HALL OF FAME – BARCLAY GEORGE ‘BUDDY’ REID A PHENOMENAL SPORTSMAN AND ROLE MODEL – By Ravi Rudra

Dr. Buddy Reid’s achievements in Table Tennis, for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Australia, are remarkable to say the least. With dedication and a committed work ethic he has established several records, culminating in being recently inducted to Table Tennis Australia’s prestigious Hall of Fame. It is indeed a fitting honour for a sportsman and gentleman of Buddy’s calibre and character.

Dedication, discipline, and perseverance have been constant in his approach to sports, work, and life, in general. He is a surgeon and his success in sports and a highly demanding profession are remarkable and inspiring.

Former Thomian Buddy, was a Double International, sportsman for Sri Lanka. He also captained Sri Lanka at both Cricket and Table Tennis. Furthermore as a brilliant Table Tennis player he has represented both Ceylon (as a young schoolboy and in his twenties) and Australia, winning numerous National and World Veteran Titles, as well as captaining the Australian Veterans at Table Tennis.

BUDDY REID

INDUCTED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS HALL OF FAME BY TABLE TENNIS AUSTRALIA

Buddy Reid, who turned a youthful 83 on 04 Nov 2023, receives his prestigious Hall of Fame award.

“I owe my Veterans career with Australian and World championships and the Hall of Fame to my wife Peace… All my medals hang around her photograph”

– Buddy

Performance Criteria for the Induction into the Hall of Fame (Table Tennis, Australia)

Inductees had to have had at least won one World Championship medal and a specified number of Gold medals in Australian Veterans Championships at multiple age levels. Buddy not only achieved these challenging targets but exceeded them by far.

Buddy Reid – World Singles Gold Medal (Over 75) – Spain 2016

These are some of Buddy’s Table Tennis Highlights as a Veteran:

World Championships:

• World Singles Champion – Over 75yrs (Gold medal) in Spain 2016
• World Doubles Champion – Over 75yrs (Gold medal) in the USA 2018
• World Doubles Silver medal – Over 65yrs in Germany 2006
• World Doubles Silver medal – Over 75yrs in Spain 2016
• World Singles Bronze medal – Over 75yrs in the USA 2018

*Buddy’s doubles partner Igor Klaf is also from Melbourne. In 2018 Buddy & Igor won in 5 sets against the same pair (Weinprecht and Lemke of Germany) who beat them in a tense 5 sets in 2016.

Australian Championships

• Australian Singles Champion (Gold medals) 5 times in the Over 65 and Over 75 Australian age groups
• Australian Doubles Champion (Gold medals) 11 times
• Australian Mixed Doubles Champion (Gold medals) twice

In addition

• Australian Inter State Champion (playing for Victoria) 10 times.
• Buddy also has won 16 silver and 25 bronze medals in Australian Veterans Championships.

Other achievements for Australia though not specified requirements for the Hall of Fame, were playing for Australia in the “Test Matches” against New Zealand six times and Captaining Australia in his age group four times,

Winning the New Zealand Veterans Open Championships four times including the Triple Crown 3 years in a row – a record feat not been achieved by any other Australian or New Zealand man, but a New Zealand Women’s champion achieved it about 40 years earlier.

These highly noteworthy achievements were in addition to numerous silver and bronze medals that Buddy won in New Zealand Championships.

*To watch a video chat with Buddy Reid, back from Spain after taking out the Gold for Over 75s at the Veteran World Championships-cut and paste on your browser. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=884400315036712

EARLY DAYS

Buddy’s cricket career was born on the gravel pathway of Hamers Place, Wellawatte (Colombo 6) with the other famous Reid brothers – Claud, Ronnie (Ronald), Barney (Bryan) and Johann (‘Tiny’) – and neighbouring boys. Simultaneously, Buddy’s Table Tennis career began on the dining table at home, and the full-sized table of Uncle Felix Rudolph next door..

Standing: Ronald(Ronnie), Buddy (Barclay), Johann (Tiny). Seated: Bryan(Barney) and Claud

*Photo taken at their home: 4 Hamers Place, Wellawatte, Colombo, when Barney was adjudged Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (1965).

