| English 4 Nations Disabled Badminton Championships; Success for Pan-Disability Lisburn |
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On Friday 13th February, 10 players and 6 coaches from the Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club travelled to Liverpool to compete in the first ever English Leg of the Four Nations Disability Badminton Championships. The event took place at the same time as the European Badminton Team Championships, giving both players and coaches the opportunity to take in some International competition when they weren't playing. The group even got the opportunity to meet the 2004 Olympic silver-medallist and 2006 World Mixed Doubles Champion, Nathan Robertson.Niall McVeigh, the current European Dwarf Singles Champion, opened the medal count by claiming the gold in the Dwarf Men's Singles, beating his opponent, Oliver Clarke from England, over two sets. Unfortunately, Niall was unable to emulate his Singles success in the Dwarf Men's Doubles with his English partner Krysten Coombs, loosing narrowly over a very strongly contested three-set match, but still performed well and walked away with a silver medal. Also in the Dwarf classification, Emma Farnham came runner-up in both the Ladies Singles and Ladies Doubles event, with her partner from England. Luke Irvine, along with his Scottish partner Deirdre Nagel, also claimed a silver medal in the Dwarf Mixed Doubles final. Luke, along with his partner David Kelly, also from the Lisburn club, managed to reach the Semi-Final of the Dwarf Men's Doubles, losing to eventual winners, Oliver Clarke and Andrew Martin from England.
The final medal of the weekend was won by Laura-Lee Jenkins, who finished runner up with her partner from England, Bernadette O'Driscoll, in the Wheelchair Ladies Doubles final. Laura-lee also reached the Semi-Finals of the Mixed Doubles competition with her partner Kevin Bettany, from England. Despite not picking up any medals, the remaining members of the Club showed some real promise for future competitions, including David Kelly, Blaise Hughes, Michael Smith, Gary Bailie and William McCullough. Overall, the ten players from the Club picked up one gold medal and six silver medals, a very impressive haul given the quality and experience of the opposition. Thanks must be given to all that have given their support to the Club since it was set up over the past 18 months, including Northern Bank, Ironside Trophies, Sport Lisburn and the Club's shirt sponsor, Phillips Lisburn Ltd Volkswagen. The Club would also like to thank all the coaches and volunteers that have made this success possible. The Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club is open to all players with a sensory, physical or learning disability, and anyone wishing to find out more about the Club or to take up the sport can contact Terry Conroy on 07789 682446 or email CLOAKING Report with thanks to Terry Conroy |
In the Learning Disability classification, Claire O'Neill, along with her Scottish partner Katrina Cochrane, picked up another silver medal in the Ladies Class 2 Doubles.