Cornwall Youth Badminton club were celebrating at the weekend when they were crowned Junior Club of the Year at the annual Cornwall Sports Awards.
The club, which boasts an impressive 94 members, won the coveted award, collected by coach Jon Wotton (pictured), after seeing off the challenge from 9 other shortlisted local sports clubs, including those in athletics, football, triathlon, hockey and American football.
The award was the result of ‘an amazing year’ according to BADMINTON England regional officer, Emma Austin, who also cited the “commitment and drive from the committee, players, coaches and players” as being a major factor in the club’s success both on court and at the awards ceremony.
Austin added “The award marks a new buzz that has been created within the badminton scene right across Cornwall. It is fitting, and even more satisfying, being handed out in the London 2012 Olympic year”.
The club, who were set up 7 years ago to cater for local demand for structured junior badminton coaching in the county, are no strangers to the Olympic limelight.
Regular club member Georgia Higgs made national headlines when she was selected as one of 5 young sports ambassadors to accompany David Beckham to Greece to collect the Olympic flame that kickstarted the nationwide torch relay ahead of London 2012.
Cornwall Youth Badminton, who are already affiliated to BADMINTON England for the 2012/13 season, are now working hard in the local community to support coaching in primary schools right across the county whilst players in the U17 squad bolster the coaching ranks by mentoring younger age groups. A new primary school festival is also in the plans for 2013.
Jenny Marchant, chairperson of Cornwall Junior Badminton, stated “This award is a tribute to all past and current members of CYB, of whom we are always proud, and are proof of what can be achieved by working as a team with a common set of values.
“It is wonderful to watch the players develop not just into talented badminton players but also responsible, young members of their local communities"
