County Veterens Championship
Norma Bowen, the countys development officer, and Eddie Simmons were the stars of this seasons Veterans Tournament, each picking up two titles. The mixed doubles event was played in two groups, producing some very closely fought matches, with often only one point in it. Alan Palmer and Ann Hutchin played Andrew Savory and Sandra Robinson in the first semi-final and, after a very tight first set, their greater experience and determination saw them through to the final. In the other semi the new partnership of Simmons and Bowen were up against David Guy and Jeannine Whiffen and, fighting for every point, they managed to claw their way into the final. By then, the new pairing were going from strength to strength and won their first title in a final which produced some very good play from all four players.
Simmons then teamed up with his county partner, Mark Bennett, to win the mens doubles crown from Guy and Savory. Norma Bowen partnered Sandra Robinson to victory in the womens doubles by winning all their matches, with Ann Hutchin and Jane Sheldrake just managing to hold on to second place.
* There was a very good entry for the Anglia Under 13s & 15s Championships hosted by Norfolk at the UEA Sportspark. Fifteen local players entered the Under 13s event, with the best performance coming from Luke Cox, who reached the final of the boys singles, only to be beaten by a higher graded player. Mark Robinson and Andrew Carrier did well to reach the quarter finals and Robinson and Cox made it to the semi-finals of the doubles. At Under 15 level, Rebecca Heeles was Norfolks best performer in the girls singles and Emma Davies and her partner Nicole Walker from Essex reached the quarter finals of the doubles. In the boys singles, Chris Piff and Lucas Lefevre also reached the quarter finals, whilst brother, Kurtis , made it to the semis. Piff and Lucas Lefevre reached the semi-finals of the doubles.
* After a break of ten years, Norfolk are hosting an Open Satellite Tournament again, to be held at the UEA Sportspark on Friday and Saturday, 18th & 19th November. The event has attracted almost 80 competitors from as far away as Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and Wales. The singles events will be played on Friday evening, starting at 6.00pm, with England International, Rebecca Panteney being the hot favourite to take the womens title and Norfolks Ian Murphy in with a good chance in the mens event.
Saturday sees the mens doubles first on court at 10.00am, in which Murphy and his partner James White (Leicestershire) start favourites. The mixed gets underway at 11.00am, which could see Murphy and Toni Sturgeon (Suffolk) up against White and Norfolks Katherine Cooper in the final. These two very good mixed pairs have avoided playing each other in satellites so far this season, so it could be a very interesting encounter. The womens doubles event starts at 12 noon with Norfolks Sharn Crane and Toni Sturgeon top seeds, but Norfolk Restricted Champions, Gillian Cox and Katherine Cooper will be keen to pull off a surprise and win their first open title. Spectators should enjoy two days of top quality badminton. Entry to the Championships is free, but the usual Sportspark entry charge will apply.
