Tuesday 28 February 2012

CYB UNDER 17 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2012 Cornwall County Under 17 Badminton Championships took place at Penryn College on Sunday 26th February with 92 entries in the 3 disciplines of Singles, Doubles and Mixed.

The day commenced with Boys and Girls singles .Kris Jasper (Launceston) was the hot favourite in the Boys and stormed through his box into the final. In the other two boxes Simon Cox (Wadebridge) meet Local Penryn College student Chris Cooper in the semi-final. Simon took early control of the rallies, Chris rallied later after the change of ends at 11 points but Simon took the game 21-10.

In the Final Kris the County No1 took early control, displaying his wide range of shots and continually putting Simon under immense pressure. First game to Kris 21-8. Simon rallied and a change of tactics made for a hard second end, Simon working extremely hard to keep in the rallies. However Kris remained in the ascendancy throughout winning 21-16.Simon had excelled and exceeded his seeding as no3 in the Tournament a great performance.

Kris is County Captain, and a very popular Boy within the County. His standard of play remains a level that all players aspire to achieve in the squad. He has travelled the National circuit for 10000s of miles with his parents over the last two seasons, trained at Queens Performance Centre at both Crediton and Exeter University and is due to compete at the National Under 17 Championships in March.

The Girls singles resulted in winners from two boxes meeting in a tense final. Abigail Logg (Launceston) the Under 17 County Captain and current no1 singles player working hard against Kellen Moore(Camborne) the Under 15 no1 singles player. Kellen ran out a worthy winner, edging away in both ends 21-16,21-11.

In the Doubles both Boys and Girls competed in one box. The Girls going down to a final game between Abi and Hannah Robertson (Callington) and Hester Luke(Penzance) and Kellen.

It was a worthy final with long rallies and great determination by both pairs. However Hester and Kellen had slightly more firepower on the smash and took the final match 21-16 and Championship title.

In the boys doubles the no1 pairing of Kris and Jake Brazewel l(Newquay) could not live up to their seeding due to Jakes obvious illness. However it came down to some very tense matches to work out the winning pair. Sam Payne (Callington) and Ben Johnson (Liskeard) at one stage looked set to take the title but on their heels was a new pairing of Simon and Toby Bamforth(Saltash). Kris and Jake thwarthing them with a 21-16 win in the final match in the box. The Eventual winners were Simon and Toby on a count back result, with Sam and Ben as runners up.

The mixed doubles had two boxes with a good spread of Under 15 players and Amy Polglase from the Under 13s competing against their elder county players. Some fantastic matches in the boxes with pairs just failing to met the final by a single point in each box. The final match of day was Kris and Abi against Simon and Hester. It was a great game of mixed with Hesters willingness to take the initiative and attack mid court returns being the deciding factor. Simon and Hester taking the first end 21-16,Kris and Abi took an early lead and held it to 18 points but Simon and Hester increased the pressure winning 21-18. A fantastic result for an unestablished pairing who came to our notice with exceptional performances in early January at the Bournemouth Silver Badminton England Tournament taking a Silver medal.

All players competed hard but fair during the day and are to be congratulated on their performances. Thanks must go to Dairy Crest Davidstow for their continued sponsorship of our Tournaments and Penryn College for again providing excellent playing facilities.

Thanks to the following people who helped run the Tournament during a long day,Alison Cox,Jane Brazewell, and Alison Higgs,Kerry Sillifant and Cathryn Bick. A final thank you to Sue Gallagher whose meticulous pre-tournament work resulted in such a successful Championship.

Jon Wotton and Sue Cooper
Under 17 Team Managers.

Monday 20 February 2012

Cornwall Dominate Avon

Cornwall’s top badminton stars continued their push for promotion with a dominant 13-2 win over the visiting Avon team last Sunday at Polkyth Leisure Centre.



The Cornish singles players gave the match a fine start with wins for Shane Maton, James Whetter, Jo Philp and Rose Willis, who was making her first team debut. Shane’s game in particular was a very tight 3 ender which he did very well to win against a hard smashing opponent given to spectacular dives to prevent the shuttle hitting the floor.

Avon travelled with only 3 ladies due to illness, conceding 2 of the doubles before the match had begun. They duly won one of the remaining 2 games, with Bronwen Wotton and Vicki Thomas narrowly losing, although the new pairing of Jo and Rose were more successful , with a powerful win in 2 ends.

The mens doubles were dominated by Cornwall, who took all 4, Shane and James just edging a win against the 1st pair which went to the wire, while Ross Lashbrook and Tom Lyle once more gave their usual display of excellent attacking doubles.

With the match already won going into the mixed, James and Jo completed their 100% performance with another fine win at number 1, matched by Ross and Bronwen, the new under 21 champions easily beating the 2nd pair. Shane and Vicki were unlucky to just lose to the 3rd pair after a tense final game.

Maximum points from this game take Cornwall to the top of the table, hotly pursued by Berkshire, with just 3 matches remaining for the season.

Cornwall’s next match is against Guernsey at home, 10 am on Sunday 26th February at Polkyth – all spectators welcome.

1st team – Shane Maton, James Whetter, Ross Lashbrook, Tom Lyle, Jo Philp, Rose Willis, Bronwen Wotton, Vicki Thomas.

CYB UNDER-11’S COME UP TRUMPS


PICTURE: Rob Freer.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, saw the Cornwall Under-11 Team defeat their Dorset counterparts, comprehensively, by 33 rubbers to 3, at Truro School, in their third fixture of the 2011/2012 season.

