badminton England

ISSUE 35 | MARCH 2008 | PRICE £3.00

MAGAZINE

YONEX ALL ENGLAND PREVIEW NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS REVIEW COACHING TIPS DEVELOPING YOUR BRAIN GAME

ISSUE 35 | MARCH 2008 | PRICE £3.00

MAGAZINE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE 05 ADRIAN CHRISTY PFE<O 8CC <E>C8E; GI<M@<N E8K@FE8C :?8DG@FEJ?@GJ I<M@<N :F8:?@E> K@GJ ;<M<CFG@E> PFLI 9I8@E >8D<

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ENGLISH NATIONAL BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS 07 RICHARD EATON REVIEWS THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

YONEX ALL ENGLAND

11 RICHARD EATON PREVIEWS THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

10 YEAR PLAN

13 SELLING A PRODUCT WITHOUT USING SALESMEN 98;D@EKFE <E>C8E; EXk`feXc 9X[d`ekfe :\eki\# D`ckfe B\pe\j# DB/ 0C8 K\c\g_fe\1 '(0'/ )-/+'' =Xo1 '(0'/ )-/+() \dX`c1 \ehl`i`\j7YX[d`ekfe\e^cXe[%Zf%lb

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

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17 GEORGE WOOD WITH THE LATEST NEWS

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15 MEMBERS’ NEWS

BADMINTON DEVELOPMENT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF NORA PERRY 19 WE TALK TO ONE OF ENGLAND’S TOP COACHES

DEVELOPING YOUR BRAIN GAME 20 COACHING AND INSTRUCTION

COUNTY ROUND-UP

23 CHRIS MILLER WITH THE REGIONAL NEWS

DO JUNIOR EVENTS MATTER?

24 RICHARD EATON DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNIOR EVENTS

COPING WITH LONG HAUL TORTURE 26 RICHARD EATON ON THE SUPER SERIES

DERINDA

28 THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF A BADMINTON DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

CLUBLIFE

29 NOTORIOUS BADMINTON CLUB

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP 31 INTERNATIONAL NEWS

POST BAG

33 LETTERS AND SNIPPETS

SCHOOLS & JUNIORS 37 NEWS FROM EMILY WELLER

UNDERSTANDING ENERGY

39 ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND ITS IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE

TOURNAMENT ROUND-UP 41 TOURNAMENT NEWS

MAJOR EVENTS 43 ONE BID - TWO CITIES

NATIONAL RANKINGS

45 NATIONAL RANKINGS AT A GLANCE

CLUB FUTURE

46 A TALE OF THREE CLUBS BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 03

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Wow! What an incredibly exciting few years we have in front of us! After more than twelve months of hard work, I am delighted that we have secured the hosting of three of the biggest Championships in the game.

While the eyes of the world will be focusing on London in 2012, the world of badminton will be turning its attention to us from February 2009 when we host the European Team Championships at the fabulous new Liverpool Echo Arena. Twelve months later, the top players in Europe will be back, this time at the iconic M.E.N Arena in Manchester for the Individual Championships and then in the autumn of 2011, badminton returns to the transformed Wembley Arena for the World Individual Championships.

The thought of those events leading up to 2012 is mouth watering and I’m sure every one of you will get behind the Championships and turn up and show your support.

I would at this point like to thank everyone involved in the development of the bids as we could not have done this without them. We have secured tremendous support from Liverpool City Council, Manchester City Council, North West Development Agency, Events for London and UK Sport.

Senior political and sporting figures have also been behind the bids – the Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and the Chair of London 2012, Lord Sebastian Coe. I am grateful to them all for their support.

I would also like to thank Badminton Europe and the Badminton World Federation for giving us this tremendous opportunity.

One of the key elements of our bids was our desire to develop a genuine legacy programme alongside the Championships. It has been well documented that I see the growth and success

of our game in the years to come emerging from a solid club structure and our Club Future programme will provide the opportunity for those who are inspired to get involved with badminton as a result of our legacy activity – be that as new or returning players, coaches, volunteers or officials.

