Ursula Smith


Ursula Honour Smith married name Oakley is a former English international badminton player.

Early life

She lived at 'Fernleigh' 15 Brunswick Sq Herne Bay Kent from age of ten. She attended La Sainte Union RC school in Herne Bay.
She attended the University of Southampton, where she played for the university badminton team, winning the UAU championship in December 1952 in the Victory Hall of Loughborough College. In 1956 she worked at St George's Hospital when at The Lanesborough at Hyde Park Corner, as a nurse. She visited France for 12 months in 1955 to learn French.

Badminton career

Smith was a winner of the All England Open Badminton Championships. She won the 1965 All England Open Badminton Championships women's singles.
Smith competed for the England team in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, winning the gold medal in the women's doubles and bronze medal in the singles. She represented Herne Bay and Kent.

Personal life

Smith has lived in South Africa since her marriage and then represented Transvaal on the squash court in provincial tournaments.

Achievements

Commonwealth Games

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1966Convention Hall, Kingston, Jamaica

Asian Championships

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1965Lucknow, India

International tournaments (17 titles, 15 runners-up)

Women's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1960French Opensilver2