Isle of Wight v Guernsey
THE Isle of Wight hosted its first junior badminton competition against Guernsey, which resulted in a comfortable win against their Channel Islands counterparts over the weekend.
The official match was held at The Fairway sports complex, Sandown, on Saturday, and featured singles, doubles and mixed matches, with round-robin competitions set up after the match for more friendly competition through to its conclusion yesterday (Sunday).
The Isle of Wight team comprised eight boys, aged nine to 17 years, and six girls, aged 12-16, while Guernsey — hosting the Island Games next year — sent over seven boys and girls.
The Islanders took a 2-1 lead with its three boys’ singles matches, but Guernsey fought back to level 3-3 with their girls’ singles, which included one superb match which saw Jess Gilbert, who attends Cowes Enterprise College, lose the deciding set 21-19.
The atmosphere was lively with a good crowd of Guernsey and Island parents and members of Isle of Wight Badminton’s playing community cheering on their players.
The Island eventually won the match 11-4 — a strong win to mark the beginning of what is hoped will become a regular event.
After the round-robin events across the remainder of the weekend, the juniors also enjoyed an exhibition men’s doubles match between the Guernsey and Isle of Wight coaches.
Among the Isle of Wight’s round-robin successes were Ollie Clow in the boys’ singles, while his sister, Emily, won the girls’ event.
Ollie Glanville and Curtis Thompson won the boys’ doubles, while Emily and Jess won the girls’ doubles.
Isobel Humber and Ollie Glanville won the mixed doubles, to make it a clean sweep for the Island.
Isle of Wight Badminton’s Keith Farr, said: “Last weekend was a huge success, both in terms of results and improvement for the juniors.
“The coaches from Guernsey and Island are very proud of their respective teams.”
RESULTS
Team event, boys’ singles: Aaron Scott-Roberts (IW) beat Aiden Mahy 21-10, 21-11; Curtis Thompson (IW) beat Rob McVean 21-6, 22-20; George Gray (IW) lost to Jack Dowiton 24-26, 16-21; girls: Jess Gilbert (IW) lost to Grace Edwards 21-18, 19-21, 19-21; Isobel Humber (IW) lost to Medha Vallapureddy 10-21, 4-21; Emily Clow (IW) beat Jay Webber 21-9, 21-7; boys’ doubles: Oliver Clow and Sam Gray beat Charlie Bowen and Liam Mahy 21-7, 21-7; Charlie and George Gray beat Olly Pratt and Alex Girollett 22-20, 21-8; girls: Emily Clow and Lily Green beat Naomi Kewell and Erin Lawrence 21-8, 21-0; Tia Kirwin and Sarah Baggott (IW) beat Jessica Duncan and Lily Le Tocq 21-8, 21-15; mixed doubles: Oliver Glanville and Jess Gilbert (IW) beat Aiden Mahy and Naomi Kewell 21-8, 21-13; Oliver Clow and Sarah Baggott (IW) beat Rob McVean and Grace Edwards 21-12, 21-16; Oliver Evans and Lily Green (IW) beat Jack Dowiton and Erin Lawrence 21-18, 21-13; Charlie Gray and Isobel Humber (IW) lost to Charlie Bowen and Medha Vallapureddy 18-21, 15-21; Sam Gray and Tia Kirwin (IW) beat Liam Mahy and Lilly Le Tocq 21-14, 21-5.