Cornwall Youth Badminton hosted the Counties first National Graded Silver Junior Badminton Tournament at Penryn College on Saturday 3rd December.
The Event was run solely by the Counties U17 Squad players with the young players taking responsibility for the match scheduling, scoring and smooth running of the day.
Nearly 40 players travelling from as far as Worcester down through Dorset,Somerset, Devon and Cornwall arrived at the College for a 9am start. There were 71 entries into the four disciplines of Boys and Girls Singles and Doubles.
The Boys Singles started with some clinical play in the group stages by David Higbee (Dorset) and Cornwalls own Tyler Sillifant (Launceston).
The group winners won through to the semi finals but Tyler had to overcome a very talented Callum Cheung (Devon) in an epic quarter final match, winning a nail biting, exhausting match 17-15,12-15,15-12. This led to Tyler taking on David Higbee who won through to the final 15-6,15,10.
In the other half of the draw, Tom Reddaway (Somerset) defeated Lloyd Skinner (Devon) to take on Higbee in a great final. David Higbee ran out a worthy winner in 3 long ends 15-10, 14-16,15-6.
Medals were presented By Emma Austin Cornwall and West Devon Badminton England Regional Officer. GOLD-David Higbee, SILVER-Tom Reddaway, BRONZE Tyler Sillifant and Lloyd Skinner.
The Girls Doubles in Two boxes produced an all Devon Final between Bronya Pike and Robyn Bowman against Lucy Cooper and Katherine Brown. Pike and Bowman running out worthy winners 15-6 and a close run second end 16-14.
Medals were presented by Emma Austin. GOLD-Bronya Pike and Robyn Bowman. SILVER-Lucy Cooper and Katherine Brown.
Moving onto the Girls singles and Cornwalls Amy Polglase (Camborne) stormed through her group into the semi-finals to meet Devons Robyn Bowman. Amy proving too strong running out a 15-3,15-3 winner.
In the bottom half of the draw a semi-final between Chloe Cosgrove (Worcs) and Devons Bronya Pike was a hard fought first end going to Bronya 15-10.In the second end long rallies took their toll on Chloe and Bronya ran out the winner 15-5.
The final went to Amy who played a consistent, patient game ,taking the match in two straight ends 15-6,15-8. Amy becoming the first Cornish winner of a Silver graded Tournament held in the County.
Medals were presented by Kerry Sillifant Cornwall U13 Team Manager.
GOLD-Amy Polglase. SILVER-Bronya Pike. BRONZE-Chloe Cosgrove and Robyn Bowman.
The Boys Doubles had two boxes and the winners that came through fought a very tense and competitive final. The badminton was of a very high standard and the pairings of Tyler Sillifant and Lloyd Skinner matched their opponents attacking play with some great technique and tactical awareness. However worthy winners Callum Cheung and his partner Tom Seah (Devon) took the match 15-11,15-13. A great match to finish a great days badminton.
Medals were again presented by Kerry Sillifant,
GOLD-Callum Cheung and Tom Seah, SILVER-Tyler Sillifant and Lloyd Skinner.
Tournament Referee was Cathryn Bick Cornwall U15 Team Manager.
Cornwall Youth Badminton wish to thank their main sponsors DAIRY CREST DAVIDSTOW for supplying some great raffle prizes. Thanks also go to TAG Sports for raffle donations, Penryn College for the use of their 6 court hall and the cafeteria, Emma Austin for attending and supporting the event and the following –players from the Cornwall U17 County squad who took responsibility for the smooth running of the Tournament; Hannah Robertson, Rachael Collard, Ruth Barnicoat,Simon Cox, Hester Luke, Jake Brazewell , and William Bick.
