BADMINTON England, (BE) is pleased to announce the launch of a major national competition, the No Strings National Leisure Centres Championships.
The aim is to provide competition at the right level for the thousands of people playing badminton outside of league teams in centres throughout the country. Playing competitively at whatever level increases the interest and provides motivation to improve, whatever the sport. The NO STRINGS NATIONAL LEISURE CENTRES CHAMPIONSHIPS seeks to provide that missing level of competition for the majority of players in England to enjoy. It will only be open to those players who have NEVER played in a league or for any club team (at senior level) thereby providing the opportunity to compete within their own standard of play.
If you are a social or recreational player, or a member of a club, and do not play league badminton, then you are eligible to play in the Leisure Centre Championships. This gives you the opportunity to test yourself competitively against other players of a similar standard - leisure centres are signing up to the Championships now. Player entry forms will be available from participating Centres or downloadable here from 13th November 2009.
NATIONAL FINALS 2010
The finals of the No Strings National Leisure Centre Badminton Championships were held at the National Badminton Centre, Milton Keynes on Saturday 5th June 2010.
Players from all over the country had to battle their way through an initial Leisure Centre round and also a Regional Round to have the right to take their place in the finals and have the opportunity to be crowned Leisure Centres Champion.
Ten events were played throughout the day and as well as the usual Mens & Women's Singles, Mens, Women's and Mixed Doubles, the finals also included extra categories such as Under 18 Boys and Girls Singles and Over 50s Mens, Womens and Mixed Doubles.
The Champions can be found below or alternatively for a full set of results please click here
Men's Singles
John Gan - Kelmscott Leisure Centre, Kent
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Baiju Matthew, in his second final of the day, finished top of his group and had to face last year's Champion John Gan in the final. With both players progressing through the unbeaten records, something had to give and after a very tight match John Gan retained the title winning 22-20, 21-11. |
Women's Singles
Pue-Yen Lee - Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Lancashire
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The final was contested by Pue-Yen Lee and last year's Champion Debbie Reid. Both players had won all of their group matches and took to the court to see who would take the title. It was a valiant effort by both players but Pue-Yen Lee proved too strong and came away with victory 21-15, 21-8. |
Men's Doubles
Abraham John & Baiju Matthew - Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Lancashire
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The final saw Abraham John & Baiju Matthew play against Adrian Bell & Nigel Jackson. Both pairs had successfully navigated through their groups to reach the final for what was sure to be a close affair. The first game went down to the wire with Abraham John & Baiju Matthew winning by the slightest of margins, 22-20. From that point forward, Abraham John & Baiju Matthew pushed on and eventually took the second game 21-12 to win the title. |
Women's Doubles
Claire Macey & Carol Strickland - Devizes Leisure Centre, Somerset
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The title was won with a very respectable unbeaten record, especially as Claire Macey & Carol Strickland had only dropped one game throughout the competition. Through the rounds a vital win against Gillian Lam & Pue-Yen Lee proved to be the victory of the title as they could not be caught from that point on, which left Gillian Lam & Pue-Yen Lee settling for a hard fought second place. |
Mixed Doubles
Mark Ward & Laura Hiatt - Tisbury & District Sports Centre, Wiltshire
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This final produced some exciting badminton with a close encounter between Mark Ward & Laura Hiatt against Matthew Wakefield & Kate Burton. The match developed into three ends with the pressure definitely on for both pairs in the third and final game. The winning pair just clinched the third game to win the title 21-14, 15-21, 21-18. |
U18 Boy's Singles
Chris Harley - Frome Leisure Centre, Somerset
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The U18s Boys Singles proved to be a close competition, particularly between Chris Harley and Joshua Ashton. Both were playing strongly throughout the tournament but the title was finally won by Chris Harley who finished the tournament with an impressive 100% unbeaten record. |
U18 Girl's Singles
Hannah Miles - Wycombe Badminton Centre, Buckinghamshire
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Both Hannah Miles and Francesca Slay had performed strongly through the rounds to win their first 3 matches. With very little games and points differences between them, in the end it was the match against each other that proved decisive. |
O50 Men's Doubles
Antony Cowling & Brian Trowse - Wycombe Badminton Centre, Buckinghamshire
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Antony Cowling & Brian Trowse proved to be unbeatable winning the title with an incredible claim of not dropping a game. |
O50 Women's Doubles
Rosemary Evans & Gill Moore - Frome Leisure Centre, Somerset
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This event proved to be another close encounter when Rosemary Evans & Gill Moore met Hilary Hardwick & Sheila Hazell in the rounds. For the second year running, the battle to claim the title was evident between these two pairs. Last year's Champions, Rosemary Evans & Gill Moore fought valiantly to retain the Champions title for a second year running proving their 100% unbeatable record once more. |
O50 Mixed Doubles
Chris Reed & Rosemary Hitchman - Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre, Dorset
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This event unfortunately suffered some withdrawals leaving three pairs who had beaten each other during the rounds. With a close result between all three pairs, a count back was required to work out the differences in games and points won and lost. The final result declared Chris Reed and Rosemary Hitchman Over 50s Mixed Doubles Champions for 2010. |
REGIONAL FINALS - 2nd Round
The Regional finals were held on the 24th April 2010. Please find below full sets of results for each Leisure Centre on completion of the Regional Final Rounds:
Babington Community Technology College - Leicester (For a full set of results click here)
Frome Leisure Centre - Frome (For a full set of results click here)
Leigh Indoor Sports Centre - Wigan (For a full set of results click here).
