Badminton report 3.03.08
Success for local players in Welsh Senior Series Tournament.
There was an excellent entry with competitors coming from South Wales and Cheshire.
In the Mens singles Jason Wakefield (Flint) had an easy Semi win over Dave Charteris (Glamorgan) 21-17, 21-14. Gareth Oates (CQ) had a much harder battle in his Semi, beating Michael Simmons (Cheshire) 23-21, 12-21, 21-17. The Final was a great match involving some long and punishing rallies and superb tactical play. Gareth just won the first game 21-19 but Jason took the next two close games 21-16, 21-17; the decisive factor being Jason's greater experience.
Jason teamed up with Kris Woods (Cheshire) to win the Mens doubles. In the Semi they struggled to beat Richard and Phil Eastwood (Conwy) 21-18, 23-21 but won the Final comfortably 21-15, 21-15 playing with great skill and power.
Hannah Stephenson and Carla White (Flint) dominated the Ladies doubles. In the Semi they beat Catrina Mackinlay and Melissa Caswell (Deeside) 21-11, 23-21. In the Final they combined very well to beat Carol Davey and Hilary Isaac (Glamorgan) 21-15, 21-15.
Ben Travers (Flint) partnering Carla played excellently to defeat the eventual winners 2 games to love in the group matches but could not sustain that standard and lost in the Semis 6-15, 13-15 to first seeds Roy Watkins and Davey.
Welsh Junior Nationals at Rhyl and St Asaph
The juniors provided a feast of quality badminton and after two days “sweat and tears” the South took the majority of the titles. NEWRBA is grateful for the playing facilities and sponsorship provided by Denbighshire CC.
U11
In the Boys singles Callum Sant (Buckley) lost to the winner in the Semi 14-21, 13-21.
Scott Oates (Deeside) won the Plate event beating Ethan Johnson (Buckley) 21-7, 21-6.
In the Boys doubles Scott and Andrew Oates and Callum and Nicholas Pratk (Llanferres) both
lost in the Semis.
U13
Matthew Vacher (Denbigh) played courageously and well but lost in three finals.
In the singles Semi he beat Adam Stewart (Wrexham) 21-13, 21-15 before losing to Wales number one Michael Kinnear (Gwent) 6-21, 14-21. Partnering Adam in the doubles he was beaten 21-13, 21-17 in the Final by Kinnear and Matthew Burrell (S Glam).
Lloyd Martin (Mold) won the Plate event beating Lloyd Williams () 21-13, 21-12.
In the Girls singles Isabelle Cain and Jessica Faulkner (CQ) and Ellen Liddle (Flint) each won one round before losing to seeded players.
Sophie Ellis (Mold) won the Plate event.
In the doubles Isabelle and Ellen lost 13-21, 5-21 in the Semi.
In the mixed doubles Matthew partnering Ellen Mahenthiralingam (S Glam) won their Semi 21-14, 21-17 but lost the Final 8-21, 6-21 to Kinnear and Jordan Hart (Pembs).
U15
Danny Font (Flint) got to three Finals but despite being in good form only won one. Danny won his singles Semi easily against Rob John (W Glam) 21-11, 21-12 but the pressure from Ollie Gwylt (Powys) in the Final was too great; he lost 16-21, 18-21.
Danny Font, Councillor David Thomas, Ollie Gwylt
Chris Owen (Mold) and Dan Hardman (Flint) both played well but lost in the Quarter-finals.
In the doubles Danny and Ollie, showing great control and power, defeated Dan Hardman and Matty Burrows (CQ) 21-7, 21-8 in the Semi and Rob John and Sarthak Sawlani (W Glam) 21-13, 21-12 in the Final.
In the Girls doubles Tamara Moorcroft (Flint) partnering Jordan Hart lost in the Final 12-21, 17-21 to Louise Breen (S Glam) and Georgia Hughes (Conwy).
Tara Moorcroft, Jordan Hart
In the tremendously exciting and fluctuating Mixed doubles Final Danny, partnered by Georgia, could not quite get the better of Ollie and Jordan losing 16-21, 19-21.
U17
In the Boys singles Damian Renshaw (Flint) had to play at his best to beat Ollie Gwylt 22-20, 10-21, 21-14 in the Quarter-final and then conceded to Gareth Cox (S Glam) whom he had beaten in the U19s.
Danny Font won the Plate event.
In the doubles Final Damian and Sam Gorrell (Gwent) lost 19-21,9-21 to Rhys Pritchard (S Glam) and Cox.
In the mixed doubles Damian partnering Stephanie Marti-Jones (Conwy) had a great win in the Semi 21-12, 21-19 over Gorrell and Alice Palmer (Gwent) but were beaten by Pritchard and Sarah Thomas (S Glam) 21-19, 21-15 in the Final.
Stephanie Marti-Jones, Steve Temple (WBU Chair Events), Damian Renshaw
U19
In the Boys singles Damian Renshaw had a fantastic battle with 3 rd seed Gareth Cox winning 24-26, 21-16, 21-11 but was not able to maintain his form and consistency in the Semi and lost to Daniel Van Hooijdonk (W Glam) 15-21, 13-21.
Gareth Oates (CQ) played with great control to win the Plate, beating Joshua au Yeung (Conwy) 19-21, 21-19, 21-19 in a match that neither deserved to lose.
Damian reached the Final of the doubles with Craig Walkley (M Glam) but lost to Pritchard and Cox 17-21, 12-21.
Bethan Higginson (CQ) partnering Kelly Blake (S Glam) in the doubles lost to Carissa Turner and Nicole Walkley (M Glam) on group match results.
Damian Renshaw eventually won the mixed Final with Kelly Blake10-21, 21-6, 21-13 against Oliver Hartley and Nicole Walkley
Mold Alun are Welsh Badminton Boys Top Schools Champions
The very strong team of Danny Font, Tom Peace, Jordan Ellis and Chris Owen proved invincible. In the group games they beat Cathedral (Glam) 4-1 and Darland (Wrexham). In the Final they recovered from 1-2 down after the singles to clinch both doubles to beat Cowbridge (S Glam) 3-2.
Argoed came fifth to beat Darland 5-0 in the play-offs.
Maes Garmon Girls team came fifth beating Darland 5-0 in their competition.