Robin Lesley Denton (née Glenie; born ) is a New Zealand

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players pe ...

player. She competed at three Commonwealth Games between 1970 and 1982, and won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles with Steve Wilson at the

1982 Commonwealth Games The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...

Early life and family

Denton was born Robin Lesley Glenie in 1950 or 1951, one of five children of Gwen Gibson Glenie (née Gardner) and Jack Patrick Glenie. Her siblings include

Alison Glenie Alison may refer to: People * Alison (given name), including a list of people with the name * Alison (surname) Music * ''Alison'' (album), aka ''Excuse Me'', a 1975 album by Australian singer Alison MacCallum * "Alison" (song), song by Elvi ...

, who was also a New Zealand badminton representative. She was educated at

St Cuthbert's College, Auckland St Cuthbert's College is a private (independent) Presbyterian-based day and boarding school for girls aged 4 to 18 (Years 0 to 13), located in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. The school was established in 1915 and has a roll of approximately 1 ...

. She became a schoolteacher and married international badminton umpire Robert Denton, also a teacher.

Badminton

Denton represented New Zealand in badminton at three Commonwealth Games: in 1970, 1974 and 1982. At the

1970 British Commonwealth Games The 1970 British Commonwealth Games (Scottish Gaelic: Geamannan a 'Cho-fhlaitheis Bhreatainn 1970) were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 16 to 25 July 1970. This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first tim ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, competing as Robin Glenie, she lost her respective opening matches in the women's singles and women's doubles (with her sister Alison Glenie). In the mixed doubles, with

John Compton Sir John George Melvin Compton, (29 April 1925 – 7 September 2007) was a Saint Lucian politician who became the first Prime Minister upon independence in February 1979. Having led Saint Lucia under British rule from 1964 to 1979, Compton ser ...

, she won her first match before being eliminated in the round of 16. In 1974, competing under her married name at the

British Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exce ...

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

, she was again defeated in the first round of the women's singles. In the women's doubles, partnering her sister Alison, she won her first round match before being eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Malaysian pair of

Rosalind Singha Ang Dato' Rosalind Singha Ang (; born 1941 in Yala Province) is a former badminton player from Malaysia. Her parents were Malaysians of Chinese descent. Career The woman who has been labeled as the shuttle queen Rosalind Singha Ang crafted her ...

and

Sylvia Ng Sylvia Ng Meow Eng (born 24 September 1949 in Johor Bahru) is a former badminton player from Malaysia. She was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia's Hall of Fame in 2004. Career Her major international success in 1969 was at the So ...

. In the mixed doubles she and partner

Bryan Purser Bryan Russell Purser (born ) is a New Zealand badminton player. He competed at two Commonwealth Games, in 1974 and 1978, and won the bronze medal in the men's doubles with his brother, Richard Purser, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Early life ...

won their first-round match, before losing in the round of 16. At her final Commonwealth Games, in

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

, Denton lost in the first round of the women's singles. With Toni Whittaker she reached the quarter-finals of the women's doubles, and she won the bronze medal with Steve Wilson in the mixed doubles. In the mixed teams event, Denton was a part of the New Zealand team that finished fourth, losing to Malaysia in the play-off for the bronze medal.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Denton, Robin 1950s births Living people Badminton players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand New Zealand female badminton players Commonwealth Games medallists in badminton 20th-century New Zealand women 21st-century New Zealand women Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games