Suffolks first 1 Minute Rally Challenge of National Badminton Week.  Juniors from all three sections of the club were eager to join in with the fun.  A dvd showing the national players setting the benchmark for the challenge was played throughout the evening and helped to build excitement.

 

Top score of the evening was an impressive 113 scored by Hal Rudkin aged 12 and Zac Hembay aged 14. 

 

Youngest challenger of the evening was Max Guest aged 10 who with his partner Stanley Rudkin aged 9 scored a magnificent 82. 

 

Of the girls who took part, Kirsty Davison and Lottie Wade both aged 12 scored a very respectable 72.

 

 

Adastral Park BC and Junior BC has recently received its BADMINTON England Silverclub and Sport England Clubmark Accreditation.

 

 

 

 

Meridians Badminton Club has recently submitted paperwork to BADMINTON England for their Silver Club and Sport England Clubmark Accreditation and should hear any day if they have been successful. 

 

This was an extremely friendly and welcoming evening enjoyed by all who came to have a go at the challenge and raise money for charity.  Members from other Suffolk badminton clubs joined in too.  Paul and Penny Finch and Graham Rodgers from the Club organised the challenge well, providing excellent timekeeping, scoring, and friendly words of advice to all those who took part.  

 

I really enjoyed that and we must do it again, said Chloe Abbott, who scored 68 with her son Sam aged 8.  Sam showed great skill and concentration during his three attempts commented on by all watching and received a round of applause.

 

Some really high scores were recorded with several over the magical mark of 100.  Graham Rodgers playing with his son James scored an incredible 127 watch out Anthony and Kristian!  Natalie Collins and John White scored 124 but at 30 seconds were on target to beat the National mens score of 143.  Just a small lapse of concentration saw that magical number disappear.  As the saying goes, they will be back & to challenge another year.  Suffolks Badminton Development Officer, Elaine Burrows also joined in the fun and along with her partner, Emily Curtis, scored 82.

 

The final attempt was completed after 10 pm which just shows what a success the evening proved to be with lots of money raised for the NSPCC. 

 

 

 

Following on from Mondays Junior Club, Adastral Park adults once again ran the challenge for all adult members. A large number of players had a go, with scores ranging from 89 up to 119.

The highest scorers were:

Colin Warwick & Paul Warwick 114

Darryl Morgan & Colin Warwick 115

Alex Tooke & Paul Warwick 115

Colin Warwick and Phil Maynard 119.

 

All members who took part agreed that the challenge was a lot harder than they expected, but nevertheless had a good time trying to beat each others scores.

 

 

 

Culminating event within Suffolk for National Badminton Week and proved to be a very successful and enjoyable day for all.  Superb organisation by Lisa and Laura Jacobs, Sue and Joanne Poole with assistance from Stephen Smith.  Comment was also made by many people on the delicious home baked food available throughout the day.  A raffle was held to raise addition money for local cancer charities.

 

During the morning the YMCA Junior Badminton Club had their regular club session on court joined by other keen players. 

 

 The final rally challenge of the week commenced just before lunch. Everyone was keen to take part and, as the afternoon progressed, some high scores were recorded.  Colin and James Scott scored 144 on two occasions beating the National Mens score of 143, Sue Poole and Miguel Soler scored a terrific 141, with Sarah Gooding and Laura Jacobs not far behind reaching a score of 134. 

 

A mention needs to be made of Gary Sheppard who played throughout most of the 12 hours following a full evening of badminton at Meridians Badminton Club the previous night. 

 

 

 

For most of the event all courts were occupied and the organisers were pleased with the attendance.  Over £300 was raised for local charities and £30 for the NSPCC.

 

Ipswich YMCA Badminton Club is also Silverclub, Sport England Clubmark Accredited and recently received £150,000 from the Community Club Development Programme fund through BADMINTON England to refurbish its sports hall and changing facilities.  

 

My sincere thanks go to all those people involved in the organisation of activities for National Badminton Week 2006 and also to all those who came along and joined in with the fun whilst raising money for the NSPCC and other local charities, said Elaine Burrows, Badminton Development Officer for Suffolk.  Next year we will be encouraging more clubs to raise money for charity by taking up the 1 Minute Rally Challenge.

  

Elaine Burrows, Badminton Development Officer - Suffolk

Mobile: 07725 413873 Email: elaineburrows@badmintonengland.co.uk

or any of the venues mentioned.