APTA Annual Meeting Minutes

1976 Annual Meeting Minutes

San Diego to Host Paddle World Series – $25,000 purse. First of a kind for the West Coast

The Baird “Boys” – compared to the other top player they were, and they were contenders

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Tribuno Men’s & Women’s Tour schedule announced – $75,000 in prize money

Men’s Nationals now by invite only

The draw was limited to 64 teams and all teams had to be invited to play by the APTA. Qualification was based upon team performance in at least three APTA ranking and/or sanctioned tournaments during the 1976/77 season. The guidelines were as follows: A team will qualify to enter the National Championships if it achieves the following: (a) Reaches the round of 32 twice or round of 16 once in a ranking tournament in which more than 60 teams compete. (b) Reaches the round of 16 twice or quarterfinals once in a ranking tournament in which less than 60 teams compete. (c) Reaches the quarterfinal round in a sanctioned tournament in which more than 60 teams compete. (d) Reaches the semi-finals of a sanctioned tournament in which less than 60 teams compete. (e) Is a finalist in the National 18 and under championships or in the National 21 and under championships. (f) Is[...]

New York University builds six courts

The courts overlooked New York University and Washington Square and was probably the best university platform tennis facility in the world, and certainly its most dynamic setting. Reilly erected the courts in two weeks in May and they sat 115 feet above ground, atop the Bobst Library. The total cost of the courts was $118,000. The facility was open to students and faculty—173 students signed up for the first season—but not to the public. Mike Muzio, Chairman of Recreation and Intramural activities had plans for a series of clinics to teach the players and stimulate further interest. A keen supporter of the project was Professor Charles Bucher, Professor of Education. He had been an avid paddler for 25 years and had won the Senior Veterans Championship in 1976. Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No. 3 (February)

International activities (IPTA)

Art Houlihan reported in the February edition of the APTA newsletter Paddle Talk: The pied pipers of paddle have wandered to at least twelve countries outside of the U.S. Canada is, of course, the mainspring of non-U.S. activities with hundreds of players and a full spectrum of tournaments and activities centered around Toronto. Hopefully this year we will be able to provide a better opportunity for Canadian players to participate in U.S. events including our championships. Ambassador Walter Stoessel brought paddle to Poland and Russia with courts at both embassies. The ever-present Reilly's sent courts to France, which are now in Switzerland. Without being able to give proper credit, there are also courts in Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Germany, Great Britain, Indonesia and Italy. The courts in Japan atop the American Club deserve some special recognition for ingenuity. The club[...]

National Championships

In the Men’s, Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine won the first of their two titles over Gordon Gray and Doug Russell. Hilary Hilton was back in the Women’s winners circle with a new partner Louise Gengler (her previous partner had returned to California), and with Doug Russell in the Mixed (the first of five titles). In the Seniors, Baird and Lankenau won both the 45+ and 50+, and Dick Hebard won his final title in the 60+ with George Lowman. The lucky one's have seats at the 1977 Nationals at FMTC. Rear: Martin Bowen, Vail Traina, Lois Hebard, Bette Otto, Mike North, Hank Otto. Middle: Molly Ware, Al Traina, Judy and Ron Durning (following man in cap), Bob Rau. Front: John Ware

Inaugural Hudson River Invitational

The First Annual Hudson River Invitational, held in March, was an example of a new concept in club paddle competition, one that served as a model for other clubs interested in promoting tournament play. The Sleepy Hollow Country Club hosted eight men's teams from each of eight neighboring clubs. Utilizing over 20 courts in the Hudson River Valley, the 64-team draw played main draw, consolation, consolation reprieve and championship reprieve matches. This enabled each team to play a minimum of three matches. Each team got a single point for each match won in any of the four tournaments. The dinner dance that followed the tournament featured the Dixie-land music of APTA Board member Bob Kingsbury and his band. The day's events were an enormous success and, according to Chairman Richard Lombard, helped a great deal to promote tournament play in the Hudson River Valley. Source: [...]

Tribuno Tribuno World Paddle Championships – It’s Irvine and Fitz Gibbon again in the Men’s; Hilton and Gengler again in the Women’s

Forest Hills held the event on April 1-2 in heavy rain. Maintenance men brushed puddles off the decks between games. The Women’s Final was a soaking wet scene on Saturday, April 2nd. The winning team was Hilary Hilton and Louise Gengler (6-2, 7-6, 7-6), title-holders for every Tribuno event of the year. The women contestants had made headlines by playing three out of five sets in the semis and finals: "Equal prize money, equal play," stated the women. The heavy rain necessitated postponement of the Men's Final until Sunday. Herb Fitz Gibbon and Hank Irvine ran through Doug Russell and Gordon Gray, after a tight first set, with the loss of only four more games, ending their season with four straight Tribuno victories. Media Guide and Program Booklet Source: Paddle Talk, Vol. 2 No 5 (July-August) During one of the Tribuno Tour events, Hank Irvine hits a service volley while[...]