Welcome to the Cambridgeshire Badminton Association (Cambs BA), a County association affiliated to Badminton England.
Cambridgeshire Badminton Association is dedicated to the development and promotion of badminton throughout the whole of Cambridgeshire. The county consists of around 30 affiliated clubs as well as hosting Junior, Senior and Masters teams playing in the Inter-County Championships.
This web site is designed to enable Cambridgeshire Badminton Association to promote badminton through providing news and information on local, County and national badminton. Please visit this web site regularly to keep abreast of all the latest developments.
Congratulations to everyone who turned out to play the U11 and U13 Fun Tournament on 17 March at Burwell.
Boys Singles
Leo Huang bt Cameron Harris 21-19
Boys Doubles
Cameron Foo/Harry Zhao bt Leo Huang/Keir Lauder 21-19
Girls Singles
Winner: Hannah Milton
Girls Doubles
Not played
Boys Singles
Winner: Dale Hellard
Boys Doubles
Not played (withdrawals)
Girls Singles
Winner: Chanuhi Gamage
Girls Doubles: Not played
Cambs Senior IInd team travelled to Wellingborough to face Northants IInds on 18th March, knowing that only full points would keep them within touching distance of the chance of following the IIIrd team through into the Division 5 playoffs.
Northants have caused the IInd team problems in the past, so it was pleasing to be able to put out a full regular team for this match. In warmup, Northants looked like a stern challenge with some impressive men especially, but Cambs got the game off to a great start in the singles. Tom Li (J) lost in two ends, although the 19-21 score in the second reflected that he was beginning to hit his stride. However, debutante Min Dabasinskas, Molly Carter (J) and Katie Morton all secured wins in straight games.
With four courts available, every game of the doubles could go on at once, and the usual high level of support from Cambs players was diminished. It was up to each individual pair to maintain the momentum from the singles, which they duly did. The girls were finished first, with commanding scores: Molly and Liz Salmon winning 21-8, 21-13, and Katie and Jess Sharman (J) 21- 12, 21-14. The men faced a stronger test. While James Wilson and Daniel Bates combined excellently to win 21-12, 21-19, Tom and Paul Martell took a little longer to impose themselves in a close tie, and held their nerve to win the deciding end 21-17.
That left the score 7-1 to Cambs, but a couple of disappointing seasons meant the team resolved to maintain their effort to ensure a positive outcome. In the return doubles, the girls again lead the way in straight games, with Jess and Katie winning to 13 and 14, and Molly and Liz to 12 and 12. The men also hit their stride, with James and Daniel and Tom and Paul winning their games to 16 and 10 and 13 and 17 respectively.
Going into the mixed with the score 11-1, Cambs had already secured full points, but were pushing to also match league leaders Lincolnshire's tally of games won. It was in the mixed discipline where the Northants ladies seemed to really come into their own, and all three games went to three ends. James and Katie turned around an early loss to win comfortably 21-17, 21-11, 21-14. New mixed pairing Tom and Molly also took time to find their feet, but really pulled together to win in the third end 21-16, 18-21, 13-21. The tightest game came in the middle draw, with Jess and Daniel meeting a determined Northants pair in a game that grew faster and harder as it drew on. After losing the first end 19-21, they pulled back to 21-15 in the second, but were then pipped to 19-21 in the last game as the pressure mounted.
That left the score at 13-2, and leaves the IInd team not only level with Lincs I on 13 points, but also with 56 games won to 19 lost. The last game on the fixture list being the home draw against the same Lincs team at CRC next Sunday - 25th March. Quite simply on that day, the winner takes all...
The team:
Daniel Bates (c), Paul Martell, Katie Morton: Hurst Badminton Club
Thomas Li: Pearl Badminton Club
Molly Carter, Liz Salmon, Mindaugas Dabasinskas: St Ives Badminton Club
James Wilson: Ely Victoria Badminton Club
Jessica Sharman: Court Badminton Club
More information about results of the Cambs II team is available on the Team Page.
Cambridgeshire IIIrd team hosted Lincolnshire IInds at the weekend, in their last Badminton England Inter County Championship Division 5C match. A repeat of their 10-5 away win before Christmas would pip long time leaders Bedfordshire II by a point and clinch the division title.
