Writing from California, USA

The ITF Individual World Championships concluded yesterday in Umag, Croatia. Though there weren’t many Americans in the draws, those that were there came home with many gold, silver and bronze medals.

Wendy McColskey won her first every world championship, the 65 singles, the hard way, beating her Kitty Godfree Cup teammate Tina Karwasky (holder of two consecutive 65 Gold Slams in singles and winner 11 straight 65 national singles championships) in three sets. Earlier in the year Karwasky beat McColskey in the final of the 65 Clay. Karwasky was a doubles finalist too, with Jan Kirkland-Cochran, losing to Aussies Helen Worland and Adrienne Avis. Avis won the mixed too, with Marc Renault, FRA over American Danny Shaw and Hildegard Bruggraber, AUT.

In women’s 70 doubles, Liane Bryson, playing with Germany’s Heidi Eisterlehner were silver medalists, also losing to and Aussie, Kerry Ballard (who won the singles) and Shirley Fox (GBR). Bruce Barrett, USA and Chris Ornstein, GBR, the defending men’s 70 doubles champions reached the final but fell to Petr Kolacek, SUIand Jairo Velasco Ramirez, ESP in the final.

In the 75s, Dean Corley/Michael Stewart won the doubles in an all-American final over Jimmy Parker/Don Long. Heide Orth, GER won the 75 singles and doubles (with Petro Kruger, RSA); Kruger won the mixed with Peter Pokorny, AUT (who won the singles).

In the 80s, Herm Ahlers/Wilbur Jones fell in the final to the Aussie duo of Bruce Rehn/Bob Howes. Inge Weber, CAN won the women’s singles. In another all American doubles final, Dorothy Wasser/Burnett Herrick beat their Doris Hart Cup teammates Sheila Palmer/Carol Wood. Palmer/Jones were 80 mixed finalists, falling to Aussies June Simpson/Don Biddle in the final round.

King Van Nostrand continued his dominance of the men’s 85 division, winning the singles and doubles, with John Powless of the USA. They beat their Gardnar Mulloy Cup teammates, George McCabe/Joe Russell in the final.

Bronze medals went to: Dorothy Wasser, W80 singles, Bruce Barrett, 70 Mixed, Suella Steel, Corley, 75 mixed, Bryson, 70 mixed, Cathie Anderson/Carolann Castell, W75 doubles, Jimmy Parker, M75 singles. Hopefully I didn’t miss anyone!

Draws are here.