EXCITEMENT MOUNTS AS CORNISH LADY, JO PHILP, FROM PORT ISAAC, IS SEEDED IN THE MIXED DOUBLES EVENT.
ANOTHER bumper overall entry of around 100 players - with fifty in the men’s singles – will be competing in the Duchy of Cornwall 29th “Open” Badminton Championships, with competitors drawn from a good spread of English Counties, together with West Glamorgan, from the Welsh Principality.
The prestigious Event, A Tournament in the BADMINTON England Senior Silver Circuit, with its prize-fund totalling £1,260, is scheduled for Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Pool, Near Redruth, its usual Base, next Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 17/18, writes John Tresidder.
The famous Tournament, promoted by The Cornwall County Badminton Association, is known, universally, as one of the most enjoyable and best organised on the English Badminton Circuit.
Main Sponsors:
GRAPHIC SOLUTIONS - www.graphicsols.com - the Computer Company, from Farnborough, Hampshire, together with TAG SPORTS - www.tagsports.co.uk, in conjunction with YONEX UK LTD, have joined forces, once more, as the Tournament’s joint main sponsors.
The Countryman Inns Free Houses Group, from Piece, Carnkie, Near Redruth, together Dales Renault, based at Scorrier and Summercourt, are amongst the other generous backers, of the Championships.
Programme-of-Events (10.00am start each day):
Saturday:
Men’s and Ladies’ Singles, followed by Mixed Doubles, extending to the semi-finals stage on the Saturday evening.
Sunday:
* Mixed Doubles Semi-finals and the Final, plus Men’s and Ladies’ Level Doubles.
“Bleacher” tiered seating will be set out for players, supporters and spectators, as in past years, with the entry to the hall and the Centre, itself, being free.
* NB: If there is a window of opportunity, then the Mixed Doubles semis and final may be contested on the Saturday evening.
Chris and Vikki installed as the favourites in the singles’ blue ribband Events, as Cornish Lady, Jo. receives a seeding in the Mixed Doubles:
Moving on to the play, on Day One, in the Men’s and Ladies’ Singles, the blue ribband events, Gloucestershire’s Chris Hotchen, the defending champion and Vikki Jones, the Mid-Glamorgan No. 1, have been installed by the seeding committee, as the favourites to lift the trophies,
Meanwhile, Jo. Philp, the Cornwall senior number one lady - a Midwifery student at Truro College - together with her partner David Edgar, from Cheshire, are seeded to reach the semi-finals of the mixed doubles, the four groupings of which get underway on the afternoon of the first day.
Furthermore, Miss Philp, aged 18, of the bubbly personality, who hails from Port Isaac, also has the talent to perform well in the singles competition, which precedes the mixed.
On Day Two, Edgar and his partner, Keith Cuncarr, his county compatriot, seeded two in the Men’s Event, behind Robert Cooper and John Hepworth, the number one combination, from Staffordshire/Hampshire, have the ability to win the contest outright, to record a second Duchy Men’s Doubles for the popular Cheshire duo.
CYB well represented:
There is another good turn out, from Cornwall, the host, of over twenty players, including a healthy contingent of youngsters from the successful Cornwall Youth Badminton (CYB) Organisation, with Jenny Marchant at the helm, as Chairman and with its Main Sponsor in Dairy Crest Davidstow, of the Cornish Cathedral City Cheese Company.
David on the referee’s console:
David Burgess, an experienced International Referee, based in Barnstaple, North Devon, is the official in charge of the play in the hall over the weekend.
* Duchy Committee of Management, 2011:
Mrs. Linda Collins: Chairman & Hon. Tournament Secretary;
Mr. David Burgess: Hon. Tournament Referee;
Mr. Paul Martin: Hon. Treasurer;
Mr. Paul Collins: Tournament Co-ordinator/Hall Manager;
Mr. John Tresidder: Press/Promotions Officer.
Chairman Linda looking forward to another exhilarating weekend:
Linda Collins, the diligent and enthusiastic Chairman and Tournament Secretary of Event, who has been in post since 1988, comments: “We look forward to One & All calling into the Carn Brea Hall, over the weekend, of September 17/18, where one will be made most welcome, as usual, to witness, some more very exciting badminton, indeed.”
Finally, the comprehensive review/results, will be published in the Cornish & Devon Press (WB: 26th September), as well as being posted on the Cornwall Badminton Website: www.cornwallbadminton.co.uk
29TH DUCHY OPEN: SEEDS:
Top Two listed in the five main events:
Men’s Singles:
No. 1: Chris Hotchen (Glos) – defending champion;
No. 2: Will Hilton-Jackson (Sussex).
Ladies Singles:
No. 1: Vikki Jones (Mid-Gam);
No. 2: Kelly Holdway (Hants).
Men’s Doubles:
No. 1: Robert Cooper/John Hepworth, (Staffs/Hants);
No. 2: Keith Cuncarr/David Edgar (both Cheshire) - former champions.
Ladies’ Doubles:
No. 1: Elena Johnson/Kelly Holdway (Middlesex/Hants);
No. 2: Jenny SargentKath Gittens (both Dorset).
Mixed Doubles:
No: 1: John Hepworth/Kelly Holdway (both Hants);
No 2: Robert Cooper /Alice King (Staffs/Sussex);
No. 3/4: David Edgar/Jo. Philp (Cheshire/Cornwall);
Nick Strange/Vikki Jones (both Mid-Glam)