Graham Barr and Josh Males (J) opened proceedings in the first and second mens singles and got the match off to a perfect start, both winning comfortably in straight sets. Kate Marshall at first singles matched the men with a good straight sets win, but Laurel Bennett was unlucky to lose in two very closely fought sets. 3-1 to Cambs, 7 more games needed.
Graham and Josh teamed up as first pair in the first round of mens doubles and continued their strong form with a convincing win over their opposite numbers. Will Hodgkinson and Damien Dugmore at second pair came back strongly after dropping the first set against the Lincs second pair to win the second end to 9, but a few crucial errors in the third saw victory slip frustratingly away. Kate combined with Sharon Chandler at first ladies pair and battled well in a long three-ender against the Lincs first pair, but eventually lost a very close third end. Laurel and Lisa Lim were not troubled at second pair, winning in straight sets. This left the score at 5-3 to Cambs with 5 more games needed from the remaining 7. It was going to be close.
The men kept hopes high as both Graham and Josh, and Will and Damien came through long three set games to record wins, with Will and Damien improving all the time and eventually dispatching the Lincs first pair to 9 in the third. The ladies continued the momentum although Kate and Sharon had to work hard to overcome a strong display by the Lincs second pair. Laurel and Lisa again showed strong form, winning in straight sets. With the score now at 9-3 to Cambs the match was won, but the team still needed one from the three remaining mixed games to gain maximum points and clinch the division.
Playing out of order, Damien and Lisa at third pair started first and after very close first set edged it 21-19. The second set continued in a similar vein with both pairs producing some fine badminton but neither able to pull out a lead. At 20-20 the pairs were still locked together, but eventually Damien and Lisa broke the deadlock and pulled out the crucial two point gap to win the game 26-24 and secure the division win! With the pressure off, Graham and Kate at first pair struggled against the Lincs first pair and lost in two, but Sharon and Josh at second were able to finish off the match in style winning in three.
This fine win means that Cambs IIIrds are now in the divisional playoffs to fight for promotion into ICC division 4. These games will be played on the 21st and 28th of April, the opponents TBD.
More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.
Cambridgeshire IIIrd team travelled to Wellingborough to take on Northamptonshire IIIrds last weekend for their penultimate ICC Division 5C match. A repeat of their 12-3 home win at the start of the season would keep the pressure on division leaders Bedfordshire II.
Geoff Green and Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian (J) (winning his first senior cap) opened proceedings in the first and second mens singles respectively and got the match off to a perfect start, both winning comfortably in straight sets. The ladies were equally dominant as both Kate Marshall at first singles and Laurel Bennett at second won in straight sets. 4-0 to Cambs.
The first round of mens doubles continued in a similar vein, with both first pair Will Hodgkinson and Josh Males (J) and second pair Geoff and Kaylan beating their opposing Nhants pairs in straight sets. Yet again the ladies matched the men by winning both first round ladies as Kate and Jess James (J), and Laurel and Lisa Lim were not troubled, winning in straight sets. 8-0 to Cambs.
With the match victory already in the bag, talk turned to the possibility of a whitewash. The men kept our hopes high with only Geoff and Kaylan dropping a set in the return doubles games and so securing all 3 points. Kate and Jess also dispatched the Nhants ladies 2nd pair in straight sets and the team watched with baited breath as Laurel and Lisa battled against the Nhants 1st pair in a long 3 setter. Eventually though it became clear that we had jinxed the whitewash, as they fell behind in the final end eventually losing to 9. 11-1 to Cambs.
With the match won and all the points decided the team could have relaxed, but instead maintained their level and took all three of the mixed games. First pair Will and Kate battled away for 3 long sets to eventually win to 11 in the 3rd. Second pair Josh and Lisa cruised through both of their games in two comfortable sets and Geoff and Laurel wrapped things up by winning in 3 at 3rd. The 14-1 win is a great result for the team and keeps the pressure on Beds. Special mention must go to Kaylan for a great display in his first senior county match. I’m confident there will be many more to come!
