Gaynor Weatherley

Gaynor Weatherley (née Simpson) had a long career as one of the leading lights in New Zealand badminton.

The versatile Weatherley, who was born in 1945, hailed from Southland. She represented New Zealand at two Commonwealth Games as well as in Uber Cup and Whyte Trophy matches.

She won the New Zealand singles title in 1965, the doubles in 1967 (with Alison Glenie) and 1969 (with Gilda Tompkins) and the mixed doubles in 1965 with Don Higgins.

After marrying marathon runner Roger Weatherly, the couple moved to the United States for some years.

At the 1966 Jamaica Commonwealth Games, Gaynor Simpson, as she was then, lost in the first round of the singles to Canadian Judy Humber 11-2, 7-11, 11-9. In the women’s doubles, she and Alison Glenie had a good win over Humber and Alison Daysmith 17-16, 15-10 before losing in the semi-finals to England’s Angela Bairstow and Iris Rogers 15-2, 15-10. In the bronze medal play-off, the New Zealanders lost to Rosalind Ang and Teoh Siew Yong of Malaysia 15-11, 15-9.

Simpson partnered Don Higgins in the mixed doubles and they beat Richard Roberts and Christine Bennett of Jamaica 15-5, 10-15, 15-7 and then lost to Canadians Rolf Paterson and Sharon Whittaker 15-10, 15-7.

Weatherley didn’t fare as well in the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games. In the singles, she lost her first match to Joan Jones of Australia 11-3, 11-3. In the mixed doubles, Ross Livingston and Weatherley lost in the first round to Scotland’s Jim Ansari and Helen Kelly 15-10, 18-15.

Weatherley did some coaching at North Harbour once she finished playing at the top level.