Godalming Badminton Club

The Guildford Mixed "All-Stars" team lived up to billing on Sunday 28th Feb as four team members headed straight from an England Cup match in Essex to Dorking.  A late team drop-out gave Doug the opportunity to make his 2010 debut for the team but fate cruelly intervened and the dream died when the Compasses pub was reached in Gomshall.

Leaving Godalming at about 20mph (honest) a pothole leapt out and damaged the front offside tyre. Such was Doug's vehicle control it was not until Albury that anything untoward was noticed.  The first safe, but dark, spot to stop was Silent Pool where a completely wrecked tyre was diagnosed.  No big problem in itself but the securing bolt for the spare was seized.  Sending Ester to the nearest house to borrow a torch only elicited fear in the locals so it was off to Gomshall at a snails pace to seek help.  At Gomshall we found light but no mobile reception so the only thing for it was to retire to the pub and wait for the calvary (RAC & rest of the team).

Luckily, being a team of all stars, the remaining team had done the business and were already on their way home with a 6-3 victory.

The England Cup campaign got off to a start with a trip to Basildon on 28th Feb.  A weakened side made the trip round the M25 to play The Essex Badminton Academy.  The Essex team fielded a mixture of youth and experience, and like us, gave all their players the opportunity to play two rubbers.

In the mens singles Jamie paced himself perfectly to win in straight games, the second much closer than the first.  In the ladies Jenna looked great but was always going to struggle against ex-international Alison Pearson. 1-1.

Ian & Chris Bayliss also had a hard game against more of the Pearson clan in the mens doubles and went down in straight games.  In the second mens Jamie continued his good form and the opposition made too many errors. 2-2.

The ladies was also close with Alison Pearson again proving too strong for Jenny & Nicky but Jenna & Christine picking up their rubber.  3-3 and all down to the mixed.

Ian & Christine used their experience & knowledge to beat the Academy first pair in 3 ends and Chris & Jenny started well but finally lost in 3 in the second string. 4-4: No pressure on Doug & Nicky then, but experience overcame youth and Godalming had a 5-4 win.  A narrow victory and it could well have gone the other way with different pairings.

After that half the team headed off to Dorking for an "All-Stars" Guildford league game & the other half headed back to Godalming.

Congratulations to Christine Crossley for winning the All England O(insert large number) ladies singles.  Christine also came runner up in the ladies doubles with Jenny Cox.

Tough luck to Ian Purton & John Molyneux, who came up against winners Jesper Helledie & Tommy Lundquist.  They did however give Jesper and Tom their toughest match of the tournament in taking them to three ends.

See all the results here.

Please note that the end of season do/ meal will be on Friday 8th May .