Inspiration and Gratitude

Buddy owes his early cricket career to his elder brothers Claud and Ronnie. After learning the basics from the great legendary Thomian coach Lassie Abeyawardena in the under 16’s in College, the rest of his coaching was watching Claud and Ronnie in every match they played.

He played for S. Thomas’ at all age levels from under 12 to 1st XI. He played only one year in the Royal Thomian (under the captaincy of Dennis Ferdinands), receiving the delightful news on the first day of the Royal Thomian of 1959 that he had been successful in the entrance exam for Medical College

His hero and role model in Table Tennis was Thomian National champion Norshi Lakdawala. However, Buddy feels uncomfortable that he won his first and third Ceylon National singles titles by beating Norshi Lakdawala in the finals.

Similarly he came into cricket prominence by overcoming his Thomian cricketing hero P.I. ‘Ian’ Pieris when he played for the SSC and Buddy played for the University.

Buddy owes his later cricket career to the legendary Dr. H.I.K. Fernando. Buddy had intended to give up cricket for studies when he entered the University but Herbie (H.I.K) came to the chemistry lab to meet Buddy and persuaded him to play. In spite of many failures in his first year H.I.K. encouraged Buddy until he finally made good.

Fascinatingly, Buddy owes his Table Tennis career to a quiet gentleman called “Master” Nadarajah. He sponsored Buddy and paid for his first two trips to India to play in the Ceylon junior team. He ran a Table Tennis club called Mackenzie House entirely at his own expense and Buddy learned by watching the greats like Chris Guneratne and Charlie Daniels who were members of the club. Buddy had no coach but he did have a panel of great Indian players giving instructions in a training camp in New Delhi for a month.

Buddy recalls, with an immense sense of loving gratitude, his beloved wife and soul mate Peace who has been the inspiration and driving force for his brilliant resurgence over the past two decades.

“I retired from Table Tennis at the end of 1969 at the age of 29. I did not play again for 32 years except for a few months in 1975. I owe my resurrection to Table Tennis in 2002 to my wife Peace who persuaded me to return to Table Tennis just before she prematurely passed away. My Veterans career with Australian and World Championships and the Hall of Fame belong to her. I have no doubt she played a few shots for me from above at crucial stages. All my medals hang around her photograph.”

1955 STC TABLE TENNIS TEAM

WINNERS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP

Standing (L-R): The Warden (Rev. Canon de Saram), R. Praisoody, B.G.

‘Buddy’ Reid.

Seated (L-R): R.W. ‘Rupert’ Ferdinands, N.M. Lakdawalla (Capt.), R.J. ‘Ronald’ Reid.

In Table Tennis in Ceylon, he won all the Public schools and National titles: Junior singles and doubles and Men’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Singles three times (1959, 60 and 62), doubles six times (four times with Nimo Ramchand; once with Charlie Daniel and once with brother Barney) and mixed doubles once, with Srini Lucas (1966), the latter a thrilling five- setter 22/20 win against Leonie Ratnayake and Barney.

Dr. Buddy led the Ceylon team in the Peking International Tournament (1966), Asian Games in Bangkok in 1966 and the Asian TT Championships hosted by Singapore in 1967. Subsequently he was National Coach, Secretary and, later, Vice President of the Table Tennis Association of Ceylon.

Buddy’s First Class Cricket highlights

• Winning the Sara trophy in 1963 for the Ceylon University team under the captaincy of former Josephian, Carlyle Perera. Buddy was vice captain that season.
• The following season (1964), under Buddy Reid’s captaincy, the University team were runners-up to Bloomfield in the Sara Trophy, losing by the barest of margins of 0.14 points.
• Winning the Macan Markar trophy for the highest individual score (177 runs) in the Sara Trophy tournament in 1960, his debut first class season.
• Heading the Sara Trophy batting averages in two consecutive years 1963 (50.0) and in 1964 (42.1).
• Heading the Sara trophy run aggregate in two consecutive years 1968 (692 runs) and 1969 (702 runs).
• Making his first-class debut for the Ceylon Board President’s XI in a Gopalan Trophy match against Madras in 1964, batting at number three and scoring 46 (the innings top score) and 22 in a six-wicket victory.

