Ulla Strand

Ulla Strand
Personal information
Birth nameUlla Rasmussen
CountryDenmark
Born21 March 1943[1]
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died7 August 2007(2007-08-07) (aged 64)[2]
Women's and Mixed doubles
Career title(s)10 times All England Champion
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Denmark
European Championships
1974 Vienna Women's doubles
European Mixed Team Championships
1974 Vienna Mixed team

Ulla Strand (21 March 1943 – 7 August 2007), born as Ulla Rasmussen, was badminton player of Denmark who excelled from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. Though she won three Danish national singles titles and reached the women's singles final at the All-England Championships in 1965, most of her major championship victories were in doubles (often with her sister Karin Jorgensen) and mixed doubles. Attractive and charismatic, she was a crowd favorite throughout her career.

She was included in the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1999. Ulla Strand died in 2007 after a long illness.[2]

Career

Strand won 10 All England Open Badminton Championships titles, 7 in mixed doubles and 3 in women's doubles. She also won 21 Danish National Championships between 1961 and 1974, and 19 Nordic Championships between 1962 and 1973.

1972 Summer Olympics

Strand competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, as a demonstration sport competition. In women's singles, she lost in the first round against Noriko Nakayama, 11-5, 11-9. In mixed doubles she played with Svend Pri, and they were beaten in the final by Derek Talbot and Gillian Gilks of Great Britain, 15-6, 18-16.

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1972 Volleyballhalle, Munich, West Germany Svend Pri Derek Talbot
Gillian Gilks
6–15, 16–18 Silver

European Championships

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Pernille Kaagaard Nora Gardner
Susan Whetnall
8–15, 12–15 Bronze

International tournaments (55 titles, 40 runners-up)

