The Vets Tournament is back!

 

Last weekend, badminton players joined together to partake in a closely fought badminton tournament hosted at Cornwall College, Pool. The veteran handicap tournament saw players across the county go head to head in this annual event, which after the turmoil of the last two years, was wonderful to see happen again. 

Mens doubles action

Mixed games get underway

More mixed

Plymouth v Truro

The eventual winners in action

Congratulations to all the winners: Mixed Doubles Winners: Tony Wong / Vicki Meade, Ladies Doubles Winners: Vicki Meade / Kay Bossenger, and Men’s Doubles Winners: Tony Wong / Gary Braunton, with a mention to Kay Bossenger and Gary Braunton, who narrowly missed out in the mixed finals.

Mixed winners Tony & Vicki

Gary and Tony

Kay and Vicki

  

Doubles winners

The event finished with all players enjoying crème eggs for their efforts in the games, presented by tournament organiser Helen Pennells. A big thank you to all those who supported the event; it was great to see so many friendly faces and watch some fantastic games.  

All the competitors

    

From 6th to 3rd in one day!

 The last, delayed, match of the season

Cornwall’s top team had to travel to Wellington in Somerset to play a rearranged match against West Glamorgan at the weekend, after Welsh covid rules had prevented the team playing on Badminton England’s earlier set weekends.

The stars

Both teams had to call on other players because of absences due to holidays, injuries  or illness, and West Glamorgan had already conceded three games before the match began, with a shortage of women competitors due to last minute covid issues.

Cornwall were keen to gain at least one point to make sure that relegation was avoided, and ended up with a fine 8-3 win which shot them up the table to finish in third place in the final standings.

The great supporters!

The 3 men’s singles were a mixed bag for the Cornish players with Milo Semonin just losing out to a talented opponent, before Tyler Sillifant made a welcome return to the team with an excellent win in two, showing all his old speed and skill around the court. Younger brother Luke Sillifant, making his debut, fought valiantly but came up against a tough Welsh player, and he lost in two.

With West Glamorgan conceding both women’s singles and one doubles, it was all to play for for Cara Collins and Mollie Bailey, and they didn’t disappoint. A nail-biting three ender was won by the Cornish girls in a great display of women’s doubles.

Cara and Mollie show their class

The men’s doubles were even more exciting for the large group of travelling loyal supporters, as two new Cornish pairings took to the courts. Milo and James Whetter put on a stunning exhibition of attacking doubles and triumphed in three ends against a very good Welsh pair.

Milo and James triumph 

Luke and Guy Michell were not to be outdone and they cruised to win the first end, then lost the second, and just won an extremely close third to great excitement all round.

Guy and Luke impress

The match ended with the two mixed games - Milo and Bronwen Wotton battled hard but came up just short to a talented pair, and James and Jo Spooner finished the match off in style with a comfortable victory in two ends.

Bron and Milo battle on

Jo and James storming to victory

This fine result means that Cornwall finish in a very creditable third place and have every reason to look forward to next season with confidence.

 

                                 Volunteer of the Year 2022

Jess with her award

Jess Canfield was recently presented with Badminton England’s prestigious national award at the All-England tournament in Birmingham in March, the first person from Cornwall to receive such an honour.

Jess, 22, from St Cleer near Liskeard, was nominated by fellow volunteers for all her hard work in making badminton an inclusive sport to as many people in the community as possible. She has been playing badminton since she was 8 years old, and has already made a huge contribution.

Jess plays a key role in running Liskeard Inclusive Badminton Club, which offers coached sessions to children, young people and adults, reaching up to 70 people three times a week, with a satellite club in Launceston. They now also support local league badminton by entering a team to offer more competitive play.

With her fellow coaches, Jess also runs a para badminton/special Olympics session, and set up the first Plymouth Disability Badminton Festival last September, aiming to run similar events in Cornwall in future.

Another string to her bow, is putting on coached sessions for over 55 year olds, to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Not only does Jess volunteer all of the above, but she has recently started Badminton England’s Female Leadership and Performance programme, has joined Cornwall Badminton Association’s committee, and played her first county match this year!

Jess said - “I try to do as much as I can for badminton in the community, and it’s amazing to achieve recognition just for doing what I love”.