New Year badminton bonanza

THE badminton season in Coleraine kicked off early in the New Year with the Jack Wilson and Bingy Morrison Under-17 inter league competition.

Teams from Lisburn, Donegal, North Down, North West and Church of Ireland braved the icy road conditions to travel to Coleraine for the event.

The tournament was once again sponsored by GM Design Associates and Coleraine and District Badminton Association were pleased to welcome Bill Gamble to the tournament.

The A section took place at Coleraine Academical Institution where five teams competed for the Jack Wilson Cup. Ulster League ‘A’ were runaway winners. They showed their dominance by beating North Down, North West and Donegal ‘A’ without even dropping a game never mind a set.

The Coleraine team was the only one to put up a challenge. Sarah Ferris and Hannah McKillop took Victoria Ringland and Tara Armstrong to three games. Ciaran Gaile and Sarah Ferris took the first game against Ciaran Chambers and Keady Smith but were unable to keep up the pressure as they went down in the next two.

Simon Curry and Tara Nicholl also took Johnny Harron and Victoria Ringland to three games but the win of the day came in the men’s doubles when Simon Curry and Ciaran Gaile beat Johnny Harron and Chris Irwin in two straight games.

In the Bingy Morrison Plate Donegal B beat Coleraine B 5-2 while Ulster League B defeated Church of Ireland 5-2.

Ulster B then went on to win 7-0 against Coleraine B while Donegal B beat Church of Ireland 6-1. In the final round of matches Coleraine B edged a 4-3 win over Church of Ireland.

Donegal B and Ulster League B both needed four sets in their final match but hopes faded fast for Donegal as Ulster League took a 3-0 lead. Donegal’s Graeme and Russell Love pulled one back but Ulster League won two out of the three mixed to win 5-2 and claim the trophy.

Bill Gamble of GM Design Associates handed over the prizes and Bob Colhoun thanked John Ferris and the Coleraine badminton committee for organising the event.