Winners at the Connacht U17 & Leinster Premier

There where a number of Ulster Players competing across Ireland over 12th-13th January coming home with 4 title and numerous Medal positions. Terenure Badminton centre, Dublin was the venue for the Leinster Open Championships where The Woods Twin's of Rachael & Rebecca won the Girls Doubles title and Ciaran Chambers and Ryan stewart won the Men's doubles. Tony stephen also won the Men's Singles on his return to the event.

The U17 Connacht Open Championships were also taking place at Summerhill College and it was a successful tournament for Raphoe's Benjamin Darragh who won the Boy's Doubles partnering Vincent Pontanosa.

Leinster Open Championships

The Premier graded event is one of the strongest tournaments on the Irish circuit and it was great to see Ulster coming away with 3 titles. Tony Stephenson rolled back the years to win the Men's Singles title defeating the 2nd seed for the tournament, Callum Thomas, and 3/4 seed Adam McAllister en route to the final where he faced Azhar Syed. Tony continued his great form and took the title 21-17, 21-12.

Ciaran Chambers and Ryan Stewart had a number of tight Games throughout the competition, notably the 3 set thriller against fellow Ulster players tony Murphy & Tony Stephenson in the Semi Final coming through 21-19, 19-21, 21-18. The final proved to be another tight match up against the young pair of Adam McAllister & Brian O'Mahony. Ciaran 7 Ryan lost the opening games 22-20 but re-grouped in the second set to take it 21-15. With confidence and momentum from the 2nd game the Ulster pair proved too strong in the 3rd winning 21-13.

Sisters & Twins Rachael & Rebecca Woods went one better than their runner up position at the Ulster Open and won the Women's Doubles in a 3 set marathon! After a smooth run to the final they faced the Ailesbury BC pair of Au/Farrell.  After winning the opening set 21-13 Rachael & Rebecca seemed in control of the match but the experienced Dublin pair came back and snuck the 2nd set 21-19 forcing the match into a decider. The 3rd set turned into a tight affair with it right up to 20-20 but it was the young Ulster pair who played the crucial last 2 points well to take the title 22-20.

Rachael also had a great singles event reaching the final of the Girls Singles, however lost out to an in form Kate Frost 21-11, 21-8.

For full results click here

Connacht U13 & U17 Open Championships

Benjamin Darragh came away the big winner at the U17 Connacht Open winning the boys doubles with a number of medal positions for other Ulster players across both the U13 7 U17 event. Unseeded  for the event Benjamin and partner Vincent Pontanosa beat the 2nd seeds of Nolan/O'Donoghue in the 2nd round and after a comfortable Semi final win over Frost/McCabe reached the final where they would face No1 seeds Guildea/Lawlor. It was the top seeds for the event who won a tight opening set 21-19 before Benjamin & Vincent reversed the cards in the second taking it 21-18. In the 3rd set the unseeded pair started excellently and raced to a comfortable lead at the mid game break. They continued their form for the remainder of the set winning 21-11 to take the title.

Laura Comer had a good competition reaching the final of the girls doubles with partner Fiona McAdams but unfortunately lost out 21-16, 24-22 to the top seeds of Fox & Ward. She also reached the Semi final of the girls singles and Mixed Doubles but again lost out to Lucy Fox kin the singles and Downey/Fox in the mixed.

U15 Player Chloe Woods also reached the Semi final of the Girls singles beating top seed Julia O'Reilly in the quarter finals. She came up against the 3/4 seed of Fiona McAdams in the Semi and the BI Academy player proved just to strong winning 21-19, 21-12.

Raphoe's BC Luke Magee and Three Rivers BC Lewis Kee had a great few wins to reach the semi final of the U17 Boys Doubles but lost out to the Top seeds of Scott Guildea & Ben Lawlor in 2 very close sets 21-18, 21-17. A very good run in the doubles for the Donegal boys.

The U13 event seen a number of the up and coming young Ulster players compete and put in a number of Good performances. Christopher Chee reached the Final of the Mixed Doubles partnering Rachel O'Flynn. they had a great final against Kothiyal/Shochan losing out in 3 sets 17-21, 21-11, 14-21. Christopher also reached the Semi final of the Boys singles and Boys doubles. A good Tournament for Christopher, well done!

Daniel Orr and Josh Tang had a great run in the Boys Doubles reaching the semi final but lost out in 3 sets to 2nd seeds Kothiyal/Murtagh 21-16, 16-21, 19-21.

For full results click here

Well done to all winners, participants and Officials!