2005 END OF SEASON REPORT Wow – what an exciting year it has been.
- We are now Incorporated.
- We welcomed an influx of new players to our association. The most new faces I have seen for many many years.
- A new President
- The prospect of a new team from Forth next year.
- The prospect of more players from Wilmot next year.
Welcome Tonight also we welcome our former Association President Anne Urquhart & her husband Graham to our Annual dinner. Anne has been a staunch Badminton Player and supporter of our Association for many years and we welcome her here tonight as a Guest of Honour and to pay tribute to her for her many years of Leadership, support and friendship to our Association. Firstly lets talk about our new players. Gunns Plains: Ian, Dallas, Hannah, Nelson and Jannah Bonney North Motton Vanessa Whatley Abbotsham: A welcome return fromus to Raelene Miles and her son Greg. Simon Pitchford, Christine, Pam Brooks, Helen Sushames, Theresa & Kristy Sushames Turners Beach Mary & Joe Sprent Damien Hingston, Haylee Bennett, Afton Peterson, Amber Bennett, Karen, Desi & Josie Hingston
Of these faces most were eligible for the Best First Year Player award. It was a very close call this year as to who won, but well deserved. I will not mention who it is in this newsletter but will at the presentation of trophies. Fault serving has not been as bad this year as in previous years but there are still a few jumping the serve and lifting their feet. Hall hire costs this year have increased which may mean that individual clubs may have to increase their weekly fees to cover this. It’s a bit of a concern but I think Badminton is still one of the cheapest forms of Sport to play. I can remember many years ago Clubs used to have wood raffles etc. to help offset this cost and I think it is something that individual Clubs may have to look at doing as the next step we need to look at will be Player Insurance. Finals Wrap Up North Motton proved themselves to be yet again a very competitive & strong team. Can anyone beat them? The Sprent Muppets came from no where and even surprised themselves finishing in a solid second position – for the first time in many, many years. There rise to the top was short and sweet as they too were disposed of by 14 points in a tight semi final at Gunns Plains by a determined and revitalised Abbotsham Blue. Blue were strengthened by the return of Jane to the side after several weeks out and the addition of Christine to the team (Nigel & Gary’s mum.) Well done to you all by getting this far. The Grand Final got off to a very strong start with only points separating each team as they went into the Singles. It seemed that Abbotsham could nearly pull off what many thought was a hard ask - to down the reigning Premiers. However, North Motton pulled away and finished the night 58 aces in front. A very convincing and strong win. Well Done!!!!!!!! Best Players of the Grand Final The Best Male & Female Player of the final was tight too. It was good to see that two young players received this award. All of us would have seen how well young Kieran Mulraney played through out the season and would have been suitably impressed with his footwork, his ability and his very gentle nature. Well done Kieran and congratulations on your Best Male Player of the Final award - Well Deserved. Older sibling Melissa has been playing Country Badminton for a few years. This year will be Melissa’s last year with us as she goes to the mainland to continue her studies at Monash University. Well done to you too Melissa on your achievement on the court. We hope you find time to play at Uni – so don’t forget to pack your racquet or forget where it all started for you. Incidentally both Melissa and Kieren, received 11 votes. I don’t think Trish has any more young Mulraneys’ hiding under the bed, so I think she will have to put a racquet in Bernie’s hand for next year. Shuttles We have managed this season with out too many problems with the faster shuttles. (perhaps we have all grown used to them). I have already purchased some trial tubes of the new slower shuttles (speed 50). Prior to the AGM next year I will contact each club and provide to them a tube of these slower shuttles to try. Please do not use the faster ones to compare with at this time. We do need to assimilate to these shuttles. Next year I will also provide the clubs with tiny sponges. Moisten this small square of sponge and place inside your shuttle tubes. This moisture assists in maintaining the quality of the shuttles and assists in preventing excessive breakage from occurring. New Team for Season 2006 I have been advised by a former Sprent Muppet, Stew McKenzie that it his intention to form a team from Forth next year. He already has 4 players lined up and believes that he can easily get two more. This is great news as the Forth Hall is a good place to play badminton. If the Forth Hall is not available for badminton there is also the Kindred hall. (an option Stew might have to look at because of the cost of hall hire at Forth). The Kindred Hall is a good place to play badminton. It has the lowest ceiling of all the country halls, so the games are quick. The game of badminton played in this hall is a real game of skill. We hear on the grapevine that the interest is still high at Wilmot to reform.
