Month of Midweek

Over the last four weeks the WHA has realised a long term goal. Since the dawn of the game, it has been the ambition of everybody involved in the upper echelons of the Authority to have some form of regular handminton played. Initially conceived as a bi-weekly event, WHA Midweek Minton has been played every wednesday, four weeks running. While the sport still revolves around the marquee, Supercard events, the opportunity to hone one's techniques on a weekly basis will ensure that the quality of handminton witnessed at major events will be of the highest quality. Midweek Minton also gives new players the opportunity to get involved and earn valuable ranking points in a competitive environment without the glitz and glamour of the Supercard. Since the reemergence of Midweek Minton on the 9th of March the East Sydney Elite has been bolstered by three new emerging talents as well as the reinvigoration of a large number of players who all look as if they will be challenging for the title in the very near future.

Max finally gets a win

Reg Bartley Oval Grandstand, known by the handminton ether as "Reg @ the Edge", named for the former Lord Mayor of Sydney has been the epicentre of Handminton for the last month, being the venue for each of the Midweek events. The new home of Duncan Shadie's Edgecliff Handminton Club, the venue provides a large concrete court, beautifully floodlit with a crowd capacity of over 300. Over the four weeks a variety of improvised tables have been used. Maintaining the DIY ethos of Handminton, each week various building materials have been used to separate the gladiators on each side of the court. Ranging from witches hats to fluro orange bollards and information placards the varying tables has meant that players have had to adapt their styles on a weekly basis, further driving home the training ground that is Midweek Minton.

the importance of stretching

Midweek has given everybody an opportunity to prove themselves, however it has been a select few who have grabbed this opportunity with both hands and throttled the life out of the opportunity. To kick off the new weekly program, the WHA offered up a new trophy, The Midweek Triple Crown. The player who performed the best over the first three weeks of Midweek would walk away not only with a drawn on computer monitor, but the collective respect of the East Sydney Elite. With a record of 3,1 Alex Shadie proved himself worthy of the honour and was last week presented with the prize. Having been intermittently present in the early days of the game back in the UK it was no real surprise that Alex showed the determination to win the first trophy of 2011. Somebody few would have believed had the ability or desire to make something of himself on the circuit has been Jaymee Hejduk. proving his doubters wrong Jaymee has impressed many throughout the last weeks with a real development of his own unique style of play. An impressive array of aerial inspired serves has led to good results for the young Western Wasp, proving to those less refined players that the special serve well and truly has a part to play in the modern game. Week four of Midweek proved to be smattered with Latin flair as the enigmatic "Chile" graced the court of Reg@The Edge. The skilled juggler proved his hand-eye coordination with some of the most entertaining handminton ever seen. with no overstatement the now infamous exchange between Chile and Alex Annand was the greatest ever rally seen in the World Handminton Authority. With a certain aloofness in his game, the naturally talented South American will surely reach the summit of the game with only a teaspoon of discipline. Almost knocking of John Leary, WHA Easts Champion in a scintillating Midweek Main event last Wednesday, i do not think it will be long before these two meet on a grander stage playing for that barmat sash.


MIDWEEK MINTON results
March 9


Max Cope v Alex Shadie 10-15, 23-21, 11-15 (Alex)


Cain Price v Jaymee Hejduk 16-14, 11-15, 17-19 (Cain)


Tora Kemp v Matt Blanch 11-15, 13-15, x-x (Matt)


Duncan Shadie v Matt Blanch 15-9, 13-15, 15-12 (Duncan)


Jaymee Hejduk v Max Cope 15-11, 12-15, 12-15 (Max)


Alex Shadie v Cain Price 15-10, 14-16, 15-8 (Alex)


March 16


Duncan Shadie v Jaymee Hejduk 12-15, 15-10, 15-13 (Duncan)


Max Cope v Cain Price 11-15, 17-15, 10-15 (Cain)


Jaymee Hejduk v Alex Shadie 15-12, 10-15, 15-13 (Alex)


March 23

Alex Shadie

Ben Spurrier v Duncan Shadie 9-15, 15-9, 18-16 (Ben)


Jaymee Hejduk v Cain Price 11-15, 15-16, 15-7 (Jaymee)


Eric Swenson v Tora Kemp 17-15, 15-8, x-x (Eric)


Jaymme Hejduk v Alex Shadie 11-15, 15-13, 13-15 (Alex)


Eric Swenson v Cain Price 15-12, 15-13, x-x (Eric)
         With the best results over the first three weeks, Alex Shadie is awarded the Midweek Triple Crown.


March 30


Duncan Shadie v Ben Spurrier 15-10, 15-10, x-x (Duncan)


Max Cope v Eric Swenson 12-15, 10-15, x-x (Eric)


Alex Annand v "Chile" 10-15, 15-17, x-x ("Chile")


Alex Shadie v John Leary (champion-non title match) 11-15, 15-12, 11-15 (John)

Cain v Eric

Cain Price v Jaymee Hejduk 15-13, 15-13, x-x (Cain)


Tora Kemp v Duncan Shadie 10-15, 11-15, x-x (Duncan)


Ben Spurrier v Alex Annand 15-10, 9-15, 15-9 (Ben)


Alex Shadie v Jaymee Hejduk 14-16, 15-8, 18-16 (Alex)


Cain Price v Eric Swenson 15-13, 10-15, 15-13 (Cain)


John Leary (champion, non title match) v "Chile" 6-15, 15-10, 15-11 (John)

"Chile" v John Leary- a possible future championship match?

Midweek Minton is an open event so if you think you can mix it with East Sydney's handminton elite, join us at Reg@ The Edge this wednesday or any wednesday from 1930 and, play handminton.