With another season now well under way, League matches being played, a Restricted Championship behind us, and the county match programme started.
The major changes being … with 'new' faces on the selection committee and as Team Managers; we welcome Justin Andrews (selector and 3rd Team Manager) and Mark Titchener (selector and Under 21 Team Manager). They replace two superb stalwarts of County badminton in Wiltshire, firstly MORVA WHITE, who was a 1st team player of unchallengable status for many years and a selector whose knowledge of the game was second to none, Morva's experience will be sadly missed; but she graciously stood down to make way for a new younger face with an eye to the future. Secondly, SANDIE HINDER, who represented the county at 2nd team level before going on to be 2nd Team Manager for several years, offering her knowledge to younger players coming through looking for a 1st team place! During this time Sandie was also a selector who always fought for the best for Wiltshire; unfortunately Sandie has not been well for the past year and underwent a major operation from which she needs to get her strength and health back, we wish her well and a speedy recovery to full health and look forward to seeing her back on court!

Morva and Sandie's knowledge and experience will be sadly missed, but it is good to see that we have some young blood keen to offer something back to the County … welcome Justin and Mark!

AN OVERSIGHT on my part, following the 'letters' in the September Newsletter; I omitted to correct an error referring to GEOFF HINDER, who STOOD DOWN as 3rd Team Manager after a decade in office, Geoff did NOT resign from this position but did not let his name go forward for re-election due to pressures on his home life, mainly with Sandie's illness and other personal reasons. BUT Geoff is still very much involved with the county teams as a selector, again with a lot of knowledge to offer after many seasons as a 1st team player who worked his way up from the 3rd team as one of the promising 'youngsters' of that era (many years ago!!). To be a Team Manager for over 10 years is no mean task, the late night and last minute phone calls, organising transport (especially for younger players without cars) … all part of the joys of the job … Geoff, a rather belated acknowledgement and thank you for your time and dedication, much appreciated!

& Secondly … The Wiltshire Premier League gets underway with a 'revised' format of a League with home and away fixtures, unfortunately only THREE clubs have entered bur from small acorns big trees grow! Good luck to Hardenhuish, Salisbury and Stonehenge.

To ALL club secretaries … I hope that you have coped with the 'new' paperwork? A lot of changes this year, plus the information for Wiltshire publicity and development purposes … next year will be a lot easier with 'bar-coded' BAofE membership forms!! HAVE YOU RESPONDED?? IF NOT, WHY NOT?? Answers on a postcard please. Don't forget it's up to you, on behalf of your members, to get the forms and fees in to the BAof E at Milton Keynes … don't be responsible for YOUR members being un-insured!!

Wishing everyone a very happy season chasing feathers (or plastic!), it's a wonderful game we play and work for.

Tony Winslow
Chairman

PS: EARLY NOTICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES at MANCHESTER next year between the dates of 26 July to 4 August … book you tickets and support ENGLAND !!

These championships were held at the Christie Miller Sports Centre on Sunday September 30th. The number of entries was slightly down on last year which was disappointing, but it should be born in mind that quite a number of counties, including some with much larger populations than Wiltshire, are no longer able to run restricted championships. It is therefore pleasing that we have had a restricted championship every year since 1965. All the events were run on a knock out basis with a plate event for first match losers except the two ladies doubles events which were played in groups as there were only four pairs in the championship event and three pairs in the over 40's. The over 50's events were cancelled as there was only one entry (in the mens doubles) in the three events.

In the absence of Paul Hinder, recovering from a long term injury and playing only in the mens doubles, and Anthony Bush, who is recovering from a knee operation, the way was open for Kenton Jones to record his first victory in the mens singles. He lost no more than 7 points in any one set and defeated Simon Carter in the final.

The ladies singles saw Karen Doel record her 9th title in all and 7th consecutive win, beating Veronique Manook in the final. Paul Hinder and Sean Locke easily won the mens doubles dropping only 21 points in three matches. Tim Lampert and Simon Woodhouse reached the final beating Kenton Jones and Sam Warren in the semi-finals. The ladies doubles was played in a group with four pairs. The winners were Karen Doel and Heather McCune who beat the holders Julie Russell and Veronique Manook in three games in the final match of the group. This is Heather's first senior restricted title to go with the numerous ones she won at junior level. In the mixed doubles, the holders Kenton Jones and Julie Russell retained their title defeating Steve Chittenden and Karen Doel in the final.
In the over 40's events, the mens doubles was won by Paul Dicker and Sid Saeed who beat Ian Tandy and Kevin Osman in the final. The ladies doubles was won by Di Wilmott and Lynne Norris for the third consecutive year in a group of three pairs. Malcolm Angell won the mixed doubles for the seventh year in succession and the eighth time in all, with Lynne Norris. This partnership has won the title six times in the past 7 years.

