World Class Exhibition Sun 2nd March

[GeorgeFrith]

Hi All,

Just a quick reminder about this charity event full details of which are on the home page. If you haven't got anything to do next Sunday 2nd March (I know its Mothers day) then why not come along to Stratford Upon Avon (bitthplace of Shakespeare) and catch some awesome badminton!

Taufik Hidayat v Lee Chong Wei (potentially the All England and Olympic MS final)

Anthony Clark & Robert Blair V Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong (last year's MD All England winners and potential Olympic MD winners)

Rexy Mainaky (former Olympic, World & All England Champ) will coach on court.

You may have the opportunity to get a short game with one of the stars and a raffle will take place for one of their rackets.

Tickets will be available on the day.:)

[Mark.C]

That sounds awesome george,cant believe u got taufik&lee chong wei down there......u do have the gift of the gab tho!!
sure it will b an amazing event&anyone who can go should do so cos those boys can seriously play......especially in an exibition,they'll pull out some shots u wont see very often thats 4 sure!!

George please send my regards 2 rexy,havent seen him in ages!!

[SackJohnVirgo]

sounds good. i think i'll come along.

i might even bring my mother.......:eek:

[GeorgeFrith]

Hi Mark C.

I will pass on your regards to Rexy. Will he know you as Mark C?

[GeorgeFrith]

REMINDER!

This awesome event is running this Sunday 2 March 1pm at Stratford Upon Avon!!!

If you aren't celebrating Mother's day (or even if you are!) come along and watch the best players in the world.

Tickets on the door.:)

[zeddie]

George, just want to congratulate you on hosting the exhibition. We had a great time with or without taufiq! Hope everything is ok with him! Well done for hosting such an awesome event...KKK and TBH were pretty amazing. Not sure if they were playing even near their best against clarke and blair, but well done to the english! Rexy and Misbun are legends.. it was amazing to meet them. Cant wait till the all england now!

I won the head racket and will be trying it out soon :D

see you next year!!

[GeorgeFrith]

Despite the fact that I had only one month to organise this event from when I came back from the Malaysian Open Super Series on 26 Jan (where I got the asian players to agree to take part) it went extremely well.

The final count on audience numbers (my security/stewards disagreed with my count!) was 268 people - you try counting that many when they don't all stay still!. This was well down on the 519 that attended Anthony Clark, Donna Kellogg, Robert Blair, Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms last June in Leicester so a little disappointing on that front. I did, however, have 3 months to promote that one plus (and this was the main reason) most of the people I coach in the Leicestershire region (around 300) came to the last one, whereas this one was run at Stratford, the first of the 32 leisure centres that I am developing badminton for Sport & Leisure Management Ltd.

The one sad fact is that Taufik Hidayat chose to let me down despite many attempts to get him to honour his agreement to play which he gave me when I asked him and agreed terms on the 16th January in Kuala Lumpur (with Rexy as a witness). For the last week he has demanded that his appearance fee be doubled. He even had the cheek the day before the event (Saturday) to meet up with some Indonesians (I presume living in Birmingham) and told them he wasn't going to play thereby prompting them to e-mail me Saturday eve to say they wouldn't come because he wouldn't be there!!!! I suppose the NSPCC and Help the Aged charities mean nothng to him.

Any way I cannott thank Anthony Clark enough - he raced back from the German Open the day before and played even though the airline had lost his racket bag with all his rackets.!!!!! Thanks to his lovely daughter Mia for drawing one of the raffle tickets and to both Mia and Rowan (Clarky's young son) for putting on a pre event on court show with dad as the coach! The audience loved it! I must say what a lovely family image the Clarks presented with Emma there as well supporting her husband.

Many thanks to Robert Blair (what a lovely guy!) for racing back with Clarky from German Open despite being a liitle under the weather with a cold.

Thanks to Misbun Sidek, the Malaysian legend who was brilliant in his on court coaching displays. Thanks to Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong for taking part and displaying some unbelievable skills.

Thanks to Ian Ross (umpire) and Paul Buffham (service judge) for giving their professional services free of charge especially when you consider that they are both umpiring at this weeks All England and at the Swiss Open the following week!.

Finally I owe a debt of gratitude to the friendliest and best loved personality in the World of badminton. This man has been a true friend and a great help to me when he was coach to England and GB for four and a half years and continues to help me to this day. I am talking about the legendary REXY MAINAKY. Thanks my brother!!!

The match result? Oh yes, Anthony Clark and Robert Blair beat Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (the reigning All England mens doubles champions!) 26-24; 11-21; 21-17.

A final thanks to all you true badminton fans who came and supported from as far afield as Folkestone, Leyton in east London, Leigh in Lancashire, Doncaster, Poole in Dorset, Maldon in Essex and from all over the midlands and got to see and meet (and win their rackets) some of the world' greatest present and past players/coaches.

