County Badminton Report

The Under 13 County Championships played at Sewell Park Sports Centre attracted an entry of twenty two youngsters.The boys singles was played in two groups, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals. There were a number of closely contested games during the group stages, although none could match the tension and excitement of the first semi-final which saw Ben Sharman narrowly beat Dominic Ely 22-20. In the other semi-final James Smith proved too strong for Robbie Hobson, winning 21-15. In the final, Sharman was never really troubled by Smith, taking the title 21-10

The girls singles was also played in two groups, with the seeds comfortably progressing to the semi-finals. Top seed, Devon Minnis reached the final with ease, overcoming Lauren Mortimer, but Kathryn Adamson was made to work hard for her place in the final, beating Georgia Moyes 21-15, but it was Minnis who came out on top in the final to take the title.

In the boys doubles, Ely and Sean Lott beat Sharman and Ben Page 21-19 in the deciding game to take top prize, whilst in the girls event Mortimer and Georgia Moyes managed to edge out Minnis and Adamson 21-20.

In the mixed doubles Sharman and Minnis proved too strong for the opposition,comfortably beating Ely and Adamson 21-13 in the deciding game.

* The veterans started their season with good wins over Northamptonshire, but the Over 40s then lost 9-3 in a hard fought match against a quality Notts team. Representing Norfolk were Eric Plane, Julian Ross, Kevin Stangoe, Krishna Kumar, Mel Love, Donna Howes, Andrea Berger and Louise Copley.

The Over 45s also played Notts and ran out winners by 7 games to 5 in another tough match. The men took all of their games, with several going to three sets, but the ladies could only manage one, so the result depended upon the mixed doubles. David Guy and Jeannine Roe won as first pair, Eddie Simmons and Suzanne Benton narrowly lost in three, Steve Thacker and Jenny Longmore won in three, taking the third set 21-18, but Mark Bennett and Sally Bridgestock unfortunately lost their game. Nevertheless it was a good win against a strong Notts side.

* Norfolk youngsters found the going tough in an Eastern Region Under 16s Tournament played in Harlow against Hertfordshire, Essex and Bedfordshire. Although they finished in bottom position, they played to the best of their ability and gained much valuable experience against three good sides. The team was Chris Parrott, Ben Tozer, Nico Schilling, Amy Sharman, Lauren Read and Sarah Harvey.