County Squads:

Under 21 Fixtures & Results

 

Under-21 League and Under-21 County Squad

A new county squad was formed in 2008 for under-21 players and Suffolk Badminton Association instigated a friendly league with Sussex, Kent and Hertfordshire. Matches are on a home and away basis. Squad sessions run throughout the season as a mixture of Wednesday evenings and Saturday or Sundays. Squad sessions will contain coaching and play, with guest coaches sometimes being invited to give a different feel to the sessions.

It is expected this new initiative by Suffolk Badminton Association will bridge the gap between the Under-17 Shires League and the senior Inter-County Championship (ICC) league. In due course it is hoped that it will strengthen the county teams and possibly lead to the creation of a Suffolk third team for the ICC.

If you would like an opportunity to play for Suffolk, please contact the team manager Mike Tee 01473 728262 or 07740 839617. Players must be affiliated to Badminton England and Suffolk Badminton Association.

 

17-21 Yehlex Inter-County Championships Weekend

Hertfordshire Sports Village    27-28 March 2010

In the recent 17 to 21 tournament organised by Badminton England in which 20 counties competed in a competition to establish a pecking order of those counties who took part. The tournament was played on the 12 badminton courts that the University of Hertfordshire has (University Campus Suffolk have none).

The Suffolk team of Charlie Aldred, Laura Gallagher, Laura Jacobs, Kari Sherrington, Matthew Clackett, Daniel Hooper, Daniel Moss and Gary Sheppard finished a most creditable 12th out of the 20 competing counties.

Suffolk’s first match on the Saturday was against Worcestershire who they beat 4-2. Their second match was against Cheshire which Cheshire won 4-2. The third and final match on the Saturday, against Devon, ended up with Suffolk losing 2-4.

Sunday matches started with a match against Cornwall which Suffolk won 5-1. The second match against Gloucestershire was another Suffolk win 5-1. The third and final match for 11th or 12th place in the pecking order was unfortunately lost to near-neighbour Essex 1-5.

Highpoints of the weekend were the unbeaten record in singles of Daniel Hooper. Matthew Clackett / Daniel Hooper only lost one of the six men’s doubles they played.

All the other Suffolk players gave their best and were a credit to Suffolk badminton. Suffolk must hope that when these players finish their university courses they will want to continue to play for Suffolk.

Stephen Smith