RESULTS:
MENS SINGLES
Semi-finals: Kenton Jones bt Daniel Webb 15-4, 15-7; Simon Carter bt Simon Woodhouse 15-10, 8-15, 15-13
Final: Jones bt Carter 15-7, 15-4
Plate Winner: Richard Cooper
LADIES SINGLES
Semi-finals: Karen Doel bt Katie Allaway 11-3, 11-5; Veronique Manook bt Heather McCune 11-2,13-10
Final: Doel bt Manook 11-4,11-3
Plate Winner: Alice Walters
MENS DOUBLES
Semi-finals: Paul Hinder & Sean Locke bt Steve Chittenden & Justin Andrews 15-6, 15-4; Tim Lampert & Simon Woodhouse bt Kenton Jones & Sam Warren 15-10, 15-5
Final: Hinder & Locke bt Lampert & Woodhouse 15-1, 15-4
Plate Winners: Simon Carter & Andrew Wakely
LADIES DOUBLES
Winners: Karen Doel & Heather McCune
Runners-up: Julie Russell & Veronique Manook
MIXED DOUBLES
Semi-finals: Kenton Jones & Julie Russell bt Justin Andrews & Karen Chittenden 15-8, 15-10; Steve Chittenden & Karen Doel bt Sam Warren & Heather McCune 15-5,15-4
Final: Jones & Russell bt Chittenden & Doel 17-16, 15-11
Plate Winners: Andrew Wakely & Jo Francis
OVER 40's MENS DOUBLES
Semi-finals: Ian Tandy & Kevin Osman bt Malcolm Angell & Nigel Maryan 15-11, 15-13; Paul Dicker & Sid Saeed bt John Earney & Glyn Trowbridge 15-6, 15-5
Final: Dicker & Saeed bt Tandy & Osman 15-7, 15-4
Plate Winers: Martin Garrett & Clive Wells
OVER 40's LADIES DOUBLES
Winners: Di Wilmott & Lynne Norris
Runners-up: Evelyn Parkes & Chris Hayward
OVER 40's MIXED DOUBLES
Semi-finals: Malcolm Angell & Lynne Norris bt Ian Tandy & Tess Osman 15-12, 13-15, 15-8;
Nigel Holborrow & Joan Davies bt John Earney & Di Wilmott 15-5, 9-15, 15-11
Final: Angell & Norris bt Holborrow & Davies 15-4, 15-10
Plate Winners: Andy Hill & Chris Hayward

COUNTY TEAM NOMINATIONS

The selectors have made the following nominations for the county teams for this season:
FIRST TEAM
Gary Bates, Anthony Bush, Paul Hinder, Kenton Jones, Sean Locke, Karen Doel, Veronique Manook, Heather McCune and Julie Russell.
SECOND TEAM
Justin Andrews, Simon Carter, Tim Lampert, Sam Warren, Simon Woodhouse, Karen Dean, Carolyne Locke, Nicky Robertson and Kathy White.

I reply to you as I cannot write to myself, I thought long and hard on a reply to my thoughts on Wiltshire and this is the outcome, again as with you these are my own thoughts not the Wiltshire Committee's. I have taken a different view that I believe makes up the bigger picture as to my concerns that are borne out of frustration.
A reply is better than no reply at all.
Food for thought and without prejudice.
The Wiltshire Association is made up of three District Associations (once four) and this is where my concerns lie, the County Association is in reality only a meeting place for those Associations.
It is the responsibility of each Association to form an alliance with each other to form a stronger County Association. The County cannot be held responsible for the District Associations' shortcomings. It is the District Associations' responsibility to get their own house in order, because once this is done no criticism or onus can come back. This must happen uniformity by all Associations, unfortunately I can only comment on Mid-Wilts as I have had no particular insight with Salisbury and Swindon but I would be surprised if it varied greatly.

Associations need to programme their Committee Meetings, say two weeks in advance of the County Meetings, so that they can fully discuss the County agenda so that together they can form a strong opinion on a matter from the agenda. Once this is agreed, it may be felt necessary to get the opinion of the other Associations for their backing once two Associations can agree it would be difficult not to get their requests met. Each Association has three elected members who, in theory, have been delegated together to vote for their Association members. Each Association has three elected members. Is this fair due to membership proportion? Two Associations can in theory dominate the other Association. Should officers have a vote? Only the Chairman if tied?

