Medals and More Medals in Cardiff

Many Avon players travelled over the bridge to the Welsh Badminton Unions South Central Wales JSS Tournament over the weekend of the 15^th/16^th March 2008.

In the U11’s there were run outs for Dylan and Cavan Evans and Elise Cory in their first Tournaments outside Avon. Kirby Ngan was unlucky as her first match was against the Welsh number 1, and without anyone having a proper warm up, she was a bit slow to start. She recovered well to beat the other welsh player to finish 2^nd in the box and make it into the semi-final. Megan Foreman started well playing Elise in her 1^st game, then beat the welsh number 4 in 2 games. She had a tough match against the welsh number 2, Sophie Arrighi, recovering from losing the 1^st game to win in 3 and win the box.

This set up a semi of Kirby and Megan which had everyone on the edge of their seats, and could have gone either way. Megan got to 14/9 game point, in the 1^st game, but Kirby just kept plugging away and eventually took it 17/15. Megan took the 2^nd 15/7, all to play for in the 3^rd. Kirby took an early lead, and then they matched one another point for point with Megan pulling it back to 14/14. The next few points were tense, but Megan finally took the match 17/15!

Megan met the Welsh No 1, Bethany Richards in the Final, but lost out in 2 to take the SILVER MEDAL.

In the doubles, Kirby and Megan beat the Welsh no 2’s 15/14,15/7, to set up a Final with the Welsh no. 1’s. This they unfortunately lost in 2 to take the SILVER MEDAL.

In the U13’s, Saskia Manson, Anna Manley, Peter Wrigglesworth, Henley Ngan and Jack Costello travelled across.

Saskia finished 2^nd in her box losing to the welsh no.1, and Anna won all hers including a 3 setter against the welsh no. 2. Saskia won her quarter final match 15/13, 15/12 to set a Avon semi with Anna. This was a close 3 setter which Anna finally won 14/16, 15/7, 15/12. Anna played the Welsh no 1 Ellen Mahenthiralingham in the Final, but lost in 2 to take the SILVER MEDAL.

In the doubles the girls did very well winning their 1^st 2 games to set up the Final with the Welsh no. 1’s. This they won in 2 to take the GOLD MEDAL.

In the boys, Peter had only 1 game in his box which he won to take him into the semi’s. Here he met the no 1 seed Matthew Vacher, but despite taking the 1^st game, he lost in 3. Jack came runner up in his box, and then won his quarter final match to go into the semi’s. Henley won both his very tight box matches, including Matthew Vacher the no 1 seed, to make it into another Avon semi against Jack. They had a close match which Henley won in 2. Henley was in the Final against Matthew Vacher again. This time it was a much closer match, with Henley recovering from losing the 1^st 14/21, to win the next  21/13 & 21/18 to take the GOLD MEDAL.

In the doubles, Henley unfortunately did not have a partner, but jack and Peter won through to the Final which they won 21/15, 22/20 to take the GOLD MEDAL.

In the mixed, Jack and Saskia finished 2^nd in their box, whilst Pete and Anna won theirs. This meant they met in the semi’s with Pete and Anna going through to the Final. Here they met the Welsh no 1,s and unfortunately lost in 2 to take the SILVER MEDAL.

U17s

With younger siblings playing in Cardiff, it was a good opportunity for Heather and Lucy to play in the U17 event on the same day. This was before Lucy realised that she had a group drama performance in the morning meaning that she couldn’t play Singles. Drama continued on the journey, with Jane M risking speed cameras and sanity driving to the venue. Late arrival meant that Lucy and Heather had to play their games back-to-back. Despite this, they found form fairly quickly. In the Final they met the very competent pair, Louise Breen and Rebecca Crowshaw, and narrowly lost. Silver medals for Lucy and Heather – well done. Jane really would like sat-nav for her birthday.

Many thanks to our Welsh hosts for such a friendly and enjoyable day.

Heather and lucy Silver winners at U17