. . NEWS photo Terry Peters WEST VANCOUVER'’S David Adam shows off his World Grand Masters badminton dou- bles championship medal and the weapon he used to win it. At age sixty, Adam is a firm ad- vocate of life-long physical activity and racquet sports. . -home, 31 - Wednesday, August 28, 1985 - _e. Shore News ie watching nets a winner AT 60, David Adam did what he could never doin his. twenties. He won the world doubles badminton Champion- ship. By ROSS MEEK Partner Ken Grierson of Edmonton and Adam took the inaugural World Grand Masters title in Toronto fast week. The grand masters is for players 60 years and over. Adam’s personal motto is “never give up’ and it’s paid off for this lean, fluid-moving competitor who walks like a lanky teenager rather than a member of the geritol set. Sixty has been a vintage year for the seasoned com- petitor. He and his partner won the Canadian Grand Masters doubles competition earlier this year and are looking forward to the American Grand Masters in San Diego. He also did well in the singles at the World Grand Masters losing in the semi- finals to his doubles partner. Although he’s been fit since childhood, Adam started training seriously for this event almost a year ago. He was in the gym three mornings a week pumping iron and riding an exersise bike. This is in addition to his normal exercises done at three badminton matches a week and a two hour skate once a week. Adam and ‘his partner can’t practice together but _ depend solely on their 35 year association on and off the court to give them an edge. While Adam is en- thusiastic about his win last week, he is exuberant about the sport and physical activi- ty in general. “If T seem enthusiastic, it’s becasue I am,’’ said Adam. He has always been a competitor and alway will be. He doesn’t intend to cease badminton until he can’t play «effectively. Judg- ing from his physical fitness and court record that day’ could be years away. Even then, he says he'll just find something else. Perhaps Adam would spend more time rowing his car-top boat off West Vancouver in search of salmon, a 12 mon- th-a-year hobby. “Tm not about to cm- template stopping after thi. year,”’ said Adam. “‘I'd like to add that (American Grand Masters) title.’” His good condition and health come from a lifetime of good health habits, says Adam. The secret, he says, is to excerise regularly and eat health foods. Choosing his parents carefully didn’t hurt either, he jests. He hopes his success, and the success of thousands in- volved in the games, will en- courage others to keep active in their later years. NEWS photo Stuart Davis Adam, who retired last year, has been active all his life in many sports but thinks racquet sports are especially beneficial because they can be played fateron in life. “As long as you have someone of similar calibre you can have a competitive match at any age,’’ said Adam. Over the years Adam has had considerable enjoyment from Badminton and he has tried to put something back. He has taught and was a director at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club before joining .Hollyburn eleven years ago where he has also been active in organizing the sport. More recently he became a member of the B.C. Masters Badminton Association. Like all masters competition this organization promotes participation rather than just competition. They are setting up tour- naments all around B.C. to promote the sport in preparation for the Cana- dian Championship | slated for Vancouver in May 1986 at the same time as Expo. Adam expects the Cana- dian Masters Badminton Championship to draw an extra large turn out next year. Adam wouldn’t commit himself to the next World Grand Masters in Denmark four years hence but that glint in his eyes says he'll be training for it. TEAM MOURNS LOSS Marking the death of English field hockey association president Ronald Groves, the English junior team observed a minute of silence before their match against Argen- tina. Groves died last Thursday of heart at- tack while canoeing in Indian Arm. England ‘won their match 2-0.