Friday 14 October 2022

The Bonanza is Back!

After a 3 year absence the popular tournament for club and social players returns to Carn Brea on 20th November - see entry form for details 

ENTRY FORM

Monday 3 October 2022

County Champs 2022

Cornwall Badminton County Championships, Cornwall College Pool, 1st and 2nd October 2022.


The top badminton players of Cornwall gathered in Cornwall College’s Sports Hall at Pool at the weekend to find out this year’s County Champions. Winners of each event are invited to play in Badminton England’s Champion of Champions weekend at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes against all the other county winners in November.

On day one, a good entry in the men’s singles kicked off the morning, with dynamic play by a mixture of regular County players, club players, plus some ex-juniors who were returning to competition after finishing higher education.


Some good colour coordination in the hall

The top two seeds, Milo Semonin from St Austell, and Harry Dyer of Truro, duly made their way to the final after two semi-finals where they were made to work hard – Milo by Truro’s Jack Dyer, and Harry by Mark Pearson from Falmouth.

The final, a repeat of last year which Harry had won, was two ends of fast, skilful badminton, with some amazing reaction shots, hard smashing and tight net play by both players. After a tight first end which Milo edged 21-19, he ran out overall winner and became the new County Champion as Harry tired in the second end.


Singles finalists - from left Jake, plate winner Lee, Harry and champion Milo

In the men’s singles plate competition, Penzance’s Lee Chapple took on Jake Brazewell from Newquay in the final in one of the best games of the day. Lee eventually ran out winner after a marathon 3 ends, just outlasting Jake in a very close contest.

With a number of women’s singles players missing, the final for this event was between Joanna Vyvyan from Camborne and Jess Canfield from Liskeard. Joanna showed all her singles experience to comfortably win the first end, and despite Jess pushing hard in the second, Joanna triumphed to become champion for the first time in her young career.


Bob with Jess and champion Joanna

The next event of Saturday was the women’s doubles, where all the pairs played each other in some hard-fought games. Eventual winners, Vicki Meade from Penzance paired with new singles champion, Joanna Vyvyan, and they won overall with a very creditable 100% record. Runners-up were Callington’s Lynda Beer playing with Jess Canfield, who had won all of their games until they came up against againstVicki and Joanna. 

The girls!
Anne & Sara playing Vicki & Joanna

Day two began with the mixed doubles, where top seeds Milo and Joanna, plus St Austell’s James Whetter partnering Vicki, both progressed to the final after close three-enders with two Callington pairs – Julian Cooper with Jess, and County Chairman Bob Bell and Lynda. Milo and Joanna were too strong for James and Vicki – after a tight first end, their power and precision won them the title, and completed an impressive weekend hat-trick of wins for Joanna.


Mixed final action

In the mixed doubles plate event, another Callington player, Richard Townsend, partnering Penryn student Robyn Warwick, cruised to victory without dropping a set.


The Brains Trust

Tiring work, badminton 

The last event of the weekend was the men’s doubles, which served up some of the most exciting badminton seen for a long time. Once again, the top two seeds won through to the final, but not before some nail-biting battles in the semi-finals to thrill the crowd. Milo and Elliot Dyer played the other Dyer brothers, Jack and Harry, in a pulsating game of speed, attack and defence which went right down to the wire and finally resulted in victory for the top seeds.


A great semi

 James, playing with long time partner Guy Michell from St.Austell, beat Julian and Richard in another close three-ender to reach the final. Despite an incredibly tight first end which could have gone either way, James and Guy just edged this, and then went on to complete their victory in a comfortable second end of tactical play using all their experience for a convincing win.


Men’s final

The men’s doubles plate event was deservedly won by brothers Tyler and Luke Sillifant from Launceston, beating a new pair of Josh Richards and Chenyu Zhao, to complete an excellent weekend of badminton to find this year’s County Champions.

 

Results

Men’s Singles                                  Milo Semonin beat Harry Dyer  21/19 21/11

Women’s Singles                            Joanna Vyvyan beat Jess Canfiled   21/10 21/18

Women’s Doubles                         Vicki Meade & Jess Canfield winners

Men’s Doubles                               James Whetter & Guy Michell beat Milo Semonin & Elliot Dyer 

                                                          26/24 21/11

Mixed Doubles                                Milo Semonin & Joanna Vyvyan beat James Whetter & Vicki Meade 

                                                          21/18 21/14

 

Plate results

Men’s Singles winner                      Lee Chapple

Men’s Doubles winners                  Tyler & Luke Sillifant

Mixed Doubles winners                  Richard Townsend & Robyn Warwick