St Ives Continue Record-Breaking Trophy Run

St Ives Badminton Club continued a proud tradition on Sunday, beating a University team to win the South Cambridgeshire League Bill Pink trophy for the ninth year in a row at Cambridge Regional College.

Neil Place lost his first end of mens singles, but renewed his effort and turned the game around to defeat Chin Kiat Tan in three ends. In the ladies, special recognition should go to up-and-coming club and County star Molly Carter, who showed real class and rampaged through her singles game to win 21-0, 21-2 against Sammy Jones.

The remaining team comprising Simon Woodhouse, Daniel Bates, Liz Salmon and Amanda Godfrey joined Neil and Molly to take on Sammy Jones, Qichao Zhao, Mary Wang and Jo Brant who represented the University.

Despite a number of other hard-fought games between the men and in the mixed disciplines, St Ives still ran out resounding winners with a 9-0 overall score. St Ives has now won the title 16 times in the 51 year history of the competition.

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​St Ives, Bill Pink winners 2011

On the same day, the South Cambridgeshire League Mixed Handicap Final saw Hawks playing Ely Victoria Mixed II. Ely Victoria has just been promoted to the 1st division after a strong season losing only one match. Hawks finished mid-table in Division 3, making handicapping the tie a challenge for organisers.

The match was played in a competitive but friendly spirit and there were some great rallies, belying the apparent mismatch between the teams. While both teams played well, special mention must to go to Daniel Lay and Katherine Staden who had some very close games, losing with 19, 16 and 17 points.

The final scores were Hawks 172 v Ely Victoria 378, a difference of 206 points. The sealed handicap had previously been set at 225, so Hawks were winners by 19 points.

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​Hawks, Mixed Handicap Winners 2011

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​Ely Victoria, Mixed Handicap finalists 2011

Summer Clubs 2011

For those people wishing to keep their badminton going in the closed-season, the following clubs run summer clubs:

St Phillips ABC (pay and play)

Time: Wednesdays 7.30pm to 10pm

Location: Scaltback Middle School, Newmarket (3 courts)

Cost: £3.50 Adults & £2.00 Juniors

see http://www.stphillipsbadmintonclub.org.uk

Linton BC

Time: Thursdays 8pm to 10pm

Location: Linton Community Sports Centre, Cambridge Road, Linton,Cambridge, CB21 4JB

Cost: £3.50 Adults

Ely Victoria BC

Time: Tuesdays 7.30pm to 10pm

Location: Paradise Centre, Ely

Cost: £3.50 Adults & £2.50 Juniors

see http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167096856683761

If other clubs are running over the summer, and wish to be featured here, please email the details to db298@cam.ac.uk.​

Badminton England Introduces CLUB ENGLAND

Hopefully you are all aware of the up and coming changes to the BADMINTON England membership scheme but in January this year the Board of Directors and Council representatives were presented with a document regarding the new membership scheme called CLUB ENGLAND, which was approved. Club England was launched at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championship in March 2011 and will officially become the new membership scheme for BADMINTON England for the 2011/12 season. We would therefore like to inform you of some of the changes we have introduced for the coming season.

What is Club England?

Club England is a new look membership scheme for BADMINTON England that has allowed us to streamline the current membership whilst introducing a new level of membership which will to allow us to grow and develop affiliation to BADMINTON England over the coming years

There are four main categories of Club England which are as follows:

Club England - All Badminton Club members will become Club England Members. Membership will continue to be managed by the club secretary on annual bases.

Club England Active - For Active Players who do not want to commit to a club but will receive all the benefits a club member receives (cannot play in ICC)

Club England Supporter - Ideal for Badminton fans who don't play badminton but want to be kept up to date with BADMINTON England information.

Club England Community - Free online membership to Club England, perfect to keep you up to date with BADMINTON England new and special offers, no matter how much or how little badminton you play. In order to receive any of the advertised member benefits apart from a monthly e-newsletter or offers Club England Community members will have to upgrade to any of the other membership listed above.

Changes for Senior Clubs

All members within a senior club will still have the same membership types SCM, JCM, HVO and will be processed in the same way as previous seasons using the online membership wizards. BADMINTON England fees have been frozen for the coming season, each senior member will pay £10 and each junior member will pay £5 plus County Fee.