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1962 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen 11–3, 5–11, 11–4 Winner
1963 Nordic Championships Anne Flindt 11–7, 11–3 Winner
1963 German Open Judy Hashman 10–12, 9–12 Runner-up
1964 Nordic Championships Pernille Mølgaard Hansen 11–8, 11–3 Winner
1964 German Open Judy Hashman 2–11, 3–11 Runner-up
1964 Swedish Open Judy Hashman 10–12, 3–11 Runner-up
1965 All England Open Ursula Smith 7–11, 7–11 Runner-up
1965 Nordic Championships Eva Twedberg 8–11, 12–10, 12–10 Winner
1965 Swedish Open Eva Twedberg 11–2, 1–11, 4–11 Runner-up
1966 Canadian Open Judy Hashman 7–11, 7–11 Runner-up
1966 Nordic Championships Eva Twedberg 11–5, 11–6 Winner
1966 Denmark Open Lizbeth von Barnekow 4–11, 6–11 Runner-up
1967 Swedish Open Imre Rietveld 11–6, 4–11, 11–6 Winner
1967 German Open Eva Twedberg 2–11, 6–11 Runner-up
1967 Norwegian International Eva Twedberg 11–3, 8–11, 3–11 Runner-up
1967 Nordic Championships Eva Twedberg 3–11, 2–11 Runner-up
1968 Swedish Open Eva Twedberg 2–11, 0–11 Runner-up
1968 Nordic Championships Jette Føge 9–12, 10–12 Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1962 German Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Tonny Holst-Christensen
12–15, 9–15 Runner-up
1962 All England Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Tonny Holst-Christensen
5–15, 3–15 Runner-up
1962 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen Bente Kristiansen
Aase Winther
15–10, 15–18, 4–15 Runner-up
1962 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Eva Petterson
Gunilla Dahlström
15–5, 15–6 Winner
1962 Belgian International Karin Jørgensen Ursula Smith
Jenny Pritchard
17–16, 7–15, 15–8 Winner
1962 Dutch Open Bente Flindt Els Robbé
Jenny Pritchard
15–11, 15–8 Winner
1963 German Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
15–8, 15–10 Winner
1963 All England Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
6–15, 9–15 Runner-up
1963 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Anne Flindt
Bente Flindt
6–15, 15–4, 15–9 Winner
1963 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen Ursula Smith
June Timperley
15–2, 18–14 Winner
1964 All England Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
15–11, 6–15, 15–10 Winner
1964 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
Lizbeth von Barnekow
11–15, 18–14 Runner-up
1964 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Mary O'Sullivan
7–15, 3–15 Runner-up
1965 All England Open Karin Jørgensen Jenny Pritchard
Ursula Smith
15–10, 15–0 Winner
1965 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Eva Twedberg
Gunilla Dahlström
15–9, 15–4 Winner
1965 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen Eva Twedberg
Gunilla Dahlström
15–1, 15–4 Winner
1966 German Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
7–15, 3–15 Runner-up
1966 All England Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
5–15, 17–14, 12–15 Runner-up
1966 U.S. Open Ursula Smith Judy Hashman
Sue Peard
5–15, 5–15 Runner-up
1966 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Eva Twedberg
Gunilla Dahlström
15–9, 15–6 Winner
1966 Denmark Open Karin Jørgensen Heather Ward
Imre Rietveld
15–4, 15–12 Winner
1966 Swedish Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Eva Twedberg
15–12, 10–15, 8–15 Runner-up
1967 All England Open Imre Rietveld Judy Hashman
Janet Brennan
11–15, 15–8, 15–4 Winner
1967 Dutch Open Imre Rietveld Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
Lizbeth von Barnekow
15–5, 15–4 Winner
1967 Denmark Open Imre Rietveld Hiroe Amano
Noriko Takagi
12–15, 15–9, 8–15 Runner-up
1967 Swedish Open Lonny Funch Imre Rietveld
Eva Twedberg
15–9, 15–4 Winner
1967 Norwegian International Lizbeth von Barnekow Eva Twedberg
Gittan Nyberg
15–1, 15–8 Winner
1967 Nordic Championships Lizbeth von Barnekow Eva Twedberg
Marianne Flykt
18–13, 15–3 Winner
1967 German Open Lizbeth von Barnekow Irmgard Latz
Marieluise Wackerow
14–18, 15–9, 9–15 Runner-up
1968 Denmark Open Karin Jørgensen Hiroe Amano
Noriko Takagi
11–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1968 Swedish Open Lonny Funch Anne Flindt
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
4–15, 15–6, 18–16 Winner
1968 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Anne Flindt
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
6–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1971 Dutch Open Karin Jørgensen Judy Hashman
Gillian Gilks
6–15, 2–15 Runner-up
1971 Nordic Championships Karin Jørgensen Anne Flindt
Pernille Kaagaard
walkover Runner-up
1973 Denmark Open Karin Jørgensen Marjan Luesken
Joke van Beusekom
14–17, 14–17 Runner-up
1973 Nordic Championships Pernille Kaagaard Lonny Bostofte
Lene Køppen
15–12, 15–10 Winner
1974 Denmark Open Pernille Kaagaard Machiko Aizawa
Etsuko Takenaka
