School pupils to compete at county badminton finals

5 February 2010

Some of the most talented badminton players from schools across Derbyshire are to compete at the County Finals of the Center Parcs National Schools Championships.

More than 80 pupils will take part in the competition which will be staged at the world-class badminton centre at Etwall Leisure Centre on Wednesday, February 10.

Among those competing will be teams from Sinfin Community School, Woodlands School, Lees Brook Community Sports College, Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Brookfield Community School, Trent College, Heritage School, Tupton Hall School and John Port School.

The winning year 7-9 boys team, year 7-9 girls team, year 10/11 boys team and year 10/11 girls team from the County final will go on to compete in a regional competition against pupils from Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

Winners of the regional contest will also qualify to compete at the National Finals which will be held at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest on April 24 and 25.

Ed Reeves, BADMINTON England’s Regional Officer for Derbyshire, said: “As well as building on the quality of competitive badminton played in, and between schools in Derbyshire, the Center Parcs National Schools Championships also provides the chance to play in County, Regional and National rounds and gives children an opportunity to get involved and have a great, fun experience.

“It’s great that so many school pupils in Derbyshire have been able to take part in this competition, which will hopefully grow year on year, which for some is their first experience of competitive badminton, and I wish all the teams in the County Final the best of luck.”

First-round badminton competitions were staged by the following School Sport Partnerships: Derby East, Derby West, High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, and South Derbyshire.

Young Leaders from John Port School will be helping with the running of the County Final on the day.

Nationally, more than 22,000 school pupils will take part in the various rounds of the Center Parcs National Schools Championships.

A community badminton programme is also running at Etwall Leisure Centre, with ex-international player and junior international coach James Boxall running some school curricular sessions, linking into after school clubs and the new junior sessions which are held on Monday evening, from 5pm to 7pm.

There are also new sessions for adults, every Friday from 7 to 8.30pm and 8.30 to 10pm.

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