Busy start to the new Decade!

With 6 provincial tournaments in January the start of the new century kicked of with a busy schedule. The Connacht U13 & U17, Ulster A Grade, Leinster Premier Open and the Leinster U15 & U19 Open all came in quick succession with a number of great performances from Ulster players across all events.

CONNACHT U13 & U17- 4th-5th January

Unfortunately due to concerns about the safety of the playing surface both all matches after the Quarter Final Stages had to be cancelled in both age groups. Up to this stage a number of Ulster players had progressed to the Semi Final stages in the U13 & U17 event. Jeffery Rong progressed to the Semi final of the all 3 U13 events parting Raphoe’s Kimberly Pearson in the mixed and Andrew Hassett in the boys Doubles. Amber Buchanan (Alpha) with partner Kimberly in the Girls Doubles played well to progress to the Semi Final of the Girls Singles as well as reaching the semi final of the Girls Singles.

Raphoe’s Blake & Corey Chambers progressed to the Semi Finals of the Boys Doubles and would have faced the Letterkenny/Raphoe partnership of Jerald Banjul & Daniel Moore.

In the U17 Event Stuart McCollum progressed to the Semi final in all 3 events partnering Adam Draynes in the boy’s doubles and Julia O’Reilly in the mixed. Ballyclare’s Laura Comer reached the semi final of the girls singles and Mixed Doubles with partner Scott Guildea.

Unfortunate the players were unable to continue.

For results click here

ULSTER A Grade- 4th January

The Ulster A grade took place at the National Badminton Centre, Lisburn with a number of Ulster players putting in great performances. A list of winner can be seen below:

Mixed Doubles

1 Declan BENNETT+Lauren AU -Johnswell/Ailesbury Badminton Club

2 Ian MACBETH+Tracey WATSON- Ballindrait/Academy Badminton Club

Women’s Doubles

1 Ashleigh COYNE+Lucy FOX- Ailesbury Badminton Club/Waterford

2 Lauren AU+Fiona FARRELL -Ailesbury Badminton Club

Men’s Doubles

1 Andrew MCVEIGH+Michael TURKINGTON- Greenwell Street Presbyterian/Ballyclare

2 Matthew CHEUNG+Ryan STEWART -Alpha

Women’s Singles

1 Lucy FOX -Waterford

2 Anna COMER -Ballyclare

Men’s Singles

1 Matthew CHEUNG -Alpha

2 Jack ARMSTRONG -Alpha

For Full Results Click here

LEINSTER Premier Championships- 11th-12th January.

The Yonex Leinster Championships took place at Whitehall Road and was the last of the Premier Champions this season.

Ryan Stewart and Keady Smith were on top forum throughout the tournament winning a tight 3 set Semi final to reach the final. Up against the ¾ seeds in Bennet/Au in the final Ryan & Keady played some great badminton to win the title in 2 sets 21-16, 21-15.

Tony Murphy & Stuart Lightbody came through as an unseeded pair beating the Top seeds in the Quarter Finals and then the ¾ seeds in the semi final to reach the final. There they played the 2nd seeds of Dan Magee & Sam McKay. It was a tight first set with the Dublin pair taking it 24-22, the second set was equally as close but again it was the Dublin pair who took some of the critical points to take the 2nd set 21-18 and the Title, however a great tournament to reach the final for Tony & Stuart.

For full results click here

LEINSTER U15 & U19 Open- 18th & 19th January

In the U15 event Paige Woods with her partners Dylan Noble & Siofra Flynn continued to dominate the U15 Mixed and Girls Doubles provincial events but taking home 2 Golds.

Seeded ¾ for the mixed event Dylan and Paige progressed comfortably to the final to face the top seeds Cooney & Flynn. Paige and Dylan took a close first set 21-19 before Eoghan & Siofra bounced back to take the second set 21-11, however it was Paige and Dylan to keep their composure in the final game to win it 21-17 and take the title.

Paige also had a great run in the girls singles reaching the final losing out to her doubles partner Siofra Flynn.

Rory Comer has a long 3 set semi final win to reach the Final of the Boys Singles but lost out to the in-form Dylan Noble 21-9, 21-10. Christopher Chee had a few good wins to reach the Semi final of the Singles but lost out to Dylan at the semi final stage.

Matthew Cheung won 2 titles at the U19 event winning the Boys Singles and Boys Doubles. A great win over the 2nd seed at the quarter final stage set up an All Ulster Semi final against Jack Armstrong. It was Matthew who continued his form from the Quarter final to win in 2 sets 21-9, 21-7 to reach the final. There he played the 1st Seed, Sean Patrick Laureta and he took the opening set 22-20. He continued his momentum in the 2nd set to take it 21-15 and his first title of the day. In the Boys doubles Matthew partnered Vincent Pontanosa and after a few solid wins they made the final to play top seeds Conor Byrne & Daniel O’Meara. It was the young U17 partnership that took the opening set 21-16 and ran out comfortable winners in the 2nd set 21-11 to take the title.

 For Full results click here

 Well done to all those who competed and the various Branches for Organising.  Next up in the calendar is the Ulster Masters 25th-26th 
January.