Tuesday 26 April 2011

2011 U17 NOTTINGHAM ICT

Cornwall U17 Badminton Team travelled to Nottingham University on Sunday 17th April to compete in the Annual National Inter Counties Tournament (ICT). This was the culmination of 12 months training and competing by the players who were aiming to move Cornwall up the National Inter County rankings.




TEAM
Sam Spencer - Truro College (Capt),Kris Jasper - Launceston College, Tony Marshall - Budehaven School, Chris Grout - Launceston College, Kynan Clarke - Truro College.
Beth Wotton - Hayle School (Capt),Abigail Logg - St Catherines RC Launceston, Beth Rich - Mounts Bay School, Hannah Robertson - Callington School, Hester Luke - Mounts Bay School.

At 12 midday on the Monday the Team commenced 4 days of intensive matches against a top 10 seeded team from Hampshire. Overall result 9-1 to Hampshire but every player competed, and notched up a very respectable overall points tally. Next followed Staffordshire, another highly ranked team. A score of 7-3 against Cornwall did not reflect some great individual performances and a 5-5 draw was on the cards at the midway point of the match. The final match on day one was another hard encounter taking on Nottinghamshire. Another scoreline of 7-3,but again great performances and an outstanding mixed doubles win for Chris and Hannah in 3 ends of nail biting rallies. Our boys pairings of Sam and Tony and Kris Jasper and Kynan both winning exceptional matches.

Day two started early with a match v Middlesex. The standard of play was high on both sides of the court, Tony having a magnificent 3 ends of singles losing narrowly in the third. Final result 9-1 Middlesex, but again the team were always running their higher fancied opponents close in each match. Oxfordshire followed and a 10-0 score reflected the exceptional talent of some of the Oxfordshire boys, our girls going so close, Abi missing out on a fantastic effort in her singles. Both our boys were matched against Gold standard singles players and Sam at no1 and Kris at no2 were exceptional, working tirelessly to increase our teams points tally. Both players producing some incredible rallies of speed, agility and technical ability.

Day Three took the team to a different venue within the City. What a start is was, a must win game to move up the rankings, paved the way for some outstanding performances, notably Kynan in his singles. However a true “team” performance resulted in a 7-3 victory for Cornwall. This was immediately followed by a nail biting match v Isle Of Man. Cornwall losing out 6-4,but a determined performance by Tony and Sam coming back from one end down in the doubles showed that there was still more to come from our team.

The team regrouped and arguably gave their best team performance of the competition, defeating Norfolk on a 5-5 count back, the opposition not expecting such an outcome. Every player gave 100 % Beth Rich winning a monumental singles.
The last day saw a “local” derby v Wiltshire and the team were determined to reverse last seasons ICT result against the same opposition. The girls stepped up to the mark ,with our Bethanys winning their doubles and Hannah and Hester likewise. Beth Rich again delivered in her singles. Kynan won a hard fought singles in 3 and both our mixed pairings of Chris and Beth W and Hannah and Tony won.
A scoreline of 6-4 in Cornwalls favour.

The teams final position of 34 moved the county off bottom place up six places and into a higher grouping. A fantastic achievement winning 3 matches ,competing against the very best players from across the Country and some outstanding badminton by our youngsters.

The team returned to the University to watch the early stages of the final, Warwickshire v Cheshire, watching the England no1 boys singles champion in awe inspiring form.

A long trip home resulted in our last few players returning at 2am to Penzance after the 320 miles !!

Very many thanks to our main sponsors “Dairy Crest Davidstow”, the players wearing their shirts and hoodies with immense pride throughout the 4 days.

Thanks also to all local outlets, supermarkets across the county who supplied sports drinks and energy bars for our players.

2012 promises to be another challenging year at the ICT but the bar has been raised and it is intended to rise to the challenge !!

Team managers ;
Jon Wotton-Sue Cooper.

