From dead last to BIZminton champions

Woolie Jumpers won the social grade of the BIZminton mercantile badminton competition after two years of finishing “dead last”. They are (from left): Matt Ross (inset), Anarnya Raeina, David Battin, Marise de Kock , Ron Clancy and Owen Vickers. Picture supplied

If at first you don’t succeed . . . well, you know the rest.

Woolie Jumpers epitomise the old saying about trying again and never giving up.

They won the social grade of the BIZminton 2023 mercantile badminton competition after humble beginnings.

“This is our third year in the competition,” team member Owen Vickers said. “The first two years we finished dead last.”

So what brought about the turnaround . . . new players?

“We had pretty much the same team right through. But we started having a weekly run-around on the court by ourselves.”

So it might have been practice that turned the last-place finishers into social-grade winners. All members of the team work for, or are closely associated with, sponsor Integrated Foods Ltd, a farming and forestry subsidiary of Mangatu Blocks.

Many of the teams had issues with illness or injury, but Woolie Jumpers consistently fielded a team connected to their workplace. They beat social grade runners-up Asure Quality, four matches to two, on the final night of competition.

Woolie Jumpers team members were: Matt Ross, Anarnya Raeina, David Battin, Marise de Kock, Ron Clancy and Owen Vickers.

Unknowns won the competitive grade, Mixed Combo were second, and Cuzzys third.

All three of these teams won four matches and lost one, so placings had to be decided on countback of games won, and then the difference between points for and against.

Unknowns won 25 games and lost five, while Mixed Combo and Cuzzys both won 20 games and lost 10. Mixed Combo had a points difference of 215, while Cuzzys had one of 188.

Team members of competitive grade winners Unknowns were Scott Crago, Steve Kent, Jim Adcock, Annabelle Riwaka and Callum Kent.

RESULTS FROM FINAL NIGHT — Social grade: Woolie Jumpers 4 Asure Quality 2; Slammers 4 Stanley Family 2; HBUDZ 5 Happy Go Lucky 1; Turanga Health 5 4TEEN, 1.

Competitive grade: Mixed Combo 5 RSL51s 1; Cuzzys 5 3+1, 1; Unknowns 6 WSP 0.