Gold for Paige at Irish U15 International

Raw Performance Squad player Paige Woods took home a Gold medal in the mixed Doubles along with a silver medal in the girls doubles at the U15 Irish International with Rory Comer, Roisin McKenna, Rachael & Rebecca Woods also winning medals across the U15&U19 event.

Seeded 3/4 for the event Paige and partner Dylan Noble had a comfortable passage to the semi final where they faced the Scotland/Wales pair of Leigh/McAllister. It was a tight first set with the Irish pair taking it 21-18. The second set was more comfortable for Dylan and Paige taking it 21-9 to progress to the final. They faced the Ulster pair of fellow Raw Performance Squad player Rory Comer and his Carryduff's BC Roisin McKenna. The Ulster pair played some great stuff to progress to the final defeating the 2nd seeds en route to the final.

On paper it was an evenly match final but it was Dylan & Paige who came out the fastest in the final taking the opening set 21-10. Rory & Roisin started to play their way into the match at the beginning of the second set and took it 21-19 to force a deciding set. Dylan and Paige opened up an early lead at the start of the 3rd set and maintained it through the reminder of the set to take it 21-13 and the Gold medal. A great final for all 4 players.

Paige also claimed a silver medal in the girls doubles, partnering Dublin's Siofra Flynn losing out in a thrilling final 22-20 in the 3rd set! The girls were seeded 1 for the event, progressing safely into the final to face the Scottish pair of Chan & McAllister. The Scottish pair took the first set 21-16 before the Irish pair bounced back and took the second set 21-13. The 3rd set was nip and tuck all the way up to 20-20 and it was the Scottish pair who took the deciding 2 points to take the title 22-20. A great final! 

Rory Comer also had a very good Boys Singles event reaching the semi finals coming through a tough 3 sets against Platteet from Belgium in the quarter finals 21-16, 14-21, 21-13. In the semi final he played the Welsh player Harper Leigh and he proved to strong for Rory winning 21-14, 21-13, however a great singles event for Rory.

The U19 international event had a number of different countries competing, which showed in the results with 4 different nations winning over the 5 events. Emerging Performance Squad players Rachael & Rebecca Woods had a great Ladies Doubles event claimed a Silver medal losing out to Top seeds from Switzerland in the Final.

The Ulster pair had 2 comfortable wins in the early rounds to progress to the Semi final where they played the fellow Irish pair Feehily & Troy. The Woods Twins took the opening set 21-10 and looked in control of the match before Feehily & Troy played some great points to take the set 21-19. Rachael & Rebecca refocused in the 3rd set winning 21-16 to move into the final. It wasn't to be against the Swiss pair in the final losing out 21-15, 21-13 but a good start to the season with a Silver medal.

Rachael also reached the semi final of the Mixed doubles with Swiss player Yann Orteu losing out to eventual winners Brandon Yap & Abbygael Harris from England.

Also great to see Ulster Badminton Chairman Colin McClements as referee for the event! Welcome back Colin! 

For full results click here

Irish U15 Results

Irish U19 Results

For event pictures click here