Monday 4 April 2011

CORNWALL U17s v WILTSHIRE U17s

MATCH REPORT - Amesbury Sunday 3rd April 2011
Cornwall U17s finish their South West Counties League campaign in fine style

Cornwall U17s Badminton Team travelled to Amesbury, Wiltshire in a confident mood after a comprehensive win over near neighbours Somerset the previous weekend. The Duchy were looking to consolidate 4th place in the South West Counties League and also push for 3rd place when all final match results for the season are consolidated. An early start for some of our players, 6am from Penzance did not dampen the teams spirits. On arrival the team warmed up and soon got to grips with the challenges of the afternoon.

TEAM.
Boys; Sam Spencer (Capt) - Truro College ,Kris Jasper - Launceston College, Chris Grout - Launceston College, Tony Marshall - Bude Haven School, Kynan Clarke - Truro College, Christian Jasper - Launceston College.
Girls; Beth Wotton (Capt) - Hayle School, Beth Rich - Mounts Bay School, Abi Logg - St Catherines Launceston, Hannah Robertson - Callington sixth Form, Rachael Collard - Callington sixth Form, Hester Luke - Mounts Bay School.

Seven of the Counties players were competing for the last time as Junior U17 County Players and were keen to finish in style. The girls simply blew away the opposition with 6 wins from 6 in the singles. Each player reaping the benefits of a season long fitness programme. The boys worked hard in all their games but failed to take the top 3 matches. Sam at no2 playing a tenacious match but ultimately just being narrowly beaten in two ends. Tony as always played a long patient game and finally took the third end 21-13. A great season of County singles for Tony. Kynan was simply too strong for his opponent at no5 and Christian took his last singles match for the County at No6 in 3 ends.

Into the doubles with a healthy 9-3 advantage. Again our girls proved too strong winning 7 out of the 9 matches. Our no1 pairing in their final County match Beth Wotton and Beth Rich continuing their recent good form with 3 straight wins in two ends. The boys kept pace and a relatively new pairing of Kris Jasper and Kynan Clarke took all 3 matches with some great attacking play. Sam and Christian took 2 matches but the match of the day was to be played between the Wiltshire no1s against Tony and Chris Grout. End to end attack, long rallies left it one end all. Into the final end and what a game it was! The final score going to sudden death at 29-29, a nail biting final rally saw the Wiltshire pair take it 30-29 !!! An incredible match warmly applauded by all spectators and all players stopping their own matches to watch the closing points from 20-20. Spectacular badminton !!!

The score read 23-7 in the Cornwalls favour going into the mixed. Beth Wotton and Kris Jasper winning in 3, taking the 3rd end in fine style 21-13 at no1 Hannah and Chris Grout going to 3 ends at no2 but unable to take the last end losing 21-15. Beth Rich and Tony at 3 won in style in two ends. Abi and Sam were comfortable winning in two at no 4. Hester and Kynan after a slow start won well, winning the 3rd end 21-9. It was left to Rachael and Christian to finish the match at no6 with vocal support from both sets of players and spectators adding to the atmosphere. A comfortable win in two ends saw a final scoreline; CORNWALL 28 WILTSHIRE 8.

County badges were awarded to Hester Luke, Rachael Collard and Kynan Clarke on representing their County for the 3rd time this season.

A final thank you to all parents who have unstintingly supported our players and the team over a long season, taking players to numerous tournaments, a significant number out of Cornwall, in order to gain invaluable experience.

The overall performance of the Team has surpassed expectations and completely transformed the counties South West position. We wish the following players good luck in their future badminton careers as they move into the County 17-21 age group and Senior County from September; Sam Spencer, Tony Marshall, Chris Grout, Kynan Clarke, Christian Jasper , Beth Wotton and Beth Rich. Tony, Chris and Beth Wotton having represented Cornwall at 3 age groups, Under 13-15 and 17.

Training now continues for two final weeks for all of these players as they prepare for our final event of the season. Ten players will be competing in the National Harrod Inter Counties Tournament over 5 days at Nottingham University between 17-21st April. Here they will compete against the Countries very best players of both National and International standard.

Team Managers Sue Cooper-Jon Wotton