And, prestigious County Colours were awarded to Amelia Burrell, Katie Phelps, Cara Collins, Charlotte Freer and Harry Dyer, before the start of the match, writes John Tresidder, with Rob Freer

The Host’s Team, sponsored by Dairy Crest Davidstow, producers of Cornish Cathedral City Cheese, buoyed on by their recent 25-11 victory over Avon, County, started the match in style, winning 10 singles matches to 2, with Amy Walker, Ellie Reed and Amelia Burrell all experiencing convincing victories in the top three berths.

Luke Sillifant, the joint skipper, playing at number one, consistent as always, out-pointed his counterpart, in two ends of play. Meanwhile, James Lush won his first match for the county in the number six position.

William/Luke and Sam/Harry partnerships seen to be in dominating form:

Cornwall’s number one pairing, William Freer, England ranked eight, for the Under-11 age group and Luke Sillifant, stormed to three comfortable victories, displaying consistent power play in the level doubles, with Sam Hammersley and Harry Dyer duo repeating the feat at number two.

Joseph Tucker and James Lush managed to take two out of three games in the number three position, winning through in some very close games much to the delight of the home crowd.

The Girls repeated their achievements against Avon, again winning all their doubles matches. The number one partnership, Amy Walker and Amelia Burrell, controlled the opposition to come out on top in all of their games.

Ellie Reed and Charlotte Freer, playing at number two, held their nerve to win through a close three-ender against the Dorset first pair, with Ellie dictating the play.

Kernow’s valiant pairing:

Cara Collins and Katie Phelps also won, despite Katie taking a heavy fall, twisting her ankle and bruising her wrists. However, they amended their game play and Katie bravely played through the pain barrier to victory.

Following the singles and level doubles, with the match won, the good form continued into the mixed games with Cornwall winning all six events, with notable performances from Luke and Ellie at number one, Sam and Amy at number two and Harry and Amelia at No. 3.

Skipper Luke’s accolade:

The Player-of-the-Match was extremely difficult to select with so many fine performances, but Luke Sillifant was the deserved winner on the day.

The Team and mangers now look forward eagerly, to their final match of this campaign, a Friendly Fixture, away to Devon County on March 25.

Credit due:

John Tresidder, the Cornwall Press Officer reports:

“Great credit must go to the Under-11 Team’s co-managers, Rob Freer and Claire Reed, former county second team players themselves, in respect of the marvellous squad of youngsters they have assembled and helped to train and coach.

“Indeed, it bodes well for Cornwall’s future and for the Under-13 Team, when the Children get older and leave the ranks of the younger age group, with so much experience on board.”


CORNWALL TEAM:
Boys’ Team: Luke Sillifant (captain), William Freer, Sam Hammersley, Joseph Tucker, Harry Dyer, James Lush.

Girls’ Team: Amy Walker (captain), Ellie Reed, Amelia Burrell, Katie Phelps, Cara Collins, Charlotte Freer.

Team co-managers: Rob Freer and Claire Reed.

Monday 6 February 2012

BADMINTON SUCCESS FOR CORNWALL U17s

CORNWALL 22 SOMERSET 14

Cornwalls U17 Team travelled to Crewkerne on Sunday the 5th of February looking to record their first win of the season in the South West League. The players travelled far and wide to represent their County players driving through snow in the early hours from Stoke on Trent and the western most point of the Duchy.

On arrival to their dismay Somerset had only fielded 4 girls out of a minimum requirement of 6. Undeterred the team agreed some changes in player disciplines and went about the task of achieving 19 rubbers to win the tie. The boys led the way under captain Kris Jasper taking a comprehensive win at No1, wins for Jack Dyer, Chris Cooper and Sam Payne making his debut in singles negated the girls losing their 4 singles .Both Jake Brazewell at No2 and Simon Cox at no3 losing narrowly in 3 ends. Georgia Higgs had an exceptional performance at no2 losing in 3 hard ends.

Onto the Boys doubles and 2 wins a piece for Kris and Jake ,and Simon and Jack was a good start. However Chris and Sam achieved 3 wins from 3, winning a nail biting 3 ender against the Somerset no1 pair to clinch the magic 19th rubber. At the same time the girls were performing well and the no3 pairing of Georgia and Alice Sporik went to 3 ends against their opposite no1 opponents. The 18th rubber was clinched by the girls no1 pairing and Capt and Vice Capt of Abi Logg and Hannah Robertson in 3 great ends of badminton seconds before the boys took the 19th. The girls working tirelessly for each other and showing great fortitude in 3 long ends of nail biting rallies.

With victory secured the Duchy moved into the mixed, Kris and Hannah at No1 having an awe inspiring performance and victory against their opponents in 3 ends who had remained undefeated in the South West League for over 2 seasons. Simon and Rachael Collard were very clinical at no2,winning in 2 ends. Chris and Hester Luke worked hard to win in 3 ends at no3,Hester showing great determination, having had a long but successful day at the South West U17 Silver Tournament the day before. Jake and Georgia narrowly lost in 3,and Sam and Alice took their no5 opponents in 3. Ruth Barnicoat from the County U15 Team playing up an age group was very impressive in her mixed working well with Jack, who dominated the rallies. A comfortable win in 2 ends.

Overall score Cornwall 22 Somerset 14.

Player of the match was awarded jointly to Chris Copper and Sam Payne each winning 5 games a 100% record. However every player contributed to the victory, displaying pride ,determination and a willingness to support their team mates throughout a long match which concluded at 6pm.

TEAM
Kris Jasper Launceston College CAPT . Jake Brazewell Newquay Tretherras School. Simon Cox Truro College. Jack Dyer Truro College. Chris Cooper Penryn College. Sam Payne Callington College.

Abi Logg Truro College CAPT. Hester Luke Mounts Bay School .Rachael Collard Callington College. Hannah Robertson Callington College. Georgia Higgs Helston School. Alice Sporik Truro School. Ruth Barnicoat Penryn College

Team Managers ; Sue Cooper/Jon Wotton.