In the first round Norfolk had to face the ultimate winners, Yorkshire. Devon Minnis and Tom Hinks won their mixed game but Norfolk were unable to build on that and went down 9-1. This was followed by two further defeats , 7-3 to Surrey and 6-4 to Worcester. But Norfolk staged a comeback in the second round, beating Bedfordshire 6-4 , Gloucestershire 7-3, Shropshire 7-3 and getting a 5 all draw against Kent. This meant that Norfolk were left fighting for places 21 to 24 in the final round. All the games in the match against Berkshire were hard fought, with six going to three sets. Minnis won her singles and teamed up with Hinks to take a mixed, but the remaining eight went to their strong opponents. The last two matches were won by Worcestershire 6-4 and Avon 7-3, leaving Norfolk in 24th position out of the 40 counties competing. All the players worked hard as a team and were delighted with their final position. As one player said: “The ICT is a rollercoaster with highs and lows but it is also a wonderful experience which will be remembered for a long time

Representing Norfolk were: Sam Dismore, Tom Hinks, Josh Kent, Nico Schilling, Ben Tozer, Kathryn Adamson, Devon Minnis, Georgia Moyes, Emma Piper and Katie Witting.

U17 ICT Team

Back Row (L-R): Andre Minnis (team manager), Sam Dismore, Josh Kent, Ben Tozer, Tom Hinks, Nico Schilling, Katherine Cooper (team coach)
Front Row (L-R): Maureen Lincoln (team manager), Katie Witting, Emma Piper, Kathryn Adamson, Devon Minnis, Georgia Moyes, Julie Pike (team coach)

Finally, they very much enjoyed the experience of meeting with and talking to Gail Emms MBE, Olympic Silver Medallist and 2006 World Champion and Sarah Milne, a member of Team England.

Thorpe St. Andrew Under 14 Team

* Norfolk were well represented at the 96th All England Senior Open Championships. Ian Murphy, partnered by Carl Jennings from Leicestershire, won the Over 35 mens doubles. Louise Culyer teamed up with Sang Tu from Essex to win the Over 35s mixed doubles and Eric Plane and Debbie Rigby (Lancashire) were the Over 50s mixed doubles champions.

* Norfolk’s junior star, Devon Minnis is still shining right through to the end of an incredible season. Devon and her mixed partner, Matthew Clare (Yorkshire) won the Aros U15 mixed doubles event in Denmark last weekend.They had some really tough matches but came through against a Danish pair, 17-21,21-10,21-19 in the final. She has also been selected to represent England at the UK Schools Games which is being held at the Olympic Park in early May. She will be staying in the athletes village and will be involved in the opening and closing ceremonies. She is looking forward to playing in such a large arena and watching other young athletes competing in other sports Looking back over the season her highlight must have been her selection to play for England, both at home and abroad, and the experience of playing for Norfolk in the Premier B weekends, all at the age of 14.

Norfolk’s fortunes changed in their second match against Leicestershie which they won 6-4. Jacobs picked up his second victory of the day with a hard fought three set game 17-21, 21-17, 21-18, whilst Minnis and Pike both won in two straight sets. Luke Cox played well, making his county first team and premiership debut. The county then won three of the four level doubles, with a three set win for Jacobs and Jonny Cooper and straight set victories for Culyer and Pike and Katherine Cooper and Toni Sturgeon. Justin Gerrard and Jono Atmore just missed out in three sets and Gerrard and Cooper narrowly lost their mixed 21-23 in the third. Overall it was a well deserved match victory for the Norfolk side.The final match of the weekend was against Buckinghamshire, which Norfolk lost 7-3. Jonny Cooper won his singles and then, partnered by Jacobs, won his doubles whilst Katherine Cooper and Gerrard took the third game when their opponents had to retire through injury.

So, over the three weekends, Norfolk lost six matches, won one, with two drawn, which left the team in bottom place. facing a return to Division 1 of the Regional Championships, followed by Lanarkshire The team played well, with determination and enthusiasm but the squad had several key players missing throughout the campaign and needs greater strength in depth if they want to achieve regular prermiership status. The Premiership B champions are Lancashire, followed by Yorkshire.

Please note, the date of the tournament has changed to Sat 19th May.

In the singles, Luke Cox won his match in three sets, whilst Mike Philpott was narrowly beaten in three. Serena Verney and Lucy Curran lost their singles in straight sets.

The men fought back strongly in the doubles with team captain, James Ruthen and Matt Howes winning both their matches and Philpott and Paul Daynes picking up one. Verney and Michelle Dungar shared their doubles with both matches going to three, whilst Curran and Katie Ruthen were beaten in both their games. With the score standing at 7-5 in Staffs favour, Norfolk were still in with a shout if they could win all three mixed doubles. Cox and Verney won their match in another three setter, but Staffs picked up the remaining two to secure their unbeaten promotion run to Division 2.

