JUNIOR REPORT:

The Junior section began the season with a full membership once again. We have 41 members of which only 1/3 are girls so always looking to recruit some more.

 

Achievements

  • Ray Learney Tournament We fielded 2 teams of 6 players to enter Abbeygate's annual tournament and once again our juniors played brilliantly coming first and second.

Abbeygate Tournament Teams

 

  • IDBL Tournament

U18s - Ben Bennett Day won BS. Ben BD & Craig Newcombe won BD. Ben BD also won MD with Craig as Runner up with his partner.

U15s - Robert Wing won BS. Oliver Pearmain & Robert Wing won BD

  • Suffolk Restricted Max Adderson won u12 boys doubles with his partner and was RU in singles.

Level 1 Coaching Award Well done to Craig & James A who attained their level 1 award and have been enthusiastic assets to the junior club sessions.

Clubmark /Qualifications We once again attained Pfremier Club Clubmark status after our coaches updated their Safeguarding & Protecting Children qualifications and First Aid Certificates this year.

Coaches A huge thank you to all the coaches/ helpers that have turned out every Saturday - its lovely to see there is still so much enthusiasm to continue to introduce and improve young players to badminton.

 

Integration Several of our juniors played regular adult matches in the Ipswich Men's C team who gained promotion in the league and we had a regular junior playing in the Bury ladies team who gained lots of experience and has made her a more confident player.

It was good to see several of the juniors took part in the annual club tournaments helping them integrate and meet with the adult members to encourage them to carry on at the club after they leave the junior section. Well done to Tommy Hunt who won mixed doubles with Amanda.

 

Xmas Tournament We put on our funny hats for the annual Xmas in-house tournament where the juniors had fun competing in a team event and everyone went home with some chocolate treats. Pictures on Facebook.

 

Stowmarket Annual Junior Tournament

On the weekend of 1st & 2nd April we hosted 2 tournaments - an in-house one which was played with all 40 juniors being involved, playing in teams of three. There were medals for winners and an Easter Egg for all. On the Sunday we held the very successful annual junior tournament where 76 players from several Suffolk junior clubs took part in u17s, u15s, u13s and u11s age groups - playing a doubles format. Stowmarket gained first place in u15s Girls doubles and Runners up in U15s & U17s girls. We were Runners up in the u13, u15 & u17 Boys doubles,

 

Thanks for all the support from our club members who scored, helped with shuttles, order of play, selling raffle tickets etc. Our teams looked very smart in the tee-shirts we provided and we have so many complimentary comments from other clubs and parents about how well run the tournament was and how their juniors had enjoyed it.

 

Aims for the coming season are to try and recruit more girls, carry on supporting the county squads and building the skills of these young players to take them forward into our adult club.