The birth of the EZBC.
A few overseas Swiss who returned to Switzerland because of the 1st World War did not want to give up beloved pleasures. These included the game of badminton. The founders of the first badminton club “First Badminton Club of Zurich” in 1919 were, among others, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz W. and Jessie E. Kronauer-Edwards. In the beginning, friendly matches were played against the other clubs. This was only possible through personal contact.
At the beginning of the 70’s the club had to give up the name “First”, as no English names were tolerated in the association any more. Therefore the club is now called: Erster Zürcher Badminton Club.
EZBC Chronicle
In the beginning, friendly matches were played against other clubs. This was made possible by personal contacts.
30s
The First Zurich Badminton Club won the “Och frères Challenge Cup” in Lausanne in 1931 with a superior score of 4:1 against BC Lausanne, including the founders Jessie and Fritz Kronauer-Edwards.
40s, 50s and 60s
The Walter and Gertrud Böhler family regularly invited the EZBC to Arosa for a weekend of skiing.
The children Susi, Christoph, Hannes, Robert, Thomy and Ueli left their mark on the club for years. In addition, there were several invitations in the younger years to Lidwil on Lake Obersee.
1952
First international tournament in Lausanne
1954
On 16 May, the SBV (Swiss Badminton Association) is founded with eight clubs from Zurich (including First Badminton Club Zurich, Sporting and Blau Weiss), St. Gallen, Geneva, Lausanne, Sissach and Wettingen. The first president is Hans Peter Kunz, vice-president Till Haberfeld.
1956
The first Zurich City Badminton Championships are announced by BC Blau-Weiss and held in the Ilgen hall on two courts. Till Haberfeld was the first OC president. Only players from clubs in the city of Zurich could participate.
The first winners were: E. and G. Oeler in the singles competitions, Oeler/Oeler in the mixed and Tagemann/Bruppacher in the men’s doubles.
Swiss Champion Women’s Doubles: Ruth Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1957
First Badminton Interclub Championship with men’s and women’s teams.
Winner men: B.C. Blau Weiss
Winner Ladies: First Badminton Club of Zurich (Ruth Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller).
Swiss Champion Women’s Singles: Lotti Füller
Swiss Champion Women’s Doubles: Ruth Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1958
SM Women’s Doubles: Ruth Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1959
SM Women’s Doubles: Ruth Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1961
SM-vize women’s singles: Susi Böhler (after marriage Grob) (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1962
SM women’s doubles: Susi Böhler and Trudi Held (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
SM Women’s singles: Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
1963
The “wood rule” (stroke with the frame, formerly made of wood) is abolished again by the Swiss Badminton Association.
All players from Switzerland are admitted to the Zurich Championships.
SM Women’s Doubles: Eschenmoser and Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
SM Women’s Singles: Lotti Füller (First Badminton Club of Zurich)
In 1966 our founding member Fritz W. Kronauer-Edwards passed away.
In the 70s
The club had to give up the name “First”, as English names were no longer tolerated in the association.
1975
The last of our founding members, Mrs. Jesse E. Kronauer-Edwards passed away and left a legacy to the Club, which was invested in the Jesse E. Kronauer Fund (1976).
1989
Cantonal Championships: Tournament management: Ueli Böhler, Admin.: Werner Schoch
In the 90s – 2009 years
1994 SM Mixed Doubles S 40: Agathe Schoch and Werner Schoch (EZBC)
1998 SM Men’s singles S 40: Werner Schoch
1999 SM Men’s Doubles S 40: Erwin Ging (La Chaux-de-Fonds) and Werner Schoch (EZBC)
2001 SM Men’s Doubles S 45: Erwin Ging (La Chaux-de-Fonds)and Werner Schoch (EZBC)
2002 SM Men’s Doubles S 45: Erwin Ging (La Chaux-de-Fonds)and Werner Schoch (EZBC)
From the 90s to 2009, various silver and bronze medals were won by players.
The Whist Drive is our social event where no one can miss out. It used to be held in a guild house and was the gala evening of the club. The ladies came in long evening dress and the gentlemen in tails.
Whist Drive is a game with the bridge cards where you only count the tricks. The ace is the highest card, the suit must always be indicated, if someone does not have the corresponding suit, he can take the trick with a trump (always hearts) (trumping is possible). There are always 2 against 2. After the whist drive there is a communal dinner.
The club tournament is one of the other social events that take place annually.
For some years now, the Christmas dinner has been organised together with the whist drive.