Medway Park - Gillingham - (For a full set of results click here)
Thornaby Pavillion - Thornaby - (For a full set of results click here)
Wycombe Badminton Centre (For a full set of results click here).
Leisure Centres Participating in the 2010 Series
| 5 Rivers Leisure Centre |
| Addlestone Leisure Centre |
| Bath Sports and Leisure Centre |
| Belper Leisure Centre |
| Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre |
| Bishop Barrington Sports Centre |
| Bletchley Leisure Centre |
| Bluecoat Sports Centre |
| Bulmershe Leisure Centre |
| Community Hall National Indoor Arena |
| Dagenham Park Leisure Centre |
| Deighton Sports Arena |
| Devizes Leisure Centre |
| Dursley Sports Centre (Rednock) |
| Eston Sports Academy |
| Flitwick Leisure Centre |
| Frome Leisure Centre |
| Fusion Thornton Health Leisure Centre |
| Hinckley Leisure Centre |
| Kelmscott Leisure Centre |
| Lammas Leisure Centre |
| Lords Meadow Leisure Centre |
| Medway Park (Black Lion Leisure Centre) |
| Monks Hill Sports Centre |
| Norton Hill Sports Centre |
| Redbourn Recreation Centre |
| Sharnbrook Community Sports Centre |
| Shavington Leisure Centre |
| Sherburn Leisure Centre |
| Sport Martley |
| Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre Trust |
| Sudbury Sports Centre |
| Sutton Bonington Sports Centre, University Of Notts |
| Thornaby Pavillion |
| Thornton Heath |
| Tisbury & District Sports Centre |
| Turf Moor Leisure Centre |
| Westgate Leisure Chichester |
| Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre |
| Wycombe Badminton Centre |
| Y Club |
1st Round Winners
Please click here for results of 1st Round Winners.
BENEFITS FOR THE PLAYERS
The players should benefit by:
a) Chance to test their skills in a challenging (but not too challenging!) environment
b) Chance to play someone new
c) Motivation to improve and learn new skills
d) Enjoy good Badminton for a very reasonable cost.
e) Chance to represent their Centre in future rounds and win great prizes!
The first round is organised in the local participating leisure centre (list of centres taking part is available as a download on this page). The round can be played either as a 'extended' group round over a period of time or as a tournament on a single day or weekend. The participating leisure centre will provide more details on the format they have chosen.
For any query regarding the above, please contact the Competitions & Events Team on 01908 268400, e-mail: events@badmintonengland.co.uk
IF YOU ARE A LEISURE CENTRE...
If you are Leisure Centre interested in being part of the Championships, all you need to do is complete an application form and submit it to BADMINTON England. It is free to apply and we will supply you with everything needed. All you need to do is find the players in your centre and run the first round.
Application for 2009-10 is OPEN NOW, until 6th November...
Download the entry form below to host a round of the competition at your Leisure Centre:
| Letter 2009-10 | Format of Championships 2009-10 | Application Form 2009-10 |
IF YOU ARE A PLAYER...
Player entry forms are now available!
If you would like to enter, simply download the entry form, complete and hand to the team at your closest participating Leisure Centre.
Download: Player Entry Form
To locate your nearest participating Leisure Centre, click here.
Please ensure that cheques are made payable to your local participating Leisure Centre.
Entries will close on 15th January 2010.
First rounds will take place between 15 January 2010 - 6 March 2010. For a more specific date, ask the team at your participating Leisure Centre.
