OVER 60 players from all parts of Cornwall, including an excellent turn out from Cornwall Youth Badminton, sponsored by Dairy Crest Davidstow, took part in two days of top quality badminton, in the Cornwall Senior “Closed” Badminton Championships, 2011/2012, held at Polkyth Leisure Centre, St. Austell, on the Weekend of September 24/25 and appreciated by supporters from far and wide, writes Sue Biscoe, with John Tresidder.
Many exciting games produced some surprise results, especially in the Weekend’ opener, the Men’s Singles, won by new champion, Callington’s Shane Maton, aged 22, from the Liskeard Club, for the first time.
Shane, in the semi-finals, accounted for defending champion, Kelvin Edwards, the Duchy’s senior coach, while Ross Lashbrook, the runner-up, had narrowly beaten Josh Pearce, who had accounted for the 2nd seed, James Whetter, in a closely fought battle in the quarter finals.
The final proved to be another close 3-ender, with both players digging deep, until Shane’s speed and fitness won the day 21-14, 19-21, 21-16, over the plucky Ross.
Next up, the Ladies’ Singles, held fewer shocks, with defending champion Johanna Philp, winning the final against number two seed, Emily James and successfully defending her crown, 21-14, 21-13.
Meanwhile, a large entry in the Men’s Doubles, eventually resulted in a narrow victory in the semi-finals for the Plymouth Marjons’ Outfit, of Ross Lashbrook and Tom Lyle, over Shane Maton and Dave Harrington, to meet the defending champions, James Whetter and Guy Michell (St. Austell Bay), who were seen to retain their title, in an absorbing three games of attacking doubles. And, the Duchy number pairing’s excellent win, came on top of their registering the Men’s “Plate” at the Open.
Vicky’s 1st County Senior Title:
The corresponding Ladies’ Doubles event threw up another surprise, when the new pairing of Emily James and Vicky Thomas (Falmouth/St. Just) - the winners in the Duchy Open “Plate”, 2011 - met Jo Philp and Rachel Irish, the established pair, defending their title of the last few years.
This final really had the crowd going, with the match see-sawing one way and another, before Emily and Vicky just triumphed in the third end, 22-20.
Indeed, for Vicky, based in St. Just, a Science Teacher at the Bolitho School, Penzance and a former Cornwall Schools’ player, this trophy win was the culmination of seven pleasing days of badminton.
The last event, on the first day, the Mixed Doubles, saw Guy Michell and Rachel Irish accounting for the number two seeds, Kelvin Edwards and Emily James, and reaching the final, to play the number one pair of James Whetter and Jo Philp, and despite some spectacular badminton, just failed to take the match from the champions, who won in two close ends.
Jo’s remarkable opening to the new campaign:
Finally, the popular Jo Philp, aged 18 and a Truro College Midwifery Student, from Port Isaac, experienced a remarkable start to the new season: Over eight days, including in the 29th Duchy “Open”, held at Carn Brea Leisure Centre, the week before (September 17/18), she reached one semi-final and four finals, winning two of them. Well done, Jo and best wishes for the Cornish Chiefs’ new Inter-County Season, which gets underway, inOctober – away to Avon 3, followed by an away fixture against Guernsey, The Channel Island, on Saturday November 5.
Results
Mens Singles
Semi finals:
S.Maton beat K.Edwards 21-17, 21-17.
R.Lashbrook beat J.Pearce 15-21, 23-21, 21-19.
Final – Maton beat Lashbrook 21-14, 19-21, 21-16.
Ladies Singles
Semi finals: J.Philp beat R.Collard 21-16, 21-9.
E.James beat Abi Logg 15-21, 21-13, 21-15.
Final – Philp beat James 21-14, 21-13.
Mens Doubles
Semi finals:
J.Whetter/G.Michell beat J.Cooper/S.Rider 21-13, 21-13.
T.Lyle/R.Lashbrook beat S.Maton/D.Harrington 21-12, 18-21, 21-18.
Final - Whetter/Michell beat Lyle/Lashbrook 21-15, 19-21, 21-14.
Ladies Doubles
Semi finals:
J.Philp/R.Irish beat A.Logg/L.Riggs 21-15, 21-10.
E.James/V.Irish beat B.Rich/R.Wotton 21-12, 21-14.
Final – James/Thomas beat Philp/Irish 16-21, 21-18, 22-20.
Mixed Doubles
Semi finals:
J.Whetter/J.Philp beat D.Harrington/T.Woodroffe 19-21, 21-12, 21-17.
G.Michell/R.Irish beat J.Cooper/H.Robertson 21-18, 21-16.
Final – Whetter/Philp beat Michell/Irish 25-23, 21-19.
Plate winners –
Mens singles : Kynan Clarke
Ladies singles: Beth Rich
Mens doubles: Sam Spencer/Jon Wotton
Ladies doubles: Hannah Robertson/Rachel Collard
Mixed: Shane Maton/Jan Santillo