• Playing for Ceylon against Australia in 1964 and 69 against Pakistan in 1964,

against England in 1966, 69 and 70.

and captaining Ceylon against England in 1969.

• Having an unbroken 50 run partnership with brother Ronnie against England in 1965.
• He captained Ceylon against Colin Cowdrey’s MCC in 1969, making his highest score, 50 not out, in the second inning which involved an unbroken opening partnership of 118 run with Ranjit Fernando (59*). This was an unofficial test record which stood for around 10 years.
• Few days earlier against Cowdrey’s 1966 team both Buddy (57) and Ranjit Fernando (58) compiled a 121-run opening partnership in the 60 over match. This was the first match in which a Ceylon team ever beat England, and
• Finishing his career for Ceylon by top scoring in both innings against Tony Lewis’s England in 1970. (*The great M. Sathasivam commented on Buddy’s batting, “Reid was the only batsman with the correct technical approach. Against good nagging bowling he proved it beyond reasonable doubt by giving solid displays in both innings.”

• It is also worth noting that Dr Buddy Reid was the first doctor to examine Muralitharan in Melbourne in 1996 and explain the optical illusion created while bowling due to the deformity in his arm.

University of Ceylon Team – 1963 Sara Trophy Champions

Buddy Reid (Vice Captain) is seated 3rd to the left and in the centre is Captain Carlyle Perera.

The 1963 Sara Trophy Champion University squad were: Carlye Perera (St. Joseph’s), B.G Reid (STCML), U.R. P. Goonetilleke (STCML), N. Gurusinghe (STCML) ), M. Fernando (Ananda), K. Fernando (St.

Sebastain’s), V. Sivanandan (St. John’s Jaffna), M. L Idroos (STCML), C. Ernest (St. Benedict’s), H.I. Fernando (Royal), M. Ponniah (STCML), H. Samarajeewa (Royal), K. Wimalaratne (Royal), N.J.S.de Mel (Royal), M. Guneratne (St. Peter’s) and A. Anghie (St. Peter’s).

*Guneratne and Anghie are not in the picture.

Under Buddy Reid’s captaincy (1964), the University team were runners-up in the Sara Trophy, by mere 0.14 points

Sporting disappointments

Buddy’s low points in cricket were making his debut for S. Thomas’ in the under 12’s with a duck and finishing his career with the University of Ceylon with a duck!

He also with typical humility acknowledges couple of his biggest disappointments in Table Tennis. First in1966 at the height of his career for Ceylon, being thrashed 21/2 by a Chinese junior and secondly going all the way from Melbourne to Stockholm to lose in the preliminary round robin stage and not getting even into the first round in the World championships in 2010.

Major achievements

However Buddy’s major achievements in Table Tennis far exceeds his very few regrets:-

• As a 16 year old, taking a set off the Mens World number 2 Ivan Andreadis of Czechoslovakia in a practice match.
• Being the only winner in singles and the only winner in doubles (with partner Nimo Ramchand) against the USA Mens team in 1956.
• Captaining one country in two sports (Ceylon Cricket and Table Tennis) and two countries in one sport (Table Tennis Ceylon and Australian Veterans).
• His best sporting and academic season was 1959-60 when he entered Medical College, won the Ceylon National Table Tennis title and also won the Macan Markar trophy for the highest individual score (177) in the Sara Trophy competition.

‘THE FAMOUS FIVE’

One of Buddy’s proudest moment is to be part of the Five Reid Brothers – all of whom have the unique distinction of gaining 1^st XI Cricket Colours at Thomas’ College.

The Reid Brothers (L-R) – Claud, Ronnie, Buddy, Barney and Johann each represented the S. Thomas’ cricket team at some point during the period 1955 to 1968.

In this regard they hold an unique record of sorts, tied with the De Saram brothers (1879-1885) for the most number of brothers to play for S. Thomas’ College. What an Incredible Achievement!