At Key Stage 3, the boys from Springwood played well to come second in their group but lost a close match in the first semi-final.. But it was the girls from Thorpe St Andrew who set the competition alight for Norfolk. They not only won their group but also had a convincing 5-0 victory over Bedford girls in the first semi-final. The final was an exciting and nail-biting affair  with the girls keeping their nerve to win 3-2 against St Clement Danes ((Herts). The girls, Lauren Mortimer, Kate Sawyer, Beth Underwood and Kylie Amos, will now move on to represent the Eastern Region at Center Parcs, Nottingham on  Saturday, April 21st. We wish them every success.

Pictured: Kylie Amos, Beth Underwood, Kate Sawyer, Lauren Mortimer

Seeded two in the mens singles, he beat Matthew Widdicombe in his semi-final 21-16,21-16, but then lost 21-15,21-16  to top seed Sam Phillips who had earlier triumphed over Chris Evans in his semi 21-13,21-14. Evans reached the semi-finals when Norfolk’s Ian Murphy had to retire in the third set due to the recurrence of a calf injury, which he picked up in a Premiership match in January. In the mens doubles Daryl teamed up with John Hepworth to beat Norfolk’s Luke Cox and Chris Piff 21-17, 21-11 in the semi-finals, only to lose out to brother Steve  and Lee Ackerman 21-17,14-21,21-12 in the final.

Daryl’s winning title came in the mixed doubles when he and Julie Russell beat Chris Piff and Serena Verney 21-8,21-9 in the semis and then went on to take the title 21-17, 21-18 from John Hepworth and Kelly Holdway who had earlier triumphed over Norfolk’s Jono Atmore and Louise Culyer 21-17, 21-15.

Elena Johnson was the star of the two women’s events, beating the hard working but unlucky Culyer 21-11, 21-19 in the singles final  and then, partnered by Holdway, taking the doubles title from Culyer and Toni Sturgeon 21-13,21-12

*   It is often said that badminton is a great sport for all ages to play and enjoy and the county’s Over 60s squad is a good example of that. Just recently they completed their season with excellent 7-5 victories over Lincolnshire and Suffolk, making it their fourth consecutive unbeaten season. Their current squad is Alan Palmer, Copper, Roger Potter, Gerald Cooke, Bob Collinson, Ann Hutchin, Lorner Potter, Lois Ash, Margaret Peters and Pam Mace. But they are still looking for new members for their club “Skiggs Vets” They play at the Bob Carter Centre, Drayton on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10.00am – 12 noon. Why not give it a try!  Further details from Pam Mace on 01603 411190

Seeded ¾ in the singles event, despite the pressure that came with this, she progressed through to the Semi Finals, which was to be played on Sunday, with relative ease. She defeated four opponents on the way, all in two ends, with her confidence improving through each round. And as an added bonus, Devon and her doubles partner from Derbyshire, Sophie Brealey, also seeded ¾, justified their seeding by booking their place in the
Semi Finals too.

Despite a long Saturday Minnis returned to the hall on Sunday rejuvenated and raring to get on for her singles Semi-Final. Her opponent however, was the highly talented Ira banerjee, an opponent that Minnis had not only never beaten, but had also never taken a set off. It was not overly
surprising then that during the early stages of the match Minnis found herself 11-1 down. Her never say die attitude remained though and she played herself into the match, forcing her opponent to play more and more shots per rally and ultimately make errors. Despite losing the first end Minnis
was not fazed by her opponent or the occasion and saw the game out in three sets to set up a Final against the current England number 1 Jessica Pugh. But before the eagerly awaited final Minnis was back on court for her doubles Semi Final, where unfortunately despite a spirited fight, her and her partner went down to the number two seeds Amy George and Nicola Gresty in two close ends.

The Singles Final was always going to be a tough task against a formidable opponent in Jessica Pugh. Jessica is a patient player who uses highly deceptive shots to move her opponent all over the court, waiting patiently for an opening in which to hit a winner. Minnis did not disappoint in a final that produced some high quality badminton and for much of the game used her movement and speed to retrieve world class shots from her opponent and also at times was able to open up Pugh herself to hit some nice winners. Minnis was able to stick with her opponent for long periods of the game, but Jessica’s superior experience during key points enabled her to keep her nose just ahead when it mattered and she eventually justified her number 1 seeding winning in two ends.

For Minnis, a National Silver and Bronze Medallist at these Championships, provides further evidence she is a force to be reckoned with and a bright star of English badminton.

Devon Minnis at the U15 Nationals