In fact in his letter of support, Lord Coe recognised our intention to use the Championships to invest in and grow our game when he said: “I am particularly impressed by the legacy programme supporting the Championships which will provide an inspiration”.

Young people in schools will be a key focus for us as we continue to find the players and champions of tomorrow. This leads me into congratulating the winners of the National titles 2008.

Great players, some terrific performances, great crowds, fantastic atmosphere and tremendous support from our key partners in staging the Championships. All of this could not have happened without the continued commitment from all the volunteers and officials as well as the staff in our Competition & Events Team.

Well done and thank you to you all.

So 2008 has got off to a great start and I very much look forward to seeing many of you at the Yonex All England Championships in just a few weeks’ time.

Best wishes to you all.

Adrian Christy Chief Executive

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 05

ENIGMA DECODING It became an exercise in decoding players’ words at the English National Championships, which began just about as inauspiciously as they could, but which may yet prove to have been surprisingly important.

By Richard Eaton Badminton Correspondent for The Times.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MANCHESTER VELODROME, 1ST - 3RD FEBRUARY 2008

With several leading players considering possible retirement after the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, it was always likely that their remarks would be discreetly scanned for clues as to their thinking.

But when Gail Emms withdrew the day before the tournament with a virus she got during her trip to Malaysia and Korea, there was a partnership change which brought more open speculation about what the post-Olympics future might bring.

First Tracey Hallam was persuaded to take Emms’ place in the Women’s Doubles and did so well, despite pairing up with Donna Kellogg for the very first time, that their scratch partnership went on to take the title.

Even as they made their way through the draw there was a feeling this could be the start of something new. And when Hallam failed to regain the Women’s Singles title for which she was favourite, beaten 21-15, 21-19 by a lean and improved-looking Elizabeth Cann, that feeling acquired stronger cause.

It was an ominous remark for a 32 yearold, especially one who so obviously has the skills to transfer from singles to doubles and who may feel she has unfinished business after losing so much time during 2006-7 with a foot injury.

Hallam was pressed to elaborate. “I think Donna carried me through a bit today,” she said, though that was not entirely true. “It was a fantastic opportunity to play with Donna - she’s a world class player. Maybe I can be in the future.”

Probably she will. And probably Kellogg thinks so too.

‘‘

‘‘

“I have played doubles before, but never to this level; hopefully this could be the start of my future,” Hallam said after she and Kellogg had won the final 22-24, 21-13, 21-14 over the second-seeded Joanne Nicholas and Natalie Munt.

I have played doubles before, but never to this level; hopefully this could be the start of my future Tracey Hallam “It’s brilliant for me that Tracey stepped in at the last moment,” reckoned Kellogg, who won two titles and was arguably the outstanding player of the tournament.

Otherwise I would not have this title. She played brilliantly with me and I have to thank her for that.”

She should thank her own initiative too.

She had the gumption to make a phone call to Hallam immediately after she heard that Emms had pulled out, spurred by the

knowledge that Emms may be out for good after the Olympics.

She insisted her name remain at the top of the draw overnight, keeping the referee guessing, triggering all sorts of speculation as to who she might play with, and revealing Hallam’s name only on the morning of the tournament.

There followed a second search for hidden messages. Nathan Robertson had a wonderfully relaxed week, was reunited

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 07

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

with Anthony Clark, his old partner and still regular room mate, and won the Men’s Doubles at a canter with him.

Robertson too may be without Emms after August. So did it mean that, like Hallam, he might switch events? Would he change from Mixed Doubles to the Men’s Doubles after the Olympics? Did playing with Clark in Manchester mean that the old partnership would become a new one again post-Beijing?

“This is a partnership for the weekend,” Robertson said firmly, after their 21-11, 21-12 win over Richard Eidestedt and Chris Langridge in the final. “And it’s done alright this weekend.

“We agreed to play together a while back as we are both concentrating on Mixed Doubles for the Olympics. So I was the most relaxed I have been for about ten years.”

08 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

It was greatly refreshing for him to compete for three whole days without worrying about the long-term implications of results. Had he admitted he was keeping an important option open, he might have spoilt that bit of psychology.