(Photo Courtesy: Corinne King)

Few unusual yet interesting happenings

Buddy represented STC in Cricket, Table Tennis, Badminton and Junior athletics. He participated in the 80 yards hurdles, high jump, 440 yards and javelin. Buddy says that he held the junior 440 yards record because Maurice Fairweather did not run the 440 yards as a junior. He established the record in the heats and lost in the finals to Baila Samarasinhe.

Along with partner P.S. Kumara, Buddy won both the Table Tennis and Tennis doubles titles at S. Thomas’ College in 1958. In the Tennis doubles they beat the Public Schools Champions Michael Sproule and A.E. de Silva in the finals. According to Buddy, he only served and received service while Kumara (later National Champion and Davis Cup player) played 90% of the shots.

Much later in Wangaratta Australia in 1975, Buddy was unbeaten in singles and doubles in the country league. His table tennis doubles partner at that time was Rex Hartwig the Australian Davis Cup tennis player who was also a good table tennis player.

Buddy’s best performance in Australia with the bat was against poor opposition – 200 not out and 7 wickets for 27 runs in a grand final in Darwin in 1973.

Best batting performance

The best batting performance of Buddy’s life was an innings of 95 against the SSC in the Sara trophy final round in 1963 when he went in to bat with the score at 49 for 5 wickets and stayed there until they had passed the SSC total of 181. The only ball that beat Buddy’s bat during that gutsy match- winning innings was a leg cutter from former Thomian, Cambridge ‘Blue’ and Sri Lankan star P.I. Pieris.

Greatest joy

Buddy reckons his greatest joy in sport was winning the Sara trophy in 1963, holding off the great paceman Darrell Lieversz with the score at 30 for 4 and sticking there with Nihal Gurusinghe till they reached 74 for 4 to win the trophy by 4 runs.

“A team victory beats an individual victory any day” – Buddy

 

Buddy Reid with Jasik from Poland whom he beat in the 4th round at the 2016 World Championships in Spain.

TABLE TENNIS TRIO – Medal winners Mick Wright, Buddy Reid and Craig Campbell at the Table Tennis World Championships in Spain (2016).

BUDDY REID WINS KEN COLE TROPHY

Victorian Buddy Reid was named winner of the Ken Cole Trophy as the Australian Veterans Player of the Year at the closing function of the 2018 National Veterans Championships in Bendigo – the highest honour in Australian Veterans table tennis.

“After becoming world champion in Over 75 Men’s Doubles earlier this year with Igor Klaf, Buddy Reid claimed the national Over 75 Men’s Singles crown and a swag of medals in Bendigo. On top of all that, he’s a true gentleman and you’d struggle to meet a nicer man. Congratulations Buddy, you’re a worthy winner!”

– Table Tennis Australia, 21 Oct 2018

Buddy (right) with Igor Klaff (left) and a friend of Igor (centre), soon after winning Gold in the doubles finals at the 2018 world championship in Las Vegas, USA.

Veterans (L-R): Dr. Nimal Lucas, Pushpa Colombathanthri, Mohamed Lafeer (Captain) and Buddy Reid, at the end of the Australian Masters around 2014, when Buddy was co-opted into a team of Sri Lankans to make up the numbers, and they ended up as Silver medallists.

Barney Reid, Buddy Reid, Darrell Lieversz and Claud Reid (L-R) at the launch of the documentary “Sri Lanka’s Journey to Test Status” by Alston Mahadevan in the Keith Miller Room at the MCG on 03 June 2017.

Happy Reid Brothers – Buddy, Claud, Ronnie, Tiny & Barney – celebrating

Mum Pearl’s 90th Birthday in Melbourne – April 2008.

“Dr. Buddy Reid, an unassuming personality whose simple demeanour, sense of camaraderie and exemplary sportsmanship on and off the field has endeared him to a wide coterie of colleagues in the Medical profession friends and sports fans in

Sri Lanka, Australia and countries around the world.”

– Eric Motha, Sunday Observer

In September 2018, Reid was one of 49 former Sri Lankan cricketers felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket, to honour them for their services before Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Congratulations Buddy on a phenomenal career and the Very Best Wishes to you on your 83rd Birthday. May the Blessings of the Divine continue to shine radiantly within you for many more years.

– Ravi Rudra (Auckland, NZ)