Elder brother  John has filled in before this season, having learned his badminton playing casually at Freswwater Sports Centre on a Friday evening for about 4 years.

But younger brother Andy ,who used to be one of the islands top juniors,  hasn’t picked up a raquet for about 25 years.

Downer broke the Duck

Guernsey made the long trip to the IOW on Saturday to face the undefeated IOW team. Albeit nearly catching the wrong ferry they finally arrived.

Into the single was the Vicky Law, Jane Jackson Ian Walder and Kez Downer. The ladies put up a brave battle but were overpowered by the opposition. Ian went about his usual business and took an easy victory from his opposite no.1 man, whilst also entertaining the on-looking crowd. Kez however lost his first game but after a few funny faces dug deep and won the second game taking it to a decider in the third, which he finished off quickly leaving his opposite number looking dejected at the end and broke his duck in winning his first singles game this season. So after the first round it was level at 2 all.

The levels next with Ady White joining Jane had a tough fight against there opposite number but coming out winners in 3 sets and then going on to beat Guernsey’s 2nd pair in another 3 set thriller. Caroline Pearson and Karin Murrant teamed together, whilst they lost to the 2nd pair they regrouped and took the 1st pair to 3 games only to narrowly miss out. Paul Royl was back after injury and teamed up with Kez where they both played on top form and won both games with ease. Ian teamed up with Richard Gray and also won both of there games in quick succession, with one of the supporters saying it looked like Ian was still playing singles.

IOW had a healthy lead of 8 – 4 now with the mixed to go but needing 2 out the 3 to get max points. Ian and Ady teamed up and had a tough battle as Ian tired from all his singles but came out winners in 3 sets, where as Paul and Jane, Kez and Karin made quick work and won there games in quickly making the mixed a clean sweep.

Final score 11 – 4 to the IOW’ers making Manager Martin Taylor very pleased with the teams efforts and rewarded Kez with Man of the Match.

This makes IOW top of the division and playing the second from top Somerset this Sunday 30th, 1pm at Sandown school, please feel free to come along and support.

The tournament is being held at West Wight Sports Centre on 24th January and commences at 10am. Deadline for entry forms is 17th January. Full details are available on the entry form.

Mike West.

Click HERE for printable PDF entry form (form will open in a new window)

The islanders were without one of its top players due to an injury. The manager set out his game plan and the team went on to do battle. Karrin Murrant played her first county singles this year and came up trumps with a win, Ian Walder soon followed with another win. Kez Downer also playing his first county singles this year took his opponent to a close fought 3rd game only to narrowly miss out. This left Jane Jackson to play against their star vet, which went to 3 sets with Jane just losing.

So at 2 all it was on to the levels, in the men’s it was a clean sweep with Richard Gray and Ian winning both games which was matched by Kez and Rudi Hendon-John. In the ladies Jane and Ady White matched the men by taking both of there games. Karrin and Caroline Pearson beat the 2nd pair but just missed out against the 1st Pair. So with a healthy lead of 9 -3 it just left mixed games. Ian and Ady, Richard and Jane, Kez and Karrin.

Amazingly they all finished within 10 seconds of each other with all 3 victories meaning an excellent win of 12 – 3 to the islanders with full points.

Karin Murrant did gain revenge in the Ladies Doubles, partnering Gill Bushell, they defeated Jane Jackson and Ady White 21-18 22-20. Again the Mixed Doubles produced a change of fortune, this time Ady White, partnered by Richard Gray defeated Karin Murrant and Kes Downer 21-19 21-17.

The eagerly awaited Mens Singles final between the holder, Paul Royl and Chris Massey was unfortunately truncated when Paul Royl was forced to concede in the first set with a back injury.
The injury occurred during the first rally but Paul tried to carry on but trailing 18-14 in the first set, he was forced to give up. Consequently, he also had to concede the Mens Doubles to Rudi Hendon-John and Dom Afonso.

Tom Dye won two of the Plate competitions, winning the Mixed doubles with Sandra Dye, 21-19 21-15 against Martin Taylor and Clare Powell then winning the Mixed doubles with Chris Massey against Richard Jones and Barry Bushell 21-8 18-21 21-19. This match was the only 3 set match of the afternoon. At one time in the third set, Tom & Chris led 18-12 but the scores were levelled at 18 all, then 19 all before Tom & Chris secured victory.
The Mens singles Plate was won by Craig Insley 21-13 21-17 against George Utteridge.

Mike West
Tournament Secretary

It Started well with the men’s singles Paul Royl and Chris Massey winning both games. However Vicky Law and Jane Jackson put up a brave fight but were over powered in their singles games. Paul, then joined with Kes Downer in the doubles swiftly dispatched both of Somerset’s pairs as did Richard Gray and Ian Walder in their 2 matches.

The Ladies doubles was a tighter contest, Jane Jackson now joined with Ady White beating Somerset’s first pair in a nail biting 3 sets, but then narrowly losing to their 2nd Pair. Karin Murrant and Caroline Pearson put in a great fight against both pairs taking them to 3 sets in each but narrowly missing out.

Finally the mixed games where Ian and Ady, Paul and Jane both won their mixed games with ease. Kes and Karin took their game to 3 but just losing out in the end, giving an overall victory of 9-6 to the IOW.

Jane Jackson was named Player of the Match by Martin Taylor County Manager.

Click HERE for printable PDF entry form (form will open in a new window)

All league matches that are scheduled to take place during week 8 (14th to 18th December inclusive) should be re-arranged to mutually suitable dates towards the end of the season – unless both teams agree to continue with the original fixture date. Any matches re-arranged under this ruling must be completed by Friday 2nd April 2010.
Could Club Secretaries please inform me of the new dates of any re-arranged matches in order that we may update the fixture list on the web-site where appropriate.

Ian Parker (League Secretary)

• UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Badminton Coaching
• UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Badminton Coaching

Increasing the number of coaches and level of training of our coaches is vital to improving the standard of Badminton played on the Island.

If you are interested in taking a course, please let your Club Secretary know, contact Jan Hurt directly or use the Contact Page on this site and we will pass details of your interest onto Jan.

Details of the above and other coaching qualifications can be found on the Badminton England website. See: http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/text.asp?section=20&sectionTitle=Coaching