Nottinghamshire Schools Badminton Association
Nottinghamshire Schools Badminton Association
Chairman's
Report 2004/05
The County has once again enjoyed a very successful season. I am also pleased to confirm how enjoyable the whole season has been. Success at both team and individual levels for a County squad is of course paramount, but for some reason, some seasons just feel that bit more special. 2004/2005 was one of those.
At County team level, the Under 17 squad did extremely well to finish third in the ICT (third out of 38 counties) given the injuries that had been sustained to key players within the squad. To have been seeded fifth at the outset and then to achieve bronze status was a great tribute to a fantastic squad effort. The Under 17 team also won its regional shires league before finishing fifth in the National League Finals only a few short weeks ago.
At Under 15 level, particular praise is due to the Coaches, players and parents. Two years ago this squad failed to qualify for the National Under 13 Team Challenge Finals and a huge amount of effort has been committed by all to support what was always a promising team of individuals. I am delighted to confirm that the Under 15’s not only won their Regional Shires League but are now looking forward with optimism to the National Finals in a couple of weeks time. They also managed to come a fantastic second in the Under 15 National Team Challenge Finals. A wonderful achievement.
At Under 13 level, a very promising squad also won their Regional Shires League and then finished a very creditable fifth in the National Team Challenge Final. Once again, the team are looking forward optimistically to the Shires League Finals that take place later this month.
The most exciting part of the season for me however was the emergence of our new group of youngsters. The Under 12 and primary squads won their North Midway League Events and then performed outstandingly to win the Under 12 Yorkshire Team Challenge in York, only two weeks ago. This was the first time that Nottinghamshire have won this event in seven years. I am hopeful, with good reason that this squad are potential National Under 13 Team Challenge winners next season.
At individual level it is wonderful to report that we have won National Medals in all three of the key age groups. At Under 17, Peter Mills (Southwell Minster School) is now a Double National Champion having won Gold in both the Doubles and the Mixed events. He also won Silver in the individual Singles. At Under 15 level, Alison Pulford of Carlton Le Willows School performed outstandingly and achieved a National Silver in the Ladies Doubles Event.
At the same tournament, Samantha Reynolds of the Nottingham High School for Girls also won a National Bronze in the individual Singles Event. At Under 13 level, Jessica Tandy of Sir Edmund Hilary School in Worksop won Silver in the Under 13 National Girls Doubles Finals. She has also now represented England on several occasions this season.
As has become the routine during the last few years, two excellent residential weekends took place at Lea Green in Derbyshire – these events still remain, from all the feedback received, the highlight of the year for many of our squad members. We also continued the policy of bringing in external England Coaches to support the development of the Under 13 squads at Ravenshead on five or six occasions during the season. This will continue next year.
As a County we also hosted and ran a number of high profile National events – many thanks to Helen Ward who was the Tournament Secretary for the Under 13 Junior Challenger Event that took place at Chilwell Olympia in October 2004. Similar sincere thanks to John Simpson who stood in at very short notice to act as Tournament Secretary for the Under 17 Junior Challenger that took place in January of this year. As always, the Notts Open Tournament was managed very successfully by John Ellis over the Christmas period, ably supported by Bev Norris on each of the three days. I cannot emphasize how grateful we are to all of these individuals for the fantastic work they put in for the County in running what are major events in both timing and commitment terms. Many thanks to all.
The success achieved by Nottinghamshire Schools Badminton during recent years has been continued during the current season. We still have no less than nine players on the World Class programme and are seen across England as one of the top three Counties in every age group. We continue to receive wonderful support from our Coaches, our administrators and our parents for which we are extremely grateful.
I would like to pay particular tribute to Peter Herrity, who has been the Senior Schools Coach for the last 25 years or so and was rewarded at the ICT Tournament at Easter with the prestigious English Badminton Award. Well done and well deserved Peter. I would also like to thank Patsy Watson, Dave Goodall, Sid Nicholas and Giresh Ravat for their outstanding service. I am also delighted to confirm that they have been ably supported during the current season by Henry Carrington, Dave Sanders and Dale Twigger – without your support there would be no County Schools Association! Also sincere thanks to Glen Foye and Rachel Ellis who continue to provide additional mid week coaching for selected squad members.
I am now looking forward to 2005/2006 and remain optimistic that we will be entering into another successful season for the County squad – I am particularly encouraged by the emergence of our current Under 11 and Under 12 squad members for whom I have no doubt the future will be very exciting. Good luck to you all.
Paul Adcock - Chairman of NSBA