Changes for Junior Clubs

All members within a junior club will still have the same membership types of a JJC or HVO, BADMINTON England fees have been frozen for the coming season, and junior club fee will remain £48.20 plus County Fee.

There are new fields required to add a member onto the online system (we hope this will help reduce duplicate members but also allow us a clearer insight into how many individual members we actually have, including juniors). These are:

First name 
Surname 
Postcode (which will allow you to auto select the correct address)
Date of Birth

You will not be able to add members or find a current member on the online system without the above information so please make sure this information is requested from all your new or returning members.

Next season we hope to be in a position where all members, once initially added onto the system by the Club Secretary, will receive notification of their own personal username and password. This will allow them to log into a new page on the website and edit and update their own information. We hope that this will save time for the Club Secretaries throughout the season as well as guarantee that at all times we, along with Counties, Leagues and Clubs will have access to correct, up to date contact information.

We will be circulating more information throughout the summer months to keep you up to date with the launch of Club England. But to have a quick look in more detail why not CLICK HERE.

In the mean time, if you have any questions or queries please contact the membership team at: membership@badmintonengland.co.uk or call 01908 268400.

Cambridgeshire Badminton Association AGM - 18th May 2011

The Annual General Meeting of Cambridgeshire Badminton Association will be held at Comberton Leisure Centre (Gallery Room), on Wednesday 18th May 2011, at 19:30.

All clubs are welcome, and encouraged, to attend the AGM.

For any questions regarding the AGM please contact the Secretary on r.buttle@ntlworld.com.

3rd Team start off with win

On the 31st October, Cambridgeshire 3 recorded their first ever win in the ICC with a 9-6 victory over Oxfordshire 3 at CRC. Fielding a new look team this season, including 3 juniors winning their first county caps, Cambs 3 got off to a slow with Will Hodgkinson and Campbell Wilson (J) losing both mens singles in 3 ends. The ladies faired better, with Laurel Bennet and Jess James (J) both recording wins to square the match, Laurel winning in 2 ends and Jess in 3.

Cambs got off to a strong start in the doubles with Will and Andy Kind overpowering the Oxfordshire 1st pair, winning in 2 ends. This was matched by Campbell and Josh Males (J) with a fantastic first senior win against the Oxfordshire second pair, again in 2 ends. Both the ladies first round games were very close, with Emma Best and Tracey Bichener unfortunate to lose a tight 3 ender. Laurel and Jess though ultimately proved too strong for the Oxfordshire 2nd pairing and came through an equally tight game to win in 3. This left the match score at 5-3 in favour of Cambs. The reverse doubles started in the same way as the previous games with Will and Andy again too strong for their opponents. Campbell and Josh found things tougher second time around, and went down in 2 close sets to the Oxfordshire 1st pair. The ladies were more successful, Emma and Tracey winning in 3 against the Oxfordshire 2nd pair and Laurel and Jess winning in 2 against the 1st pair. This final doubles game left the match score at 8-4 and confirmed a fantastic win for Cambs.

The icing on the already very special cake would have been to get maximum points, but the mixed proved a stretch too far. Josh and Emma won a close 3 ender for the 3rd mixed, but the first two mixed games had already gone to Oxfordshire with both Tracey and Andy, and Will and Laurel losing in 2 and 3 ends respectively. Nevertheless, for the 3rd team to record their first ever win in only their second season is a fantastic result. Next match is the 28th November at home to Middlesex 4.

Cambs II vs Suffolk II

It’s been a tough season for the Cambridgeshire second team, struggling for consistency while only fielding the same set of ladies once, and never the same mixed pairings. Another new-look team travelled the long road to Ipswich for the second of back-to-back games against second-placed Suffolk. Having lost 6-9 only two weeks before, and facing Suffolk on their (somewhat illusive) Ipswich YMCA home turf, the second team knew that that they would have to pull off something really special if they were to bring anything home. With the fight for survival at the bottom of the league looking like it will go to the final games, every point counts at this stage.

