Veterans Badminton
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VETERANS RAP October 2001Graham Holt, Chairman Veterans Policy Group Sorry about the title but one has to keep up to date with the change in the English language. It basically means that I am going to briefly update those avid veterans players (if that is possible) with the latest news on the veterans’ front. Firstly it is proposed to move the All England Veterans Championship from Wimbledon to the National Badminton Centre in 2003, and to introduce singles into the championship. So now those lunatics who still consider themselves singles players us will have no excuse for note entering. It also means that we should get more Danish entrants as the proposed date is in the third week in March which does not clash with the Danish Veterans Championship. Unfortunately there were not sufficient entries in the 065 age group for the Yehlex ICC to make the competition viable. Maybe it will run next year but there is a 065 age group in the National Championship in December 2001. There have been all sorts of rumour and counter rumour about the Veterans ranking list. A ranking list is being produced by the VPG independently of any BA of E scheme. It is to be used like any other ranking list as a guide to selecting teams / seeding tournaments but it is not the sole criteria. In fact the National Championship, The All England Championship and current form is likely to be more of a guide. Selection is the responsibility of a sub committee of the VPG, which comprises two persons who are a player and a non-player. If you want further information on the ranking list etc then look on www.emptage-architects.co.uk/badminton/ranking_system.htm. This is not an advertisement for a certain well-known veterans player’s firm but a web site dedicated to veterans’ badminton. The BA of E are to give the VPG a web page in the near future but until then its free advertising time! There is a move to rename Veterans as ‘Seniors’. However the All England Seniors Championship does not have the same ring to it! Substitute 'Masters' for ‘Seniors’ - I don’t think so. Also the 5 by 7 debate continues. The West of England tournament is using this format this year. I think that I might enter the singles. Don’t be foolish…. It’s a doubles tournament! The Nationals and All England are staying with the old system. We don’t want to lose our best players! There is a rumour that it may never be approved any way. It could come as a bit of a shock to those of us who can only just manage to cope with the existing system especially if they start changing the number of serves as well. (Don’t panic just another rumour) There is some work currently in progress in order to organise a World Veterans Championship which is sanctioned the IBF. The event will take place in 2003. As yet there is no definite venue but Bulgaria is interested. Anyone interested in being the non-playing / no expenses paid manager should contact me. Interviews will be held if there are any applicants! I know that I am being flippant but the position is vacant both for this and next year’s European Championship. Kent Veterans Championships Finally the Kent veterans’ tournament was held in September and again it was a very successful event. I have to say that the organisation is second to none. (It even sounded like the ‘real’ All England’ as John Gowers was M.C.) The tournament is one of the best in the calendar and the committee with their efforts make sure of this. Next year it will be later in the calendar (November probably) the spectators were treated to some excellent games. So next year we want an even greater invasion from ‘us northern folk’. 2002 European Veterans Championships - Germany On the 16th October 2001 the German Badminton Federation withdrew from holding the European Veterans Championships in May 2002. The EBU have made an urgent request to other organisations to offer hold this event. If no offers are forthcoming by the 1st December 2001 the event will have to be cancelled.
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