THANK YOU, George frith

[Makkem_1]

The guy doing most of the talking at it was a pain - loved the sound of his own voice IMO:eek:
I'd rather have listened to the pros! very annoying.
Enjoyed watching the guys play tho (some really nice stuff)

[zeddie]

if you mean misbun sidek, the man is an absolute legend... it was amazing to meet him in addition to rexy ofcourse. Misbuns coahing pointers were also so useful to ppl who want to improve. he answered one question about the backhand from an audience member with such depth.

some things never change with taufiq. he needs to grow up.

[GeorgeFrith]

Yes, Misbun is a real legend and a sincerely nice guy. The fact that he is a great coach as well poducing many great Malaysian top singles players is testament to his ability as a coach.

He rang me this afternoon to say how much he enjoyed doing the event. He said he had never coached publicly in Engalnd before and how receptive the audience were - that pleased him as it would any coach.

One last thing - Yonex should also be ashamed! I asked them to support this. They wouldn't give anything not even a racket grip to the raffle! Two companies gave - one £250 the other £25 of JJB vouchers.

Thanks to all the counties who put this on their websites. Shame on those who didn't.
I do this for the love of the game and to promote our belove sport as well as giving my time and money (I gave 3 rackets to the raffle and just received my mobile phone bill £127.54 as well as the petrol money and other expenses I incur) Those that wnt to slag me off have no idea what running an event such as this entails and what I ask have they achieved in their lives?

There are students of mine who know where I come from and even one Tony Dhami offerred to put up the money for Taufik.

Over and Out!

[Lefty]

Well done George, sounds like a cracker. I'm gutted that I missed out on this as I would have loved this rare opportunity, especially being close to me in Coventry...but I was playing in a local tournament myself which clashed :mad:

It's great to hear someone so passionate about the sport and even more impressive that you managed to pull off what sounds like a very special event with all the stars.

Please please please continue your efforts as I for one would love the chance to attend another event in the future and I'll gladly help you spead the word so it gets the publicity it deserves. I work as a web developer so I can certainly lend a hand in a website for future events or such like....or you can just use me to harrass members of my local club of course!

Catch ya at the All England this week! I'm assuming your going... ;) Anyway, I hope you get the thanks you deserve and people follow your example.

[zeddie]

thought you might be interested in this thread... gets interesting towards the end :D

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52843

(hope posting this link is allowed)

[zeddie]

Hi guys. This is an email from George regarding the incident which he has asked me to post here:

"Hi Zed,

Thanks for your support mate. It is much appreciated.

I couldn't see the thread you referred to on your e-mail or on Badders.com. But I presume BC is Badminton Central so will look on that.

Could you do me a great favour please?

Could you post something on Badders.com as that is where I have posted the true reason as to why Taufik was not there Sunday.

Incidentally, I saw him yesterday afternoon at the All England and gave him a piece of my mind. He called for his two coaches Lius Pongoh and Mulyo Handoyo for support or maybe he thought I was going to hit him.

Anyway despite me berating him about his appalling lack of concern for all the people who came so far to see him (one chinese group came from Folkestone and were so disappointed as they had come only to see him) he was unconcerned.

What can you say about him? He needs to grow up as you so rightly said.

Keep in touch,

Kind regards,

George"

[pompey]

200 odd spectators is absolutely appalling. What more could you want from an exhibition of badminton? If badminton players and fans can't be arsed to go and watch people of that calibre then how can we expect TV companies to take the sport seriously. And Yonex....they'll be more than happy to take our pounds come the All England but can't stump up a few measly rackets for a raffle. Buy an alternative brand with badminton interests at heart I say.

[zeddie]

lol agreed.. i always buy ashaway rackets and most recently tactic ones.. must say the tactic namiblade 8000 is awesome : )

[GeorgeFrith]

I have been reading a lot of comments about this event and Taufik's boycotting of it on Badminton Central. I don't ave an account there so will post my repliy here.

I want to clear this up once and for all.

I MET HIM ON 16 JAN AT THE PUTRA STADIUM. I WAS WITH REXY AS I WAS VISITING HIM ON HOLIDAY. TAUFIK AGREED TO DO THIS EVENT FOR THE SUM OF £500 WITH REXY PRESENT. I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS FOR CHARITY - INITIALLY I SAID NSPCC AND LOROS (A LEICESTERSHIRE BASED CAHRITY BUT DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH HELP THE AGED AS IT WAS STAGED OUTSIDE LEICESTER) HE ASKED COULD I PAY MORE I SAID I WILL TRY DEPENDING ON TICKET SALES (BUT I NEVER INTENDED DOUBLE!) I SENT HIS COACH LIUS PONGOH AN E-MAIL WHEN I RETURNED FROM MALAYSIA AT THE END OF JANUARY CONFIRMING TAUFIKS PARTICIPATION AND ATTACHING THE PROMO POSTER (WHICH EVERYONE HAS SEEN) IT CLEARLY STATED THE EVENT WAS FOR CHARITY.