Having observed the singles competition in the previous match, the men of the team had conferred and agreed that no-one was likely to have the strength to conquer the Suffolk premiere man. Captain Daniel Bates agreed to sacrifice his statistics for the team, and to preserve energy levels for the other men to play the other disciplines. However, while he was beaten swiftly, the youthful trinity of Sam Pickup, Jess Sharman and Molly Carter, all fought bravely. While Jess was overcome, Sam and Molly gave the team renewed hope by winning their singles - Molly battling through to win in two straight games. A superb introduction to representing the County in singles at second team level.

The viewing balcony was a maelstrom of emotions at this point, with the frustrations of selection disagreements swirling intermixed with the heady suspicion that there were vital points to be taken from the match. However, as the doubles started, it seemed like any frustrations were being focused anew into effort in the games. The men matched their previous results, with Sam and Paul Martell continuing a long season of excellent performances and capturing both games. Daniel and Rob Couch struggled to match their consistency, with thundering wins one end being matched by unsettled defeats at the other.

It was the ladies’ results that once again offered hope of some reward from the day, with Lisa Hawes and Sandra Ashcroft applying themselves vigorously against the Suffolk first pair, and coming out winners in the third end. With Jess and Molly also winning against the same pair in an extremely tense grandstand finish (and showing a calmness belying their ages), the ladies also came away from the doubles with two vital games.

That left the match 7-5 going into the mixed, and by that time the team was growing in confidence and spirit. Surprisingly, this seasons Mr and Mrs Reliable - Paul and Sandra, were beaten quickly. Victims of some rearrangement of the Suffolk pairings from the previous match. However, the blending of (very) old age and youth in the new pairings of Daniel and Jess, and Rob and Molly, fought valiantly, and amid much cheering and celebration, took both their games to three ends, leaving the result 9-6 in Cambridgshire’s favour. A terrific result against a strong team towards the top of the league.

This reversal of the previous result is a testament to the effort put in by the team, and the spirit shown. With only two matches left – one of which is against the only team below Cambridgeshire in the league (by three points) – and continuing to face selection difficulties due to clashing commitments, it is that continued effort that the team will need to ensure security for next year. However, with youngsters like Sam, Jess and Molly improving with every game, the outlook for the second team should be bright.

1st Team Promotion

After a tough win against kent the first team went into today with a chance of gaining promotion with a 10 - 5 victory against the team that beat them just before christmas.

The mens singles went on with Stephen Pickering going on to challenge the same player who beat him before and although put up a valient battle lost in two straight sets. Kevin Baron dragged out of retirement to play the singles had a battle over two sets but lost out to 19 in both.

So going into the ladies singles Cambs were two nil down, Olga Bryant went in to defend her unbeaten record at first singles and fought to a 21 -19 victory in the first her dominace established she sealed her victory in the second 21 - 12. Nat Taylor then went on for her first singles since coming back and showed her class winning 21-10 21-10.

The mens double went on with James wilson and Neil Place looking to avenge there defeat from earlier in the season unfortunatly lot 21-19 in the third end against beds first pair and in the turn around after a good win in the first set lost in three to the second pair. Sam and Stephen faired better losing to the second pair in two but quickly establishing there dominance against the first pair won in two comfortable sets.

So once again it was left to the ladies to drag the county through, Olga and Hannah showing their growing strength by beating the first pair 22-20 and then 21-16, in the turnaround again they show that they. Were a class above winning 21-12 and 21-16. Nat and Amanda quickly over came the second pair 21 -10 and 21-15 but then entered into a threes set epic against the first pair which they finally won 21-15 in the third. This left the score at 7-5 with Cambs needing all 3 mixed to gain promotion.

Stephen and Olga went on in there traditional place at number one pair battled through a long 3 setter to come through 21-15 in the third. Playing slightly out of order Sam and Nat as third's went on and although close won in 2 (21-18, 21-17). The last mixed was then Neil and Hannah who despite some nerves near the end came through in two games, this gives the county a 10-5 victory and guarentees the promotion.

A special mention has to be given to the basketball team due to be in the sports hall at 4 o clock who gave us an additional 20 minutes of court time to finish our victory.