15–18, 15–12 Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1959 French Open Arne Rasmussen Atte Nyberg
Mireille Laurent
9–15, 5–15 Runner-up
1962 All England Open Finn Kobberø Poul-Erik Nielsen
Inge Birgit Hansen
15–1, 15–11 Winner
1962 Nordic Championships Poul-Erik Nielsen Bertil Glans
Gunilla Dahlström
15–10, 15–14 Winner
1962 Belgian International Finn Kobberø Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen
Karin Jørgensen
6–15, 15–10, 15–6 Winner
1962 Dutch Open Oon Chong Teik Charoen Wattanasin
Els Robbé
15–10, 15–5 Winner
1963 All England Open Finn Kobberø Tony Jordan
June Timperley
15–8, 15–12 Winner
1963 Nordic Championships Henning Borch Ole Mertz
Karin Jørgensen
15–13, 15–8 Winner
1963 Swedish Open Poul-Erik Nielsen Tony Jordan
June Timperley
9–15, 15–3, 15–4 Winner
1964 All England Open Finn Kobberø Tony Jordan
Jenny Pritchard
10–15, 13–18 Runner-up
1964 Nordic Championships Finn Kobberø Ole Mertz
Annette Rye
15–6, 15–12 Winner
1965 All England Open Finn Kobberø Tony Jordan
Jenny Pritchard
9–15, 15–4, 15–12 Winner
1965 Swedish Open Henning Borch Berndt Dahlberg
Gunilla Dahlström
15–9, 15–9 Winner
1965 Nordic Championships Erland Kops Bengt-Ake Jonsson
Gunilla Dahlström
15–11, 15–10 Winner
1966 Canadian Open Ng Boon Bee Donald C. Paup
Helen Tibbetts
15–10, 15–9 Winner
1966 German Open Morten Pommergaard Wolfgang Bochow
Irmgard Latz
15–6, 15–8 Winner
1966 All England Open Finn Kobberø Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
15–13, 15–3 Winner
1966 Denmark Open Finn Kobberø Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
8–15, 15–7, 15–11 Winner
1966 Swedish Open Henning Borch Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
7–15, 15–9, 8–15 Runner-up
1966 Nordic Championships Per Walsøe Henning Borch
Karin Jørgensen
15–1, 15–9 Winner
1967 German Open Per Walsøe Tony Jordan
Angela Bairstow
15–8, 15–8 Winner
1967 All England Open Svend Pri Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
15–2, 15–10 Winner
1967 Denmark Open Svend Pri Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
15–11, 15–12 Winner
1967 Swedish Open Henning Borch Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
6–15, 15–11, 4–15 Runner-up
1967 Norwegian International Elo Hansen Erland Kops
Lizbeth von Barnekow
15–9, 15–12 Winner
1967 Nordic Championships Erland Kops Henning Borch
Lizbeth von Barnekow
8–15, 17–14, 15–13 Winner
1968 Denmark Open Svend Pri Per Walsøe
Pernille Mølgaard Hansen
12–15, 2–15 Runner-up
1970 Denmark Open Klaus Kaagaard Henning Borch
Imre Rietveld Nielsen
15–11, 13–18, 15–10 Winner
1970 Nordic Championships Svend Pri Jørgen Mortensen
Anne Flindt
15–11, 6–15, 15–10 Winner
1971 Denmark Open Svend Pri Ray Stevens
Barbara Hood
15–13, 15–11 Winner
1971 All England Open Svend Pri Derek Talbot
Gillian Gilks
15–12, 8–15, 15–11 Winner
1971 Dutch Open Svend Pri Derek Talbot
Gillian Gilks
4–15, 15–6, 16–17 Runner-up
1971 Nordic Championships Svend Pri Per Walsøe
Pernille Kaagaard
walkover Runner-up
1972 Swedish Open Svend Pri David Eddy
Gillian Gilks
10-15, 8–15 Runner-up
1972 Denmark Open Svend Pri Wolfgang Bochow
Marieluise Wackerow
7–15, 15–13, 10–15 Runner-up
1972 All England Open Svend Pri Derek Talbot
Gillian Gilks
12–15, 15–8, 15–12 Winner
1972 Nordic Championships Elo Hansen Per Walsøe
Pernille Kaagaard
15–11, 15–11 Winner
1973 Denmark Open Elo Hansen Derek Talbot
Nora Gardner
4–15, 17–14, 15–10 Winner
1973 Nordic Championships Elo Hansen Gert Perneklo
Eva Stuart
15–11, 15–11 Winner
1974 Denmark Open Elo Hansen Wolfgang Bochow
Marieluise Wackerow
15–5, 15–3 Winner
1974 Swedish Open Henning Borch Roland Maywald
Brigitte Steden
7–15, 6–15 Runner-up

Summary of major tournaments

Rank Event Date Venue
European Championships
3 Women's doubles 1974 Vienna, AUT
Open Championships
1 Women's doubles 1964, 1965, 1967 All England Open
Mixed doubles 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972
1 Women's doubles 1966 Denmark Open
Mixed doubles 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974
1 Women's doubles 1962, 1967 Dutch Open
Mixed doubles 1962
1 Women's doubles 1963 German Open
Mixed doubles 1966, 1967
1 Women's singles 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 Nordic Championships
Women's doubles 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1973
Mixed doubles 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973
1 Women's singles 1962, 1967 Swedish Open
Women's doubles 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968
Mixed doubles 1963, 1965, 1968
1 Mixed doubles 1966 Canadian Open
2 Women's singles 1965 All England Open
Women's doubles 1962, 1963, 1966
Mixed doubles 1964

References

  1. ^ "Døde", Kristeligt Dagblad, August 13, 2007, accessed February 18, 2011. (in Danish)
  2. ^ a b "Ulla Strand er død", Danmarks Badminton Forbund, 2007, accessed February 18, 2011. (in Danish)