Arthur Geoffrey Trapnell (1911–2000) was an Irish badminton player, national men's singles champion, sporting administrator, and president of the Badminton Union of Ireland.
_Trapnell.jpg) Trapnell in 1936 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Geoffrey Trapnell January 1911, Harrow, England |
| Died | 24 January 2000 (aged 89), Dalkey, Co Dublin, Ireland |
| Sport | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sport | Badminton |
Early and personal life
editArthur Geoffrey Trapnell was the youngest son of Arthur Lumsden Trapnell, a cabinet maker from London and Grace Webb.[1][2] In 1937 he married Eileen Carty, with whom he had two children.[2][3][4] Trapnell was a chartered accountant and for many years was the chief accountant of the Dublin Gas Company.[4]
Sporting career
editTrapnell's name first appeared in newspaper sports reports in 1928 and 1929, when he was listed as one of the Dublin accountants playing cricket against a team of Belfast accountants[5] and playing hockey for Pembroke Wanderers.[6][7] It was badminton however that Trapnell had the longest involvement in and where he left a lasting impression.
By 1930, Trapnell was playing in Midland branch tournaments.[8] By 1934 he was representing the Midland branch in interprovincial matches and competing in national tournaments.[9][10] In December 1936, Trapnell won his only national title when he overcame L. Green in three sets to win the men's singles in the Irish National Badminton Championships.[11] 1937 saw Trapnell being selected for the first time as a member of the Ireland national badminton team as a substitute in a match against Wales.[12]
By 1942, Trapnell was playing badminton at club level at the Gas Company Club.[13] According to Frank Peard, it was Trapnell who identified the potential of a young James 'Chick' Doyle at the Gas Company Club.[14]
Trapnell continued to play badminton at Midland branch tournaments into the late 1940s and was still playing club badminton as late as 1958.[15]
Administrative roles and later life
editTrapnell was active on the administrative side of Irish badminton from the late 1940s. In 1949, Trapnell was re-elected as honorary treasurer of the Badminton Union of Ireland[16] and in that same year he represented the Badminton Union of Ireland alongside C.H. Maidment at a meeting seeking to form an Irish sporting federation.[17] In 1955 he was listed among the members of the Midland Branch's General Purpose Committee.[18] In 1959 Trapnell was elected honorary secretary of the Badminton Union of Ireland, a position which he retained until 1974.[19] During his tenure, he also represented Ireland at International Badminton Federation meetings. He was elected president of the organisation in 1974, stepping down in 1976, having completed forty-five years of service to Irish badminton.[20] In 1977 he was awarded an honorary life membership of the Badminton Union of Ireland, and the International Badminton Federation recognised his long service to the sport by bestowing a Meritorious Service Award on him in 1986.[21][4] Trapnell died in 2000, having been pre-deceased by his wife.[4][22]
References
edit- ↑ "Marriage Register" (PDF). irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- 1 2 "Weddings". The Irish Times. 31 May 1937.
- ↑ "Marriage Register" (PDF). irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 Peard, Frank (10 April 2000). "Arthur Geoffrey Trapnell". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Accountants' match at Rathmines". The Irish Times. 17 September 1929.
- ↑ "Hockey. To-day's Matches". The Irish Times. 16 November 1929.
- ↑ "Hockey. The Leinster Leagues". The Irish Times. 13 October 1928.
- ↑ "Three finals reached at Woodbrook". The Irish Times. 21 February 1930.
- ↑ "The Midland branch junior team". The Irish Times. 10 March 1934.
- ↑ "Irish Close Titles". The Irish Times. 22 November 1934.
- ↑ "Trapnell beats Green in men's singles". The Irish Times. 14 December 1936.
- ↑ "Northern Supremacy The Irish Team to Play Wales: A Coaching Committee". The Irish Times. No. 1937–11–23.
- ↑ "Badminton cup won by Gas Co". The Irish Times. No. 1942–04–02.
- ↑ Peard, Frank (15 June 1985). "Chick Doyle An Appreciation". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Ailesbury Retain Badminton Title". The Irish Times. No. 1958–02–12.
- ↑ "Alterations in badminton rules". The Irish Times. 7 October 1949.
- ↑ "Federation of Sporting Bodies Discussed". The Irish Times. 29 November 1949.
- ↑ "Meeting of Midland Badminton Branch". The Irish Times. 14 May 1955.
- ↑ "Increasing costs hit badminton". The Irish Times. 5 October 1957.
- ↑ McWeeney, Vera (16 September 1976). "Retirement of two BUI officials". The Irish Times.
- ↑ McWeeney, Vera (27 May 1977). "Honour for Trapnell well deserved". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Births, marriages and deaths". The Irish Times. 27 January 2000.