James 'Chick' Doyle
| J.P. 'Chick' Doyle | |
|---|---|
_in_aktie,_Bestanddeelnr_915-7447.jpg) Doyle in 1963 | |
| Personal information | |
| Birth name | James Patrick Doyle |
| Country | Ireland |
| Born | 12 April 1930, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 21 May 1985 (aged 55), Dublin, Ireland |
James Patrick 'Chick' Doyle was a former Irish badminton player and coach. He was coached by Frank Peard and won eleven Irish National Badminton Championships titles in men's singles and doubles in the period 1954–1964.[1]
Early and personal life[edit]
Chick Doyle was born to Edward James ("Jimmy") Doyle, an employee of the Dublin Gas Company, and Josephine Doyle (née McNamara) in April 1930.[citation needed] He was the eldest of three siblings. His sister Ursula Doyle (born 1931), was a child performer, later actress, stage director and second wife of Jimmy O'Dea,[2][3] and his brother Noel Doyle (born 1932), was also a child performer and entertainer before emigrating to Canada.[4][5] In 1958 Doyle married Marie Clarke.[6] They had four children.[7] His daughter Elaine Doyle[8] won a Ladies doubles Irish National Badminton Championships title in 1986.[1][failed verification]
Playing career[edit]
Doyle began playing in the Dublin Gas Company club where his talent was recognised by Geoff Trapnell[5] and by 1948 was playing league badminton with the club.[9] In that same year he first appeared playing at national tournaments. The Irish Times reports of the Irish Close Badminton tournament of December 1948 lists Doyle as losing in the first round of the senior men's singles to Frank Peard[10] and competing unsuccessfully in a number of junior events.[11][12] As well as being a player, Peard was instrumental in implementing intensive coaching schemes which Doyle benefitted from.[13] Doyle's playing career progressed rapidly and by December 1949 he was playing for the Midland (now Leinster) branch interprovincial team at the age of nineteen.[14]
Doyle was first called up to the Ireland national badminton team for their match against Scotland in 1951.[15] He played thirty times for Ireland.[16] 1951 also saw Doyle first reach the final of the men's singles in the Irish National Badminton Championships, with Frank Peard beating his protégé in three sets.[17] In 1952 he emigrated to Australia.[18] Doyle continued his playing career in Australia in 1952 and 1953, playing for the Victoria state badminton team and competing in the Australian National Badminton Championships, where he was a runner up in the men's doubles in 1952.[19][20][21] He placed seventh in the 1952 Australian men's singles rankings.[22] He subsequently returned to Ireland. 1955 saw Doyle emerge as winner of the men's singles in the Scottish Open tournament and in 1956, he went on to win the men's singles in the Irish Open tournament. Doyle maintained his dominance in Irish men's badminton until 1961, when for the first time in a decade he lost to another Irish player, Lennox Robinson, at an interprovincial tournament.[23]
Over the course of his playing career, Doyle achieved an unprecedented eight consecutive title wins in men's singles at the Irish National Badminton Championships,[24] a feat equaled only by Irish Olympian professional badminton player Scott Evans in 2012.[25] Doyle and Evans are second only to Michael Watt in total Irish men's singles title wins, with Watt achieving a record nine non-consecutive men's singles Irish titles as a player. [24]
Later life[edit]
Following his retirement from playing, Doyle took up coaching and administration. By 1968 he was serving on Midland branch executive committee[26] and was president of the Leinster branch of the Badminton Union of Ireland from 1973 to 1978.[16] He died of heart related health problems in 1985.
Irish National Badminton Championships wins[edit]
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| Year | Event | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Men's singles | |
| 1955 | Men's singles | |
| 1956 | Men's singles | |
| 1956 | Men's doubles | Des Lacey |
| 1957 | Men's singles | |
| 1958 | Men's singles | |
| 1959 | Men's singles | |
| 1960 | Men's singles | |
| 1961 | Men's singles | |
| 1963 | Men's doubles | C.W. Wilkinson |
| 1964 | Men's doubles | C.W. Wilkinson |
Appearances at the All England Badminton Championships[edit]
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1952 | Men's singles |
| 1955 | Men's singles |
| 1960 | Men's singles |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Irish National Badminton Championships". badmintonireland.com. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Ursula Doyle dies, aged 65". The Irish Times. 7 January 1997.
- ^ "Jimmy O'Dea weds: crowd at wrong church". Belfast Telegraph. 24 September 1959.
- ^ "Dublin Girls Find Gaiety And Tragedy At Panto Time". Dublin Evening Mail. 21 December 1957.
- ^ a b Peard, Frank (15 June 1985). "Chick Doyle An Appreciation". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Weddings". The Irish Times. 8 September 1958.
- ^ "The death has occurred of Marie Doyle (née Clarke)". rip.ie. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Two doubles for Doyles". The Irish Times. 1 January 1983.
- ^ "Senior Badminton League Result". The Irish Times. 14 December 1948.
- ^ "Irish Close Badminton". The Irish Times. 7 December 1948.
- ^ "Good Progress In Badminton Championship". The Irish Times. 9 December 1948.
- ^ "Badminton Finals To-night". The Irish Times. 11 December 1948.
- ^ McWeeney, Vera (11 November 1971). "Peerless Peard Bows Out". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Badminton Notes". Dublin Evening Mail. 3 January 1951.
- ^ "Much Activity in Ulster". The Badminton Gazette. January 1950.
- ^ a b "Sudden death of J.P. Doyle". The Irish Times. 23 May 1985.
- ^ "Irish Close Badminton Titles". The Irish Times. 10 December 1951.
- ^ "Irish Badminton Loss". The Irish Times. 2 April 1952.
- ^ "Brilliant display by exhibition players". The Riverine Herald. 22 August 1952.
- ^ "Badminton to Victoria". The Mercury. 13 September 1952.
- ^ "Full Weekend Sporting Details". The Argus. 22 September 1952.
- ^ "Aust. badminton rankings". Advocate. 9 October 1952.
- ^ "Doyle's defeat was sad blow to Midland Branch". The Irish Times. 24 November 1961.
- ^ a b "Senior Nationals entering its 105th year". Badminton Ireland. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Men's Singles National Winners". Badminton Ireland. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ McWeeney, Vera (27 September 1968). "Significant changes in ranking order". The Irish Times.