Sure enough, when pushed, Robertson agreed that he expected to be playing competitive badminton post-2008, a firmer statement than before. So was his admission that all possibilities would be open.

He may well be asked to help bring through a promising young Mixed Doubles player, but it means that Robertson and Clark, clearly one of the world’s best pairs when they earned their European Silver Medal four years ago in Geneva, remains a tasty possibility for London 2012.

Clark was not quite the super-slim superquick guy who became the only player to

win two medals at the 2006 World Championships, but he wasn’t too far off it. He and Kellogg were always going to retain the Mixed Doubles title they sensationally won by beating Robertson and Emms while they were still World Champions, and sure enough they did not drop a game, finishing by beating the promising Robin Middleton and Liza Smith 21-19, 21-7.

There were hopeful signs in the two singles too, at last. A major emphasis in Badminton England’s 100-point plan is upon singles, so it was good to see a 21 year-old like Rajiv Ouseph getting some reward for his hard work and promise by taking the men’s title.

To achieve that he had to beat Aamir Ghaffar in the final, the twice former champion and someone whom he credited with always having helped him. Ouseph did so by 21-15, 12-21, 21-11 in the first all-Asian final at an English Nationals, in which he

Page 7 - Donna Kellogg & Tracey Hallam Page 8 - (left to right) Nathan Robertson, Anthony Clark and Rajiv Ouseph Page 9 - (From top left clockwise) Donna Kellogg & Tracey Hallam and Anthony Clark & Donna Kellogg and Elizabeth Cann

seemed to be adding a little more finishing power to the deft and skilful game which seems always to have been natural to him. It was good too that Ghaffar hinted his vacillations about continuing or not are being resolved in the affirmative, and his victory over the second-seeded Nathan Rice, last year’s runner-up, was an encouraging one.

But the most encouraging performance was Cann’s. During her 21-15, 21-19 win over Hallam she looked in excellent shape, covering the court with great tenacity and speed when her skilful opponent knocked the shuttle about, and playing many of the most important points with an evident confidence.

It earned her a third National title and the estimation of some observers that she is now playing to a world top 20 standard. Europeans often mature late.

At 27 Cann’s best should still be before her.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 09

YONEX ALL ENGLAND PREVIEW

A FAREWELL TO EMMS Gail Emms is saying that this will be her last All England. If so, it will be losing one of the most successful players England has ever had.

Given that Emms is also attractive and articulate, and that her career has spanned a dramatically expanding electronic age, she could even claim to be the highest profile player the All England has ever had.

So could Nathan Robertson. Together they have been All England Champions, World Champions, Commonwealth Champions, and European Champions, won fistfuls of other titles around the world and become very celebrated Olympic Silver Medallists.

More importantly in the past six years Emms and Robertson have been its biggest draw. Tickets for the Saturday and the Sunday are sold out for the third successive year and other tickets are selling quicker than at any time since the All England moved to the National Indoor Arena in 1994.

Much of that is due to the pair’s popularity.

Emms is also European Women’s Doubles Champion with Donna Kellogg and it will be hard to believe that we may no longer be able to watch her, cogent and feisty, swarming around the net like a bumblebee.

Hard, because we can scarcely afford to lose her.

It will be unusually emotional if we do, even for an event which is so often a theatre of emotions. “It will be a bit weird: this will be the last time here. Yes, I’ll feel weird, probably,” Emms said, choking slightly even though the goodbyes were a distance away.

So why stop now? Partly because continuing for one more year, or two more, is not, she feels, an option. “You really have to commit for a partnership to go for another four-year cycle,” she says.

“And I just thought, can I commit to anyone? I get the feeling now that I have won everything I want to,” she said, appearing to renounce her major ambition.

Then she added: “The Olympics is the only thing where I have not got Gold.”

She went on: “So I don’t know whether the motivation will be there to win another World Championships. I thought – no.

I am getting on a bit. I also want to start the next stage of my life.”

