Avon Badminton's Online Newsletter by Harriet Mortimer
About the Author:
I started playing badminton when I was 10 and grew up through the Avon Junior County and tournament circuits, playing all over England and at international tournaments in Europe. During university, I became a level 2 coach and coached my uni team and many of the social players each week. On my return to Bristol I stepped back onto the county circuit, this time as a senior and have represented the county 2nd team for the past 4 years. Alongside playing, I privately coach players ranging in ages and ability, and deliver badminton coaching in primary schools as part of my role at Bristol Sport Foundation.
All About Social Tournaments
Badminton Social Series
On Sunday 27th January, the first tournament in the Badminton Social Series was held at Kingsdown Leisure Centre. This Series is a pilot set up on behalf of Badminton England to offer the chance for social badminton players to experience a fun, but competitive environment, and meet other social players to begin to develop a network of players and increase the opportunities to play badminton.
And for the 32 players who participated, I believe that is what was achieved! This turnout meant we had a box of 5 ladies doubles pairs and 2 boxes of 5-6 men’s pairs, who battled it out against everyone in their box, and against a pair from the other box to find the overall winner. Over the 4 hours, each pair got plenty of games, leaving everyone tired and ready for a chilled Sunday afternoon.
Congratulations to the winners and runners up of the ladies and men’s doubles boxes, and a massive thank you to everyone who came along!
If you’re over 18 and don’t currently play for a club team that competes in the Bristol League, then you’re eligible to play in the final 2 tournaments in the Series. Choose a doubles partner or sign up by yourself and come along for a fun round-robin tournament, played with competition grade plastic shuttles.
Date: Sunday 10th March and 12th May
Time: 2-6pm
Venue: Kingsdown Leisure Centre
*It doesn’t currently have capability for mixed partners in this Series, but I’m hoping to expand it to mixed in the future.
Sign up online on the Badminton England website and please let me know if you have any questions: https://badmintonengland.azolve.com/workbench/public/events?ref=31DA084E33B724E4A68328FFF19721FA81896F4E
Active Workplaces Badminton Competition
Another tournament aimed at social players I attended recently was the Active Workplaces Badminton Competition, organised by Westport; a sporting charity helping people become more physically active. With local business entering 8 teams, totaling 32 players, there was a friendly but determined atmosphere at St Pauls Community Sports Academy on Thursday 7th February.
After playing 4, 8 minute matches and accumulating as many points as possible, Osbourne Clark 2 took first place, closely followed by Soil Association A. Congratulations to all those people and businesses that took part, and the Westport Team for organising!
The aim of this Newsletter is to make information about such opportunities more easy to advertise and access, such as local clubs, tournaments, and coaches. I also want to highlight all the successes of Badminton across Bristol; whether that’s an individual player who made it into the England Squad, any of our 6 County Teams' achievements in the Senior County Championships, the Veteran players who are still winning medals at International Tournaments, or the hundreds of children who are getting involved in badminton through local junior clubs and charities.
If you have any questions, or want to share your Bristol Badminton news, please contact Harriet on hmortimercoaching@hotmail.com
Keep Playing!
Comments