CORNWALL U18 BADMINTON NATIONAL SUCCESS

The Cornwall Under 18 Badminton Team consisting of 9 players travelled on Sunday 14th April to compete at the National Inter Counties Tournament held at Nottingham University over 4 days. The event is now in its 54th year and brought 32 County Teams from across England and Ireland together for 4 days of National and International standard competition.

Day One saw matches against Norfolk, Essex and Middlesex. Each match consists of 10 games. Norfolk saw a 5/5 draw with Cornwall losing on a count back score by one end, even having achieved a far higher overall points tally. Essex was a 8/2 defeat but a notable win for Harry Dyer at no1 Singles. Middlesex was a resounding 8/2 victory for the Duchy.

Day Two resulted in the Team getting into a fantastic winning streak with each player performing either at their peak or beyond. Wins against Northumberland 6/4, Cumbria 8/2 and Gloucestershire 5/5 win on a count back score. Cornwall winning their Group and moving into the 17/20 Final positioning Group over the final 2 days.

Day Three was a roller coaster of emotions with breathtaking badminton on display by our players. Cara Collins and Harry Dyer led the way taking their respective number One singles matches. Cheshire was a first ever victory for the Duchy 6/4. Lincolnshire was so so close going to 5/5 and losing on a count back by one end ,again having a far higher overall points tally.

Day Four was the final match to decide the Teams final overall position. On came Nottinghamshire led by their England International Coach and talented Team. The Cornish match of the Tournament pitted Cara, who two weeks previously had become the first ever Cornish Junior Player to compete in a final of a National Championships, where she achieved England National Under 17 Mixed Doubles Silver, against an England International. What a match to behold !! Breathtaking rallies, the match going down to a third end of high emotion both on and off court for each player and team. Cara held her nerve and at 14/14 took the final point with an exquisitely executed long punishing rally 15/14.

Cornwall taking a 7/3 win. Only the second time ever that a Cornish Team has defeated Nottinghamshire. Each player was outstanding throughout a very long match which ran an hour over schedule. Final Cornish Team position 17.Only surpassed by the 2015 Team with a 16 finish. An incredible achievement with only 9 players (a full Team consists of 10) and having one boy injured for the first 4 matches. The Team ethic was outstanding both on and off court.

We wish to thank our main sponsors Dairy Crest Davidstow and Probus Surgical Centre,for their continued support. Thanks to Truro and Penwith College for use of their minibus and the 20 parents and siblings who attended the event and were both seen and heard throughout each match.

TEAM ; CARA COLLINS( LISKEARD BADMINTON CLUB) HARRY DYER, MOLLIE BAILEY(CAPT),BECKIE BAILEY,(ALL FIRST EDITION BADMINTON CLUB)ALEX BEAUMONT(CAPT),MADDIE GRIFFITHS( BOTH TECANS BADMINTON CLUB) FRANK ADAMS,HENRY JACKSON (BOTH MOUNTS BAY BADMINTON CLUB)MISHA HIGGERSON(ST AUSTELL BAY BADMINTON CLUB)

TEAM MANAGERS/COACHES ; CATHRYN BICK,NIGEL COLLINS,CLARE COLLINS,JON WOTTON.

End of season cruise!

                              

                         Don't miss out on the cruise - ask any committee members for tickets!

Badminton’s end of season finale – the Kernow Carlton Cup

On Sunday, six social and league badminton teams from all over Cornwall took part in Cornwall Badminton Association’s inter-team Kernow Carlton Cup competition, run for the second year at the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre in Truro.

                                                 All the teams taking part in 2019

The teams all played each other in matches made up of men’s and women’s doubles plus two mixed doubles games. Following some hard-fought matches in the league format, the second and third placed teams had play-offs against each other, with Ozzell Smashers narrowly defeating their local rivals St Austell Bay by only three points to win second place overall, and then the Choughs team had a comfortable victory over the young Penair team for third.

                                                    Team in action in Truro

The final featured the top two teams, Truro and Tecans Angels, and was an exciting, close affair between two experienced teams. Truro took the women’s doubles after a tight two ends, and then just edged the men’s despite losing the first end. The two mixed doubles that followed were both enthralling games, with honours even in the first mixed, before Truro won the second mixed after a very close first end then a much more emphatic second, to finally give Truro victory overall by six ends to two. A fitting end to an excellent day’s badminton and a good end of season finale.

                                    The finalists - winners Truro and Tecans Angels

The teams - Tecans Angels (Pool), Choughs (Camborne), Truro, Penair (Truro), St Austell Bay, Ozzell Smashers (St Austell).

Cara Flies The Flag For Cornwall

Local Liskeard badminton player, Cara Collins, is believed to have made history at the U17 English National Championships last weekend by being the first Cornish girl to get to a National Championship final.

Cara, who started her badminton career at Liskeard Junior & Inclusive Club and St Neot Primary after school club, gained entry into all three disciplines at this year’s U17 championships: girls singles, doubles and mixed. In singles, she was knocked out in the quarter finals by the England No1 seed after putting up a good fight but loosing 21-15 in both ends. With her U17 girl’s doubles partner Eleanor Butler, Cara fought through to the second day being beaten in the semi final by England’s No1 pair but achieving a bronze national medal.

However, Cara and her mixed doubles partner Ethan Rose, who had only played 2 previous tournaments together, battled through to the second day where they played and beat the England No2 pair in the semi finals. Although they lost the first end 12-21, they fought back to win the second 21-18 and confidently took the final end 21-10 earning them a place in the final against the England No1 pair.

In the first end of the final, Cara and Ethan started strongly taking an early lead of 6-1. However, the more established and experienced partnership of Alex Green and Estelle Van Leeuwen, who are ranked No1 in U17s but 18 and 22 overall in all age groups in England, went on to win the first end 21-17 and the second 21-14. Although disappointed, Cara is delighted to have put Cornwall Youth Badminton on the map, especially as U17s girl’s badminton is dominated by girls from Buckinghamshire who took 8 of the 16 medals available.

Cara’s remarkable achievements were made even more special when she found out that the Cornwall Youth Badminton officials were keeping track of the live scores whilst running the U13 Cornish Championships held on the same day at Treviglas, Newquay. To inspire the upcoming players Jon Wotton, Cornwall Youth Badminton coach and referee, proudly announced at the beginning of mixed doubles event that Cara was making history by currently playing in the English National final.

The bronze and silver U17 English National Championship medals Cara brought home to Cornwall were the result of hard work, support and the love of a sport. However, her achievements would not have been possible without the help of volunteers at Liskeard Junior & Inclusive Club and Cornwall Youth Badminton; her personal coach Malcolm Cooper and group coach Sue Rose. As well as support from GLL Foundation Lux Park, Cornwall Sports Partnership, the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund and Karakal UK who are all helping her work towards the highest levels of success in badminton.

In 2 weeks time, Cara will compete alongside other Cornish youngsters proudly representing Cornwall in the U18s English Inter County Championships in Nottingham.