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 11

YONEX ALL ENGLAND PREVIEW

‘‘

‘‘

I don’t know whether the motivation will be there to win another World Championships.

Gail Emms

Emms will be thirty-one four months after the All England and one month before the Beijing Olympics, where she and Robertson hope for a golden finish. Robertson however may be viewing it differently.

“I don’t think it will be her last All England,” he asserted, making clear he had no great wish to retire. “I consider myself not that old at 30. I have left myself open to all possibilities.”

Others too have doubts whether Emms will close the door. England Head Coach Ian Wright cannily hinted that there are developing challenges worth continuing.

“She’s a world class ladies doubles player now, but eighteen months ago she was not quite that,” he said.

“Some players like to go out on a high, and others say two or three years down the line they might regret it. It’s very much in Gail’s court,” Wright added, pausing carefully. “But interestingly enough the closer we get to Beijing the less people are talking about retirement!” he concluded.

Emms’ feelings about it may have been affected by a disappointing 2007, caused mostly by Robertson’s persistent ankle and elbow injuries.

“That’s difficult in Olympic year because you are fighting for points to qualify,” Robertson said. “I tried to play in tournaments I wasn’t ready for – like the Japan Open, and even the World Championships. I wasn’t 100 percent, but you can’t not go to them.

12 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

“Fortunately it cleared up just before the groomed for, and duly won, the World Danish (in October) and now this is probably title. But the men’s contenders look only the best shape I’ve been in for a while.” too familiar – Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Bao Chunlai, Peter Gade, and Taufik Hidayat.

But not before it caused Robertson and Emms to drop out of the World’s top four, But there will be new things at this and it seemed unlikely they would regain All England. The qualifying competition a semi-final seeding in time for the Allis open to the public for the first time.

England. If so, they could find themselves Umpires’ score-pads are electronically saddled with an uncomfortable quarterconnected to the on-court score-cubes, final against one of the Chinese pairs, the media centre and the Arena screen.

Zheng Bo and Gao Ling or Xie Zhongbo Everything will be in real time. and Zhang Yawen.

Becoming part of the inaugural Super Nevertheless Emms and Robertson didn’t Series brought the largest contingent of make it beyond the quarters last year and journalists in 2007 than for several years, the All England still had a great finish. and broadcasting to a record forty-five That was thanks to Anthony Clark and countries. Similar numbers are expected Donna Kellogg, who made a brilliant run to this time. the final, and who are more than capable The All England is also crucially situated of doing it again. in the Olympic qualifying period, which It will also be interesting to view the concludes the following month. And so progress of the improving new Angloit may be an event with differently Scottish pairing of Rob Blair and Imogen memorable endings - statistically for the Bankier, while other home hopes rest with Beijing-bound, emotionally for those Emms and Kellogg, who should be seeded contemplating retirement. to reach the Women’s Doubles quarter“I’ll have to block it out – yes,” Emms finals, and with Hallam, who reckons she agreed. “The All England is a strange has been playing better than ever. tournament. Sometimes I’m so nervous, Andrew Smith has not. He may have lost and sometimes I feel it’s like just another confidence after Super Series defeats last tournament. year, but remains a Men’s Singles player “I am just going to try and see this with potential, and a good draw may help All England as a qualifying tournament him feel differently. for the Olympics. I have to. If I think about The biggest Women’s Singles development other things, or the history or the tradition, has been the advance of yet another I will be in a mess. Because I feel sad Chinese front runner, Zhu Lin, who was thinking about it already.”

How do you sell a product if you have no sales force?

BADMINTON England has devised an all embracing ten year plan with praiseworthy and lofty aims including an increase in medal winners at Olympic and other high levels. That can only be good for badminton.

The growth of badminton, nationwide, has to be the number one priority.

New clubs, new players, more juniors, more competition at all levels, many more schools playing either in lessons or at after school clubs. Far more people have to be introduced into badminton and it has to be clubs that do it. Not all clubs of course, but even those of county level must recognise that with no newcomers, their squads will age and deplete.

