Under 11s Junior Championships

Last weekend saw the Under 11s Norfolk Junior Badminton Championships held at Sewell Park College in Norwich, where West Norfolk players enjoyed success in all formats of play.

In the Girls Singles Jessica Bateman of King’s Lynn finished runner–up, winning all but 1 of her games and losing only to the top seed from Norwich, U13s team player, Caitlin Parfitt. Teaming up, Jessica and Caitlin went on to win the Girls Doubles event without dropping a game.

The Boys Singles was dominated by West Norfolk players, with Charlie Wakefield coming through his group unbeaten to move into the semi finals. He was joined by Jamie
Salas-Brown who finished 2nd in the same group. In the other group 7 year old Harry Wakefield played well to finish runner-up in his group, just losing one game 21 –19 to the number 2 seed from Norwich. Harry went through to the semi-final where a cruel stroke of luck saw him face his in-form older brother, Charlie. Harry lost to Charlie in two games 21 –14 21 –10. In the other semi-final Jamie Salas-Brown took on the number 2 seed, Aruneesh Velu from Norwich. After two closely fought games Velu progressed to the final where Wakefield’s superior defensive skills proved too much for the Norwich player and he took the title in 2 games.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"62","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-1003 ","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"640","height":"480","alt":"Charlie Wakefield \u0026amp; Jamie Salas Brown, U11 doubles winners 2012"}}]] Charlie Wakefield & Jamie Salas Brown, U11 doubles winners 2012

The Boys’ Doubles was played in one group. Charlie Wakefield paired up with Salas-Brown to take the title although they were taken to three sets by the number 2 seeds, Velu and Louis Davis. The younger Wakefield teamed up with another West Norfolk player, Dale Hellard, to finish 3rd in the tournament although they were stretched playing against scratch pair Leo Fonzo from Downham Market, with 6 year old Adithya Velu who battled to take the second of 3 games 21-20, but then lost in the third 19-21 to Hellard and Wakefield.

The final event of the day was the mixed doubles. Charlie Wakefield playing with Caitlin Parfitt went on to take their 3rd title on the dayin his third title of the day. Hellard and Jessica Bateman formed a useful partnership to finish runners-up in the Mixed Doubles event.