Both Tournaments were well subscribed and all entrants were accommodated in the draws. Entries were attracted from as far away as Jersey, Cornwall and Derbyshire as well as the more local counties.
Bucks Schools Badminton Association, was represented on both days, by boys and girls from the County training cells.
On Saturday in the Silver Boys Doubles event, none of the Bucks players were successful, the event being won by Lee Ackerman and Jeremy Johnson of Middlesex. In the Girls’ Doubles, Raveerha Fernando (High Wycombe) and Emily Jeffs (Milton Keynes) lost in the semi-finals to event winners Charlotte Close and Claire Mort of Warwickshire.
Tom Stanford (Milton Keynes) was the most successful Bucks player in Boys Singles, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Richard Sims of Middlesex. Alex Hutchings of Jersey was the eventual winner. (Hopefully worth the long trip!)
Toni Blake (Milton Keynes) had the best result for the Bucks players, making the Final of the Girls Singles, losing out in a tough 3-ender to Georgina Bland (top seed) from Surrey.
Sunday saw more Bucks players in action in the Bronze event. Sisters Leonie and Rebecca Stevens (High Wycombe) playing in their first tournament, finished a creditable third in their pool group, from which the eventual winners also emerged; Clare Freeman and Claire Gwilliam of Surrey. Two years ago Leonie and Rebecca played in the Bucks Youth Games Badminton event for the Wycombe team. What a long way they have progressed in that time!
Chris Curtin (Milton Keynes) reached the Quarter-finals in Boys Singles, which was won by Dominic Wiyanta from Sussex.
Sarah Finch (High Wycombe) reached the same stage of the Girls Singles. Hannah Thompson from Surrey winning the event.
Bucks players struggled in the tough Boys Doubles draw in which Patrick Hobbs and Jason Plant, representing Wiltshire, won the Gold medals.
Well done to all the players representing their County in these events.
Fran Stone
Tournament Organiser