This has to be a joined up effort, not just an agenda or programme between the national and county bodies and their member clubs. It is a mountain to climb for a whole load of reasons. Sedentary lifestyles, lack of sport in schools, isolation in front of computer games; all this and more.

But there is a myriad of stumbles and pitfalls waiting along the way. Despite the wide reach of its plan, or maybe because of it, some crucial points are all too likely to be overlooked.

Most people reading this will be dedicated players or supporters. Regardless of standard or frequency of play, no matter at what level, we are all paid up members of BADMINTON England. So are 99 per cent of those who have read the plan, even if many know of it by name only.

The plan does commit to increasing the numbers of players, and it is essential, even though it has to take place in a declining market. In round terms we have half the number of players in England that we had in 1992, and numbers still fall. That has to be the most important and worrying aspect of our game today.

Put simply, if you do not get people coming into badminton, those that fall off the other end through injury, age or lack of interest will never be replaced and our sport will die. There will be no-one to strive to get those (not ‘that’) Olympic Golds.

Some clubs cannot take on inexperienced players, citing such sound reasons as league commitments and a natural clash between competitive play and coaching classes on club evenings. The nationwide evening institute programme, once so useful in bringing novices into our sport, is fading away. Three terms produced players capable enough to join most clubs.

Our image is at an all time low: not a bad image - rather no image.

When asked to look for publicity, press officer or public relations, the search bar on the BADMINTON England website shows ‘no result’. Some County Associations have no Press Officer post and of those that do, the vast majority remain vacant and unfilled.

Many clubs have websites, some excellent, others lacking a professional touch. Lots tell you that they cannot take on beginners.

So, I ask, how can we expect anyone to get started in our sport? Indeed how can you get anyone to take an interest?

Virtually all publicity is passive; you have to go looking for it, always on the internet, and with scant coverage in the

national press and little on television badminton outside of existing players and supporters is invisible.

It is frightening to see how remote and isolated and unexposed we are. If you find it unbelievable, do what I did: stand in the middle of your town and ask one hundred people if they have heard of Gail and Nathan. Two were sure that they were contestants on Big Brother; five knew that they were in badminton and of those just one could tell me of their Silver Medal.

Ninety five had never heard of them.

Researching this, I have talked to a good few clubs; one did mention, when pressed on TV exposure, that Gail had been on ‘Question of Sport’.

If badminton is to grow and prosper and produce medal winners it needs to be publicised, and to get more people playing each year. Everyone within badminton needs to take that message on board.

Publicity and growth must be a national joined up scheme: top to bottom; bottom to top. Treat it like a commercial enterprise.

If you were selling double glazing, you would not hope to, could not, get anywhere without telling people what your business does.

BADMINTON England has to have a physical target of new players coming into the game year on year and it can do this by making our sport visible and accessible at every level, not just at Milton Keynes, and every club must play its part.

Badminton is easy to learn, can be played at almost any age; it can have a good social scene attached to it. Playing doesn’t dent your pocket and in these days of expanding bums and waistlines it doesn’t half do you good!

What a product to sell!

John Copsey Adrian Christy will respond in the next issue of Badminton Magazine

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 13

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www.badmintonengland.co.uk

Contact The Membership Team on 01908 268400 membership@badmintonengland.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

1. Why should I join BADMINTON England?

2. What do I get for my membership fee?

3. Why does my club need to affiliate?

4. How can we encourage more non-affiliated clubs to affiliate?

Just a few questions that I know are asked by many of you and, in some cases, questions we have asked of ourselves.

Firstly, the investment that you make via your membership fee really does make all the difference and for that we are delighted to welcome hundreds of new members who have joined in the past few months for the first time. But in order to build on your support and encourage others to join BADMINTON England, we have to ensure that our members feel involved and will benefit from what we are trying to achieve.

All this and more will be considered over the next twelve months with the intention of bringing changes in as soon as we are able to.

It is with that in mind that a great deal of work will be undertaken this year to improve the service that we offer to our clubs and members. We have recently established a new and expanded working group to consider how best we can react to the needs and wants of individual members whose expectations and requirements vary considerably.

