Badminton Eastland president Alica Richardson-Marr acknowledged the contribution of local stalwarts Wally Gray and Yvonne Allen, who died during the year. Their combined association with badminton spanned over a century.
Team managers presented representative players’ ribbons and badges.
The 2015 super veterans team members were: Ron Prebble, Robert Cameron, Sheree Gray, Linda White, Helen Morley, Kahu Brown, Annabel Riwaka, Tom Andersen (Rotorua-Bay of Plenty), Graham Hardisty (Turangi-Bay of Plenty), Matheus Batlajeri (Manawatu) and Paul Stobbs (Waikato).
Coach: Dave Morley.
The team beat Auckland (3) 5-4 and Oroua 9-0, and lost to Hawke’s Bay 6-3, The Workshop Manawatu 6-3, North Harbour 5-4 and Northland 7-2.
They finished sixth out of seven teams in Division 2 of the North Island super veterans’ competition.
The 2015 veterans’ team members were: Ron Prebble, Alan Ledger, Kevin Taylor, Sonia Jones, Sheree Gray, Linda White, Ra Leach, Annabel Riwaka, Matheus Batlajeri (Manawatu) and Wayne Feck (Hawke’s Bay).
They beat Northland (2) 5-4, North Harbour (3) 7-2 and Waitakere (5) 5-4, and lost to Waitakere (4) 7-2, Hawke’s Bay (2) 6-3, Horowhenua-Kapiti 7-2, Hutt Valley (1) 5-4 and Thames Valley 9-0.
They finished sixth out of nine in Division 3 of the North Island veterans’ competition.
The 2015 masters’ team members were: David Colbert, Justin Kent, Ross Hannam, Mark Beard, Alica Richardson-Marr, Debbie Brown, Gabrielle Perano, Makuini Winiata, Gill Blair and Gary Teague (Manawatu).
They beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 10-2, Hutt Valley (2) 9-3, Waitakere (6) 10-2, Waitakere (5) 8-4, Wellington (3) 12-0, Waikato (3) 10-2, Hawke’s Bay (2) 9-3 and Thames Valley (1) 11-1.
As winners of Division 4 of the North Island masters’ competition, the team were presented with Badminton New Zealand medals and promoted to Division 3 for 2016.
Individual achievements:
Hamish Ledger attained his BWF (Badminton World Federation) Level 1 coaching award.
Linda White refereed at national tournaments (the Under-13 XTRM-National Championship in Rotorua and Under-15 XTRM-National Championship in Auckland).
Badminton Eastland trophies
Volunteer of the year: Cynthia Sidney, for supporting children from Tolaga Bay Area School (coaching, organising transport for them to play in club badminton); running school tournaments and the junior tournament; co-ordinating the junior club; organising and supporting Uawa children to compete in the AIMS Games in Tauranga.
John Chamberlain Memorial Trophy for administrator of the year: Hayley Warman, in appreciation of her role as Badminton Eastland secretary.
Court official of the year (award donated by the White family): Kahu Brown, for supporting player development through her contribution as an umpire. This included all-day umpiring at primary school and Year 7 and 8 tournaments, and the junior tournament.
Coach of the year: Scott Crago, for his continuing work introducing badminton to young players.
Club of the year: Kiwi Badminton Club (award presented to Stella Perano on behalf of Kiwi Badminton Club). In 2014, playing numbers fell to an average of six a night. In 2015, this turned around to double-figure attendances most nights and a high of 24.
Junior outstanding performance of the year: The Tolaga Bay Area School team who took part in the AIMS Games in Tauranga.
Senior outstanding performance of the year: Justin Kent. Recovered from a summer motorcycling injury to his collarbone to play 15 men’s doubles and eight mixed doubles matches in the interprovincial Division 4 masters’ competition. He and his playing partners won all 23. He was ranked No.1 in the BNZ Masters’ Division 4 player statistics.
Team of the year (award donated by Ruth and Bruce Ledger): Badminton Eastland masters. Won all eight of their ties in Division 4 of the North Island masters’ competition, and were promoted to Division 3 for 2016. Of the 109 BNZ Masters’ Division 4 rankings, five Eastland players were in the top 10 — Justin Kent (1), David Colbert (2), Gabrielle Perano (3), Gary Teague (4) and Debbie Brown (6).
Patutahi Badminton trophies
Men’s singles: Hamish Ledger. Runner-up: William Garrett.
Men's doubles: Alan Ledger and Michael Garrett. Runners-up: William Garrett and Bernd Stoltenberg.
Women’s doubles “with a difference”: Sheree Gray and Annabel Riwaka.
A Grade mixed doubles: Hamish Ledger and Helen Morley. Runners-up: Alan Ledger and Ra Leach.
B Grade mixed doubles: Michael Garrett and Sheree Gray. Runners-up: Ron Prebble and Ruth Ledger.
Most improved, men: William Garrett.