The way forward is for each Association to promote badminton on a percentage basis, leaning slightly towards the grass roots and junior levels. If your junior membership is 25% the 28% of your time should be devoted to that as 25% of juniors that are happy will generate 25% more. The same should apply to all other areas, seniors, veterans, ladies and mens coaching etc, etc. It is up to the Associations to make the County events happen. The Wilson Lee and Fiddes Cup competitions are open to all clubs as is the Pewsey Mixed. Again Associations should be encouraging clubs to enter.

The Inter-District Tournaments are open to all eligible members and it astounds me that teams cannot be found irrespective of strength or ability.
This is where I hold my hand up reference the statement I made at the A.G.M. The Committee will again need to look at these three events (Fiddes, Wilson Lee and County League) to determine their survival.
I WAS WRONG.
I should have stated the DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS would again need to look at these three events to determine their survival.
Do you think the majority of members are interested in what the County Association does? Do you think the majority of members are interested in what their Associations do? These are the members we have to educate because these are the members that are the future of the sport and by them thinking that if it does not effect them directly them I'm not interested, will find directly it does!

I don't have any answers to any questions I pose.
I know all officers of the Associations and clubs give their time freely and are as passionate about the sport as you and I. No criticism can be pointed at them.
Let's ask some questions. Do Mid-Wilts have enough coaches? Do they encourage junior clubs? Do they actively consult with other Associations? Do they encourage Veterans? Is the committee membership proportional to the league make up? Do they adhere to the constitution? Do they reply to members' requests? (joke) Do you encourage clubs to have a junior section? Do you encourage clubs to have open days? Do you encourage clubs to form partnerships with schools? Do you hold coaching sessions for juniors and seniors? Do you actively seek sponsorship?

It is all too easy to question what's not being done, but we must not loose sight of what is being done as this forms the foundation to work from. Criticism has to be constructive or it offends.

All the Mid-Wilts officers are doing sterling work and are fully committed and are aware that you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
If the answer to any of the above is no then there is still plenty of work to be done to reach our Utopia.

On a lighter note, this years All England Championships, Badminton's most prestigious event in the World Calendar attracted a total number of spectators over the 5 days of 19,851. The first division match between Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, one Saturday afternoon for 90 minutes attracted 21,766. Saturday's final day attracted 5,048; the third division match between Oxford and Rochdale attracted 7,846.
This is what we have to try to compete with!
So who's at fault? Who's to blame? The BAofE, the County Associations, the League Associations, the clubs, the individual members, Birmingham, travel agents, you or me?

On a lighter, lighter note, I like you can remember the late 70's when Warminster moved from the school gym to the Sports Centre and soon had 106 members and 5 teams. In 1982, 20 years ago when Mid-Wilts ran tournaments with trophies and the men's winner was Martin Garrett and the mixed winner John Earney and the ladies winner Maureen Parfitt.
What ever happened to them? (They are all still playing! Ed) When Mid-Wilts had 7 divisions, their tournaments were full, both the Warminster Open and the Athos Mixed Tournaments were all fully subscribed.

Still that's all history, we have to look at Mid-Wilts as it is today or more important where it will be tomorrow?
You could not make it up?
Regards
John Earney

Holders: Salisbury B.C.

1st round (by 31 December 2001)

Pegasus (H) v Hardenhuish
Wootton Bassett (H) v Raychem
Salisbury and Pinehurst have byes

Semi-finals (by 28 February 2002)

Salisbury (H) v Pegasus or Hardenhuish
Pinehurst (H) v Wootton Bassett or Raychem

Final - 14 March 2002
8.00 pm at CHRISTIE MILLER

DATE CHANGE

NOW
21 MARCH 2002 AT 8.00 pm
CHRISTIE MILLER

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO UMPIRE County Matches locally and finals of Tournaments. With experience you may progress to umpiring National Tournaments.

If interested contact Jane Hancock, the National Training Officer on 01344 882330 (a former Swindon player!) or chat to Howard Patterson, a current umpire from Swindon.

"In May 2002 a new Law will be proposed to ban all net posts that intrude on to the playing area of the court. Initially the Law will apply to IBF sanctioned events."

This will affect Law 1.5 (Court and Equipment) of the Laws of Badminton.