!! STOP PRESS !!
It seems the pressure finally got to Bedfordshire as they managed to lose their final match of the season 8-7 to Lincs II. This means that a 10-5 or better win for Cambs III against Lincs II on Sunday 4th March will give Cambs III the league title and put them into the playoffs!
More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.
Cambs Ist team went into the crunch match against Oxfordshire Ists needing to win to try and stay in the division. The reverse result of an 8–7 loss at home gave us hope. For once we took a couple of mens singles specialists, newcomer to the team Min Dabasinkas showed great determination but eventually lost 19-21, 21-19, 19-21 to Jack Smith. Tom Li brought up from the IInd team also making his debut showed his potential, but also lost 11-21, 18-21. Nat Taylor put in a great display beating Oxfordshire's number one singles player 21-16, 25-23 - a great result after losing to her at home. In the final singles, Olga Bryant won her first game 21-11, but her opponent started to play much better and eventually she lost in 3 ends.
This left us 3-1 down going into the doubles the same score as when we played them at home, Neil Place and Simon Woodhouse, went on against Oxford's first pair and struggled to get into the game, losing 14-21, 13-21. Sam Scharf and Dan Bates, showed fight and determination but eventually lost 15-21, 18-21. The Ladies didn’t fair much better with Nat Taylor and Sara Mason losing a close first end 20-22, and then struggling in the second end losing 10-21. In the final doubles, Olga Bryant and Hannah Sharman had a long battle with Oxford's 2nd pair but eventually lost 19-21, 15-21.
This left us 7-1 down going into the reverse doubles. After a brief 'we can still win this' speech by Sam, we went in with renewed determination. Neil and Simon fought through a tough first game to win 21-17, completely lost concentration in the second and lost 7-21, however recovered and won in three to a final score of 21-16. Dan and Sam showed equal determination losing the first end 16-21, fighting back to win the second 23-21, but unfortunately losing the 3rd game 11-21. The ladies showed equal grit and determination with Nat and Sara showing their class by winning 21-17, 21-16. Unfortunately Olga and Hannah faced an uphill battle against Oxford’s 1st’s and lost against high class opponents 12-21, 16-21.
This meant to get a point we needed all 3 mixed games to go our way. First victory came from the 3rd pair of Sara and Neil who comfortably won 21-12, 21-7. Second game off was the new 1st pair of Sam and Nat, who unfortunately couldn’t overcome a strong Oxford 1st pair losing 13-21, 16-21. This left second new pair of Simon and Olga fighting in a epic game which they eventually won 21-19, 19-21, 21-19.
This means we now need to win our next 2 games 10-5 or better to stay in the division, Bring on Herts.
Neil Place - Captain
More information about results of the Cambs I team is available on the Team Page.
If you're a budding U11 or U13 badminton player, there's another upcoming Fun Tournament at Burwell on 17th March from 12 noon.
You do not necessarily need to be in a club already to play in a fun tournament. If you want to give the sport a try, or have played at school and enjoyed it, this is a great introduction to a little competition.
For more details see the entry form. There should be some really fun badminton for lots of potential badminton stars!
On Sunday 29th January, the Over 40s travelled to Essex in their return match after losing 10-2 earlier in the season, the Cambs team were hoping for a better result.
The Essex team were once again extremely strong, and the match was as brief as this write up.
In the Mens Doubles Essex won all 4 rubbers, with Les Pratt and Kevin Barron winning one end. The other pairing of Nick Pratt/Neil Mortimer losing both match in close two ends.
The ladies did not fare much better, with Amanda Godfrey/Tracy Bichener and Sharon Chandler/Janet Farrington losing both their rubbers in 2 ends.
Although 8–0 going into the mixed, we were fighting for pride, and to see who could at least win a rubber.
1st Pairing – Kevin/Sharon going down in 2 ends
2nd Pairing – Nick/Amanda going down in 2 close ends
3rd Pairing – Les/Janet going down in 2 ends
4th Pairing – Neil/Tracy going down in 3 ends
Final match score was 12–0 to Essex, although the games were very enjoyable.
More information about results of the Cambs O40 team is available on the Team Page.
