On 24^th March, Niall travelled to Vitoria North Spain to train at the Bakh Badminton Club in preparation for the French International, Niall was training with the clubs able body and disability players for two to three hours a day under the supervision of the Bakh clubs top coaches. 

Over the 10 days Niall gained invaluable experience; he got the opportunity to compete in the club tournament where he won one match and lost to very closely contested matches.

Niall also got the opportunity to speak on local radio to promote Disability Badminton and to encourage more players with Restricted Growth Conditions to take up Badminton

On 2^nd April Niall travelled from Spain to Toulouse in France to compete in the French International Championships for Disabilities and Saturday was Niall’s first Game in his group. Niall was in good form and won all his games to finish top of group. His next match on Sunday was the semi-final against the 2^nd placed in group B, Krysten Coombs from the UK. This was going to be a tough match for Niall as Krysten beat Niall 3 weeks ago in Scotland, but as usual Niall rose to the challenge and beat Krysten 21-18,21-18 to reach the Final.

On Monday Niall played the final against UK player Shaun Dunford; this was going to be another tough match for Niall as Shaun game has improved over the past few months, but once again Niall had another excellent and controlled game to win in two sets 21-18, 21-14.

Niall's next championship will be 16 April in Manchester for the English Leg of the Four Nations and then the European Championships which is in Switzerland at the end of May.

Niall is currently funded through the Sport Northern Ireland Athlete Support Programme.

Report by Eugene McVeigh