FZ Finnish Junior

The Finnish Junior Championships took place in Helskini 25th-28th October with Rachael and Rebecca Woods competing in the event along with other Irish players Brian O’Mahony & Adam McAllister with Rachel reaching the Quarter Finals in all 3 events.

Rachael was seeded 5th in the girl’s singles and coming off her Ladies singles win at the FORZA Ulster Open, played some very good badminton in the opening 2 rounds of the event beating Diana Stognija in the 2nd round 21-8, 21-8 and Tulli Vasikkaniemi (FIN) in the 3rd round, 21-17, 21-14 to progress to the Quarter Final where she faced Edith Urell from Sweden. In the opening set of the quarter Final it was the Swede who came firing out of the blocks and played some very controlled and accurate badminton taking it 21-11. The second set was very different with Rachael shows her form from the earlier rounds and matching Urell point by point into the latter stages of the game with the score at 20-20. The high level of play continued in the proceeding points but it was the Swedish girl who played the last few points well and took it 25-23. Urell went on to win the Girls singles so a great performance from Rachael to push her all the way in the QF match.

Rebecca had the closest match of the tournamnet against her Russian opponent Varvara Shirinkina in the first round of the Girls singles. Rebecca took the opening games 22-20 before the Russian snuck the second by the same score as the first. In the decider it continued to be very tight game in and again was a nail bitter with the Russian taking it and the match 23-21.

The ‘Twins’ had a bye in the first round of the Girls Doubles before they meet the Swedish pair of Hultman/Wang. It was a strong first set from Rachael and Rebecca which they won 21-17 with some great attacking play and forcing the Swedes into making Errors. A change of tactics of pressing up in the mid court in the second set from the Swedish pair troubled the Woods girls and gave Hultman/Wang an early advantage, in which they maintained to the end of the second game taking it 21-13. Into the 3rd set and a re-focused Rachael & Rebecca started to gain the initiative in the rallies and match the Swedish pairs change of tactics, resulting in it being very close at the change of ends. A quick start from the Swedish pair was then matched by Rachael & Rebecca with it being tied at 22-22 but it was the Ulster pair who played 2 great points to take the set and match 24-22 and progress into the Quarter Finals.

There they faced the seeded pair of Krywacki & Suutarien. Unfortunately, the 4th seeds proved too strong with Rachael & Rebecca losing out 21-15, 21-12.

Racheal had another great run in the Mixed Doubles playing with Connacht’s Adam McAllister. Seeded 3 for the event they had a bye in the first round, then faced the Swedish Pair of Olsson & Tuvesson. A strong first set seen them win it 21-16. The second set proved a bit more difficult with the Swedish pair improving their level of play but Adam and Rachael played the important points very well and took it 24-22. Another tight Set which seemed to be the theme of the event for the players!

The Quarter final was a tough one against a very physically strong Russian Pair of Kholkin/Sukhova. It was evenly matched in the opening stages of the first game with Adam and Rachael more than holding their own and playing some great mixed doubles, however the Russians won a few quick points in the latter stages and took the set 21-16. Gaining confidence from winning the first set the Russian pair maintained a high level of play and took the second Game 21-8. The Russian pair went on to win the event so encouraging signs especially in the first set from Adam & Rachael.

Rebecca & Brian had a good match against Thiapwacha & Skott from Sweden in the first round of the mixed doubles but the Swedish pair played some very good points near the end of both sets winning in 2 tight sets 21-16, 21-19.

Adam McAllister had a good first round win against Thomas Carver from England before losing out to top seed Dennis Koppen 21-17, 21-18 in the second round.

Brian O’Mahony had a tough opening round in the singles up against Marcus Boman from Sweden, losing out 21-17, 21-11.

Adam & Brian had a great performance in the Boys Doubles reaching the quarter finals courtesy of at 21-11, 28-26 win against Lindelof & Oldorff from Finland.  They played a great match against the top seeds in the Quarter final also from Finland, Lahtinen& Lauri, just losing out in 3 sets 15-21, 23-21, 16-21.

For all the results click here