the third 21-14 and the fourth 21-16. Despite tremendous home-crowd support (he had been Wellington or Hutt Valley based until 1964), he lost the fifth game 21-18.

McDonald was only the second overseas player to win the NZ men’s singles. Ken Stanley of England was the first, in 1952.

A succession of well-known New Zealand players won all the other open titles: Neti Traill (nee Davis) won the women’s singles; Murray Dunn and Garry Frew the men’s doubles; Neti Traill and Jeanette Crosby the women’s doubles and Garry Frew and Neti Traill the mixed doubles, giving Neti Traill a clean sweep.

The North Island beat the South by 19 matches to 5. Auckland were untouchable in the Men’s Inter-association teams contests, beating Canterbury 10-2, Otago 11-1, and Northland, Hutt Valley and Wellington all 12-0. Northland were also unbeaten in the women’s event, but needed a count-back in games to beat Canterbury after a match score of 6-6.

It was Wellington’s first NZ Championships since 1958 and the event was not to be held again in the capital city until 2003 although several were hosted in neighbouring Hutt Valley.

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Grades and Promotion/Relegation Introduced for National Teams

For the first time the entries in the Inter-Association Teams Championships were divided into three grades. The result was much closer and more interesting contests, and also some timetabling problems with more matches going to three games.

Promotion/relegation contests were played between the bottom team of each grade and the top team of the grade below. The teams winning these contests were provisionally placed in the higher grade but NZTTA reserved the right to review their grading when the next year’s personnel was declared.

These changes were called for by resolution at last year’s AGM.

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Three Aucklanders Play in Australian Open: Tomlinson Reaches Semis

Brian Kennerley, Geoff Jennings and Alan Tomlinson travelled to Melbourne late in the season to compete in the Australian Open Championships. Tomlinson reached the semi-finals where he lost to Cliff McDonald of New South Wales in four games. McDonald had beaten New Zealander Murray Dunn in an exciting NZ Men’s Singles final just a few weeks earlier.

Jennings also did well, losing in five games to the eventual surprise winner, 15 year old Leigh Pascoe (Victoria), who beat McDonald in four games in the final.

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Progress Reports Submitted on Nationwide Development Programmes

District Associations submitted development reports on programmes and ideas that had been implemented during the year. Among them was the promotion of afternoon clubs for women, mercantile competitions, improved dress codes and coaching and development programmes in schools. At the national level, plans were launched for more international tours, participation in World Championships and the inauguration of round-robin tournaments for NZ’s top players. There were also visits by NZTTA Executive members to district Associations to share development ideas.

A “Development in New Zealand and Overseas Tours Fund” has been building since 1963 and was utilised to support some of this year’s projects.

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NZ’s Best Square Off in Round Robin Tournaments

One of the development programmes referred to above was a series of Round Robin tournaments featuring New Zealand’s top senior players and a small number of top juniors or developing players. The series was part of a build-up to international competition planned for future years. Two tournaments were held with 14 women and 17 men originally invited to compete in both. The first was in Wellington in June, the second in North Shore in July.

The tournaments were a useful measure of each player’s response to a sustained period of concentrated match play, and top juniors were introduced to the level of pressure they will inevitably face in the future.

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Tommy Williams Calls it a Day


The colourful, energetic and sometimes controversial figure of Mr TS (Tommy) Williams stepped down in May after 18 consecutive full years of service to NZTTA. He had also served on the Committee in 1934 (NZTTA’s foundation year) and again in 1940. He has served continually since 1947. As well as his acknowledged administrative skills, his innovation and his eloquence, he was also renowned for his coaching ability. He served over a period of intense activity during which a large number of overseas players toured New Zealand.

He was elected a Life Member of NZTTA in 1962.

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Wild Weather For South Island Champs

Extra long warm-up periods, players needing massage and hot wraps to deal with attacks of cramp – just two examples of the effects of the extreme winter conditions that prevailed during the South Island Championships in Christchurch on 30/31 July. Snow, sleet and heavy rain kept away all but the most ardent supporters, and the weather was also a contributing factor in the very late finish: 1.15 am on the Sunday.

Considering the conditions, it was a well-managed tournament.

The singles winners were Bryan Foster (his 6th successive SI title), and Mrs Pat Purdon, winning again after taking the title in 1959.

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Bill Mullins Sets New Record for Service on NZTTA

Mr WA (Bill) Mullins has just eclipsed the long-term service record on the NZTTA Executive Committee, previously held by Norm Ballinger. Bill has now completed 25 years on the committee, including five as Chairman (1957-1961). He has been a Life Member since 1962.

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Huge North Island Entry Tests Facilities

Smoke from a small fire in a toilet cubicle was merely one indication of over-stretched facilities at the Hamilton-hosted North Island Championships. A record 544 entries were received across all events and, added to this, spectator support was strong with the tournament held at the centrally located YMCA stadium.

Twelve tables were used and the final match did not finish until 12.30 am.

An urgent investigation into future requirements for the tournament was called for.

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Junior Rankings Introduced

In addition to the senior rankings, it was decided to publish a list of the top ten Under 18 Boys and Girls from this year onwards.

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