Over the coming months the website hope to run a number of interesting interviews with people associated to both myself as a player and on a broader level Badminton in Wales. I think the numerous interviews are very interesting and extremely positive for the state of badminton in Wales, and the UK.

The first interview is with Welsh/IBF Umpire Dave Davies from Swansea. I have had the pleasure of running in to Dave throughout my career; it’s always been good to have someone from home at such major events, especially as I often have to travel on my own.

Dave is an established IBF umpire from the top notch of World Badminton, and is known by all the Worlds best players as a fair, no nonsense official, and as such gains enormous respect from players throughout all continents.

In many ways I would like to think our careers have shadowed each other but I only wish my playing honours were as good as Dave’s umpiring ones. As well as numerous Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and major Grand Prix appearances he has 2 All England Finals to add to the list.

It’s great for Wales to have an official at the top of the sport.

Where do you live? I live in Birchgrove in Swansea. How did you become involved in the sport? A female teacher in a school I was working at offered to teach me badminton if I taught her squash, I have only played squash once since then. How and when did you start getting involved with the law of the game? Within a year of starting to play I decided that I also wanted to coach and umpire, I heard that a course was being held locally so applied. Tony Taylor was one of the people running the course and he was very helpful and supportive. That was 21 years ago yet seems like yesterday. What was your first notable event? This is a difficult one, I did my course on the weekend, then went along to the Welsh open on Thursday, just to watch, as Tony had advised. When I got there they were short of umpires, as usual, so Tony said Dave can help out he will manage. I had no time to be nervous; I just joined the line of umpires and waited to be given my first match. It was a men’s singles with a certain Morton Frost, thankfully at that time I had never heard of him so just treated it as any other game. Luckily he won so easily it made my job simple. After that I wanted to do the All England I have done that 3 times now including a men’s doubles final, but the first time at the old Wembly venue was the best.

When did you reach the highest IBF level of being an umpire?
I passed my IBF accreditation in April 94 the first Welsh Umpire to achieve this. I then managed to pass my Certification in May 96, so almost 10 years ago.

What have been your biggest tournaments?
I have officiated at all the top tournaments, including World Championships,
2 Olympics and the Thomas Uber Cup finals, which I regard as the highest standard tournament as only the very top players are invited and the team atmosphere is superb. I was fortunate enough to be given the Men’s Doubles final at the last Thomas Cup in Indonesia.

Do you ever see Richard or Kelly at these tournaments?
I often see both Richard and Kelly at these tournaments and although we umpires are totally impartial it makes me very proud to be Welsh when they play, it is really great to see a small country like Wales get 2 world class players.

What is your most memorable event as an umpire?
There have been so many it is hard to decide:
Getting presented with an ice cream after the Men’s doubles final at the Swiss Open, a long story but a great event.
Watching Kelly win Gold at Kuala Lumpa and the wonderful Welsh fans who had traveled out there, coupled to the unbelievable atmosphere at the closing ceremony.
The Grand Prix finals in Bali where we stayed at the Hilton and did not start work until 5.30 in the evening, that was my first IBF event and I thought I was in heaven, I was quickly brought back to earth at future events.

Funniest or weirdest moment?
Has to be the Vaughn family, I just cannot avoid them. When shopping in the Twin Towers In KL who should I bump into but Sharon and Morgan I seem to recall they were buying a suitcase. Two years later I chose to take a break in Cairns before traveling down to Sydney for the Olympics. Late one evening, about 10.00pm I decided to go to this little shopping centre at a local pier to buy my presents, I walk into this jeweler and who should I see but Sharon and Morgan again. In Wales I hardly ever see them but as soon as I travel to the far side of the world I can’t miss them.
The other contender would have to be the day a female player on the court next to me decided to change her shirt, the crowd cheered yet I was so busy concentrating on the game on my court that I totally missed it, no one believed me, they thought I had the best view in the house but I swear I was fully focused on my game.

Which players are the best to umpire?
Are you serious? I have not retired yet so it may be better to keep that to myself for now. Generally the Asians they are far more respectful and less likely to look for confrontation.

Any that are not so pleasurable?
Players who take out their own bad day on their opponents and anybody else they can. I have never liked bullies.

Best tournament?
For the standard it has to be the Thomas /Uber cup finals. For the enjoyment it has to be the Welsh Nationals when all the past players make their annual comeback. The atmosphere is superb and the humor even better. How we umpires manage to keep control I will never know. I blame the Peter Hybarts and Dale Blencowes of this world personally.

What else do you enjoy other than Badminton?
How much space do we have?
I love scuba diving, which I teach and participate in as often as possible.
Fishing, especially for Trout with the fly and Bass in the sea.
Underwater photography which is closely linked to the diving.
Gardening which for many years was my main interest, competing at shows throughout the country.
Reptiles I keep and breed a very large selection of unusual reptiles.
Anything else is private!!!

What is your next big event?
My next big event is the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, really looking forward to it.