LIUS PONGOH E-MAILED ME SEVERAL TIMES DURING FEB ASKING THAT THE FEE BE DOUBLED. LIUS THEN E-MAILED ME IN THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING ME TAUFIK'S MOBILE NO. AND ASKING I SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH HIM. I SENT TAUFIK AN SMS (OR TEXT AS WE SAY IN UK) ON THE THURSDAY B4 THE SUNDAY EVENT. HE DID NOT RESPOND. I RANG HIM AT 7.30PMON SATURDAY TO HIS HOTEL ROOM IN BIRMINGHAM. HE KEPT REPEATING SPEAK TO LIUS WHEN I ASKED HIM ARE YOU PLAYING? HE THEN PUT THE PHONE DOWN ON ME. I DROVE TO BIRMINGHAM ARRIVING AT AROUND 9.30PM AND RANG HIM FROM RECEPTION. HE ANSWERED AND WAS (UNDERSTANDABLY) TIRED HAVING ARRIVED THAT AFTERNOON. HE SAID HELLO AND THEN THE LINE WENT DEAD - HE PUT THE PHONE DOWN AS I SAID HELLO TAUFIK A COUPLE OF TIMES. I WENT UP TO HIS ROOM. HE DIDN'T ANSWER THE DOOR. I LEFT A NOTE UNDER HIS DOOR FOR HIM PLEADING WITH HIM TO CONTACT ME AND TAKE PART THE NEXT DAY. HE NEVER RESPONDED.

TAUFIK TOLD ME YESTERDAY (WEDS) AT THE ALL ENGLAND THAT I HAD NOT REPLIED TO ANY OF LIUS' E-MAIL REQUESTS FOR THE FEE TO BE DOUBLED. I DENIED THAT. HE CALLD FOR LIUS (WHO ARRIVED WITH MULYO HANDOYO - TAUFIK'S LONG TERM COACH AND MENTOR) WHO CONFIRMED THAT I HAD REPLIED AND THAT HE (LIUS) HAD PASSED ON ALL MY E-MAILS TO TAUFIK.

THE CONVERSTAION WAS GETTING NOWHERE WITH TAUFIK DISAGREEING THAT HE HAD DONE ANY WRONG AND EVEN SAYING THAT IF HE PLAYED EXHIBITIONS HE WOULD GET $2000 AT LEAST.

The irony is that on Saturday after my adult coaching class and just before I rang Taufik in his hotel room (around 7.30pm) one of my most faithful students Tony Dhami, offerred to give the £500 to cover the extra fee Taufik wanted!!!!!!!

For the record due to the low attendance figures (268) there is no money to pay to charity so I will write out personal cheques for £100 each to the two charities.

You may also wish to know that I had to pay the other players. I couldn't pay what they expected but divided the profit by the 5 of them.

This sort of thing makes me wonder about human nature at a time when eveyone seems out to get what eveer they can and don't care about those less fortunate than themselves. I came from a very poor background in Malaysia almost dying as a very young child. I came to England in 1959 as a 3 year old and adopted by an english soldier flourished in England. I made my career in the Army encouraged by my father who served for 26 years and now coach badminton professionally and retail badminton equipment. I am not as people may think a rich man but I care about those less fortunate than myslef because I was there myself in the past.

Having said that one gentleman (I wish I could remember his name) came up to me at the end whilst all the autographs and photos were being taken with the players, and gave me £20 to add to charity. I was so touched that I went and got the shirt that Rexy gave me in 2001 when he first came to England (and which I treasure) and gave it to him.

AS I SAID TO ROB BLAIR AND CLARKY YESTERDAY I WILL CONTINUE TO RUN THESE EVENTS DESPITE ALL THE STRESS IT CAUSES ME BECAUSE I LOVE THIS SPORT SO MUCH (GOD ON;LY KNOWS HOW MUCH!) AND URGE YOU READING THIS TO SUPPORT AND SPREAD THE WORD AROUND SO WE GET GOOD NUMBERS NEXT TIME.

AS FOR TAUFIK, I ONLY HOPE WHEN HIS TIME COMES TO MEET THE MAKER, HE HAS MADE AMENDS.

[zeddie]

George

I think that is a very clear and concise post describing the events in great detail. I think everyone on BCentral will appreciate your reply. I have posted this reply there for you. Clearly TH is in the wrong, and shows a lot of immaturity in his actions. For hard working ppl like me and my friends who came to your events, we spent a lot of money on petrol etc to come and see him play up close, but were left so dissapointed by his absense (as we are or "were" big fans of his)

Once again I thank you for everything you have done for the sport. Anyone who cares about badminton as much as us should come to your events. I certainly will come every year along with as many friends as i can bring with me :)

keep up the great work.

(ps.. bc members have just sent thanks and all their best wishes for that post)

[Ray28]

I think George deserves a lot of credit for the event at Stratford. Ok it was dissappointing a certain person didn't show but the others were brilliant . What other sports could you get so close to such world names.
We travelled over 2 hours to get there and it was worth it. Just hope George attempts another next year !