As the 2025/26 season draws to a close, we would like to extend sincere thanks to the entire committee for their continued commitment, dedication, and hard work throughout the 2025/26 season. The time and effort you all give voluntarily is the backbone of everything we achieve as a county.
A huge thank you must also go to all our affiliated club committees. Without your tireless efforts at grass roots level, we simply would not have a county badminton association.
Season Highlights
Governance and Welfare
I am delighted to report that we have been one of the first counties in the country to achieve full compliance with the updated Badminton England welfare requirements. All affiliated clubs have now completed the new Welfare Training and have an appointed Welfare Officer in place. This is a significant milestone and reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding and best practice across the county.
National Recognition
This season also brought fantastic recognition at a national level. We were selected to feature in the county spotlight section of the programme at the All England Championships, being recognised as one of the most progressive counties in the South and West. This is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the collective efforts of everyone involved in badminton across the county.
County Teams
This year, we successfully fielded two senior teams, alongside three Masters teams competing in the 50s, 60s, and 70s age categories.
All of the teams have represented the county with great commitment, sportsmanship, and pride throughout the season. Their efforts not only showcase the strength and depth of badminton in the county but also serve as an inspiration to developing players.
In addition, we have delivered more county training and coaching sessions than ever before, providing increased opportunities for players to develop their skills, engage with county-level badminton, and strengthen the pathway into our representative teams.
Tournaments and Events
The county has delivered a strong and diverse tournament calendar this year, including:
- The Annual Restricted Tournament
- The Cornwall (Duchy) Open Bronze
- The Cornwall Masters
- The Community Bonanza
- Para/Disability South West Circuit
- The Kernow Cup
These events continue to provide valuable competitive opportunities for players of all ages and standards, as well as strengthening the sense of community across our clubs.
I am particularly pleased to report that all of our tournaments have seen increased participation this season, reflecting the growing engagement and enthusiasm for competitive badminton across the county.
Development Initiatives
This season saw the launch of our new Club Development Fund, designed to support our affiliated clubs in growing and sustaining participation. This sits alongside our existing Coach Development Fund, which continues to provide vital support in developing coaching capacity within the county.
Through this new fund, we have been pleased to support a number of clubs across the county, including St Austell, Truro, St Pirans, and Liskeard, helping them to develop and deliver new activity, strengthen their club structures, and increase local participation.
Coaching and Workforce Development
Our coaching workforce continues to thrive, with a number of new coaches completing their Level 1 and Level 2 awards this season, alongside two coaches successfully achieving their Level 3 accreditation.
To support this ongoing development, we also have two coaches currently finalising their Badminton England Tutor accreditations which will enable the county to deliver more coaching courses in the future, making them more accessible and viable locally.
I would also like to extend my thanks to Liskeard Badminton Club for their support in organising both the Level 1 and Level 2 coaching courses, which were successfully held at Duchy College.
These developments will enable us to deliver more coaching courses within the county, reducing barriers to entry and further strengthening both our player and coach development pathways.
Para and Disability Badminton
Para and disability badminton continues to grow within the county, and it has been another successful year in this area.
We were pleased to once again host a South West Circuit Para/Disability Badminton tournament, which proved to be a well-supported and successful event. It provided valuable competitive opportunities for players across the region and reinforced the county’s commitment to inclusive badminton.
It is also fantastic to recognise that a Cornwall-based athlete is participating in the Special Olympics National Games, which is a significant personal achievement and a proud moment for badminton in the county and their respective club. In addition, we are equally proud that the referee for the Special Olympics National Games will also be from Cornwall (Jess Canfield), further highlighting the strength and contribution of our badminton community at all levels.
We are also delighted to have a member of our committee serving as a National Sports Advisor for Special Olympics GB (Jess Canfield), which is a remarkable achievement and further demonstrates the impact and influence of our county within the wider inclusive sport landscape.
This highlights the strength of our inclusive pathways and the opportunities available for players, officials, and volunteers of all abilities.
Individual Achievements
It has also been a fantastic year for individual success within the county, and I would like to take a moment to recognise a particularly outstanding achievement.
Bob Bell was given the honour of captaining the England team at the McCoig Cup. This recognition reflects both his ability and his contribution to the sport at a national level.
Alongside this, Bob achieved excellent results on the international stage, finishing runner-up in both the Mixed Doubles and Open Doubles at the World Championships. These are exceptional accomplishments and a source of great pride for the county.
Communications and Digital Improvements
This season we have modernised our communications and digital presence:
- Launched a new county website, making it easier for players and clubs to access key information and Badminton England resources
- Introduced a new email platform, enabling us to send monthly newsletters to all affiliated players, sharing news, promoting events, and celebrating successes
These improvements have helped to strengthen engagement and ensure better communication across the county.
Participation Growth
Encouragingly, we have seen increased participation across our clubs, with affiliation numbers rising. Notably, one of our clubs has now surpassed 100 active affiliated members, which is a fantastic achievement and highlights the continued growth and appeal of badminton in the county.
Challenges and Looking Ahead
While it has been a positive year overall, it is important to recognise the challenges many of our clubs continue to face. Court availability remains a significant issue across the county, with increasing pressure on leisure centre space and limited access to suitable facilities. Alongside this, rising court hire costs are placing additional financial strain on clubs and their members.
We have also seen ongoing challenges with the cost and availability of shuttlecocks, which has impacted both club sessions and competitive play throughout the season. These rising costs are being felt across all levels of the game and require continued attention and adaptation.
In response to some of these challenges, I am pleased to confirm that from next season the county has secured access to Cornwall College for the full day every Sunday throughout the season. This is a significant step forward, providing us with a reliable and consistent venue for county activity, training, and competition, and will help support both player development and county-wide initiatives going forward.
Looking ahead, we will also be focusing on increasing participation by offering more funded Back to Badminton programmes and taster sessions, with clear pathways linked to our clubs. This will help attract new players into the sport, as well as support those returning to badminton after time away. These initiatives will be key to sustaining and growing our badminton community across the county.
We are also working closely with Cornwall Youth Badminton (CYB) to strengthen links between our organisations and bring governance more closely under one roof. Building on the successes achieved to date, this collaboration will help create clearer and stronger player pathways from junior development through to our senior county teams.