Super Series- Monday 15th February & Tuesday 16th February 2016
Our first Northumberland Badminton Association Junior Super series of 2016 was played over 2 days due to the extraordinary number of entries of our December Super Series. This tournament attracted a great group of players from all over the region, which created a great atmosphere over both days.
The Under 11 event once again had a huge entry, requiring 4 groups, which was then re-drawn to determine the top places. There was a great mix of boys and girls competing in this event, a notable mention to Lucy Dodd (Ponteland) who made it into the 1st place play-off group. Eventual victory went to Jamie Grant (Ponteland), but he was pushed all the way by Hugh Twelves (Ponteland Middle) and runner-up Oliver Edmundson (Ponteland Middle). In the doubles there was victory for the only girls pair Amy Ward (Tyneside Sharks) and Ellen Davison (Morpeth). Runners up in this event were Alex Sutherland (NTBA) and Jamie Grant (Ponteland).
Daniel Armstrong (Ryton) retained his Under 13 singles title in the boy’s event, in the final round of matches there were some tight games with James Dodd, whofinished runner up. A special mention to Holly Duke and Sophie Harrison (both St Aidens) that battled hard in their groups before coming together for the girls final. It was final a close one with Sophie edging the win by one point against Holly. For the U13 doubles the Girls teamed up and took on 4 other pairs with the Morpeth pairing of James Seabrook and Michael Laux coming out victorious. There was a close game going to 3 ends to decide the runners up of the event but the final set was won by the Tyneside Sharks pairing of Jai Nayyar and Sebastian Richie.
In the U15 boys singles Jonathan Nickle (Northamptonshire) a player from the Northamptonshire who was staying in the North East for the half term took the U15 singles title. Runner up in this event was David Short (NTBA) who dominated his group, a notable mention to St Cuthberts Catholic High School who after the enjoyment of the last Super Series entered another group of keen boys. The boy’s doubles event was won by debutants Alex Bannister and Dillan Foster, from Cramlington Learning Village but it was a close run group with the Heaton Manor pairing of Harvey Dickson and Billy Hibbert finishing in the runners up spot.
In the under 17boy’s singles event MattyJerdan (St Gabriels) playing up an age group taking the victory from Jack Thorpe (Morpeth). There were a couple of debutants Harry Sawyer, ElvinShemil and NathanKristwanin this event who played well despite some tough matches. In the doubles event scratch pairing Jack Thorpe and Nathan Kristwan (St Thomas Moore) came out on top with runners up Finn McDonald and Matthew Thompson coming a close second.
In the open girls event there was a huge number of debutants playing in their first Super Series. The final was contested by one of these debutants Rachel Tsang (NHSG) and a Super Series veteran Ellen Bullock (NTBA), with Rachel Tsang finishing on top. Well done to Megan Penlington (NTBA) who competed in both the girl’s event and the U19 Boys event on the previous day! The Doubles event was won by another debutant pairing Thea Bolante and Diana Sabou from St Aidens. The Newcastle School for Girls pairing of Rachel Tsang and Alanna Rocks came a close second.
Like the under 17 boys, the under 19 boys singles was won by a player playing up an age group, Jamie Tinnion (Tyneside Sharks/St Gabriels). After dominating his group he faced Jonathan Howard (Benfield Bears) in the final where he took victory. Jonathan had done well winning his group after some close matches in the group stage where he faced Ross Donaldson (Whitley Chapple) and Daniel Tinnion (Tyneside Sharks/St Gabriels). In the U19 doubles Jamie completed the double winning with his partner Josh Rusby (Morpeth) finishing runners up was the St Gabriels pairing of Bradley Waldock and Daniel Tinnion.
Our Next Super Series will take places on Monday 4th April for U11s, U15s and U19s and Tuesday 5th April for U13s and U17s. Entry forms are available via both the Tyneside Badminton Centre Website and Northumberland Badminton Association website.