All said and done things are looking pretty good for our Association. Well that was the season that was. Thankyou for all coming tonight and I hope to see you all again next year as I call the troops together prior to Easter for a start approximately the week after Easter. Don’t forget our website ulverstonedistrictsbadmintoninc@webstye.com.au Please let me know what information you want me to include on your page at this website Yours in Badminton Wendy . Round 14 Update - August 4 - 2005 Well! Its finals time again. Does not seem that long ago that we actually started playing. Well done again to the Mighty team from North Motton finishing on top of the ladder yet again. Final team positions: North Motton 48 % 145 Sprent Muppets 40 % 113 Abbotsham Blue 32 % 110 Turners Beach 32 % 103 Abbotsham Red 20 % 84 Sprent Mighty Ducks 16 % 80.6 Gunns Plains 8 % 80.6 Motton plays Spent Muppets at Gunns Plains on Monday night Abbotsham and Turners Beach to play each other Monday night at Abbotsham as they share the same home hall and it will be regarded as Neutral. Gunns Plains to umpire Motton and Sprent Sprent Mighty Ducks to umpire Abbotsham and Turners Beach Cost per player per final is $3. Best of luck to everyone. A reminder to all clubs to please let me know ASAP the full names of your first year players. A lot of teams only use first names when\ filling in the score sheet. I need this information urgently. Round 12 Update - July 26 2005 Hi - well its hard to believe that we have only 2 rounds to complete and then into the finals. I cannot update the ladder past Round 11 as I am still awaiting 2 score sheets from last week. Motton are still looking unbeatable as they sit comfortably on top of the ladder 2 games clear of the Muppets. Embroided Towels will be awarded as the trophies this year (consensus) - and I will pre book the RSL for a dinner sometime in late August early September when I find out which nights there is a band playing. Could all clubs please let me know the full names of their individual first year players. Good news! - I have had discussions with a former Sprent Muppet whose intention it is to form a team for next season from the Forth area. He nearly has a team together already. That is great news for us. A reminder to clubs that the finals will be played in neutral halls. Losing teams are to umpire these games. I will be in contact with Clubs to discuss this after next Monday nights last roster match. LADDER UPDATE - Round 12 (2 results missing) & including 1 result from *Round 13 MOTTON SPRENT MUPPETS *36 TURNERS BEACH ABBOTSHAM BLUE 30 ABBOTSHAM RED SPRENT MIGHTY DUCKS 8 GUNNS PLAINS *8 Round 11 Update - July 13 2005 My apologies with the Ladder update. I have been entering the data and for some reason it does not update - I have contacted the websyte administrator and I am waiting on a reply - until then I will just post the ladder on this page. Waiting on one result from round *11. *Motton 32 Sprent Muppets 32 Turners Beach 26 Abbotsham Blue 26 Abbotsham Red 18 *Sprent Mighty Ducks 8 Gunns Plains 8 Congratulations to Gunns Plains for achieving their first win of the season. Could all teams please forward to me as soon as possible the full names of the first year players. (That is players who have just started badminton or have not played in a roster type situation. I need to know this for the BEST FIRST YEAR PLAYER AWARD. Round 9 Update - July 04 2005 Can any team stop the power of North Motton as they comfortably sit on top of the ladder. Very good team with good depth and strength all the way through. With nearly all clubs asked it seems the feed back for trophies this year is definitely embroided towels. I will start making enquiries now. Thanking Clubs who have paid up their registration money. Venue for dinner - Some clubs have already indicated the RSL - any other ideas please let me know as I will soon have to start looking at making arrangements. Round 7 Update - June 17 2005 Wow, nearly 1/2 way through already and yet again it looks like North Motton are the team to beat. Its been good getting round each club this season and seeing so many new young faces. This is great for us and badminton. Score sheets - This year has seen a 99% strike rate with all clubs getting the sheets to me within 5 days. At this stage I am short one score sheet. Please check your vehicles out and see if you it. All clubs are reminded that registration is overdue, only 2 teams have paid up. Also clubs are reminded to discuss with each other what type of trophy do they want this year. Towels, pennant flags, mugs, plates or glasses with winning names engraved. Players are again reminded about illegal serving. The feet must remain in contact with the floor until the shuttle has been hit. Also it is illegal to jump the serve. Secretary's Update - May 19th 2005
It is very early in the season, but already three teams are looking very strong.
North Motton have bounced back with new players and are really humming along. We welcome Vanessa and Jodi to our Association. Jodi travels all the way from Wynyard to play in our Association.
Unbeaten teams at this stage of the game are Turners Beach and Abbotsham Blue. We we wish Kim from the Turners Beach Ales a speedy recovery from her injury and hope to see her back soon. Meanwhile Mary who has not played for many years has rekindled her love for the game and is putting in some polished performances as Kim's replacement. Welcome back !! - perhaps Gary might like to pick up the racquet too.
Abbotsham are bleeding new blood this year which is good for the game and hopefully a trend we can keep going with over the coming seasons.
Gunns Plains have had a couple of really close games and I think that they will be a very competitive side by the end of the season.
The Sprent Mighty Ducks - (our new team) has put up some fiesty performances over the last couple of weeks. The team is a close knit family group who will enjoy many good games through the season. The men are very experienced but the girls have only come together this year to play - Haylee, Afton, & Amber played in the Junior Association that we had 10 years ago - so that is great to see them come back and play again. I expect them to be the big improver at the end of the season.
The Sprent Muppets welcome Ben back again after a season away on the mainland.
Just a reminder to all clubs to have their registration in if possible by the 31st of May.
Also too - could clubs inform their new players of our "Best First Year Player" award.
Fill - ins if you have players who only wish to fill in and may be available to other clubs - could you please give me a list - so that I can pass these names onto the other clubs who may need a player in a hurry.
Score sheets - well done to all teams - so far so good!!!!!!!!!!!!
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