These players and clubs represent a new business opportunity for us with the potential for growing member numbers. If we are able to secure increased numbers, the benefits for everyone are considerable. Here are just a few examples:

We will be concentrating very much on providing a more efficient and slicker service to you and looking at expanding the benefits that we are able to provide. What is clear is that we must consider offering a menu of benefits that will be personal to an individual and not a broadbrush list that we hope satisfies most.

The immediate focus will be to start to engage with the casual player: the player who is not a club member but who is likely to be playing regularly and with whom we have no relationship whatsoever. Similarly, we must get closer to the clubs that do not affiliate to us but we know have healthy playing members.

• We are able to lobby harder for increased investment into the game from our Government stakeholders • We have the ability to grow income through sponsor and commercial activity • We can negotiate harder for the members’ benefits we offer you due to increased volume • Local leagues have the ability to grow with more players and more clubs

We also know you want less of the paperwork we currently ask you to complete and we are looking therefore at how we can best move much of our membership operation online.

So this year presents us with a great opportunity and we will be looking at making some changes to our membership structure this year with more planned as we move forward.

We want to create more benefits through our website so will shortly be looking at the design of our website to ensure that it offers access to members only areas.

What we will not lose is our focus on you. We are delighted with your continued support and we will be trying our utmost to improve the level of service and benefits for you to enjoy.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 15

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

George Wood, Head of Development on

01908 268400

BADMINTON DEVELOPMENT

georgewood@badmintonengland.co.uk

In the last issue I asked for any feedback that you might have on your vision for the development of badminton. From the responses that you have been kind enough to send in to me, one of the key themes to have been raised could be described as ‘accessing the structure of badminton’.

The email that I received on this subject focused on clubs that do not want juniors to join them, but I think it highlights a wider issue of accessibility to the badminton structure in England as this issue also affects adult beginners as well as juniors.

What I should say first up is that I am absolutely in favour of clubs being able to determine how they operate and making the decision on the level of player that they cater for and whether they accept junior players or not. What we also need to accept however is that if we are going to grow the sport in terms of participation and achieve more medals, we do need enough appropriate access points for people to be able to enter our structure. This means that if a junior or an adult beginner takes an interest in badminton, they need to have a means by which they can access the structure of the sport rather than the only option being to play with a friend at a sports centre.

My desired situation would be that in any part of the country, a person of any level of ability or disability can take an interest in badminton and easily find somewhere within our structure to play at the appropriate level. County Badminton Associations (and soon Performance Centres) offer coverage for advanced standard players and supporting this there are over 2,000 affiliated clubs offering badminton for club and local league level players. The challenge comes in converting the 900,000 regular adult participants as well as the vast number of juniors into players within our structure.

One clear method is to encourage the development of clubs that welcome beginners and junior players and for these clubs to offer the coaching and sessions desired by this level of player.

This is an opportunity for clubs to increase their membership, attract more revenue and more people that may become their volunteers of the future. The work that is being undertaken through the Club Future programme should help to address this.

Already, the increase in the number of Premier Clubs offering quality-assured badminton opportunities to junior players is a very encouraging part of this programme.

I think however that we also need to offer a wider ‘gateway’ into our sport. Changes in lifestyle mean that people are increasingly looking for flexibility in their leisure pursuits and are sometimes reluctant to make a commitment to joining a formal structure like a sports club. There are some interesting examples of pay and play sessions that are being offered by Badminton Development Officers and/or County Badminton Associations (Nottingham and Suffolk being two examples).

The pay and play sessions offer the opportunity for players to become involved in a ‘semi-structured’ badminton environment and to enjoy the benefits of regular participation with a group of others and to receive a few hints and tips on developing their game, and as the participants become more confident and appreciate the benefits of playing within a structure, they can then be directed towards formal clubs. The sessions therefore perform the role of a ‘gateway’ into our club structure.

These sorts of sessions provide an interesting opportunity for both increasing and retaining participants within our sport and feeding the club structure with players. A key role for the Development Team over the next year will be to determine how we can most effectively establish such opportunities in order to grow and develop our sport. I would be delighted to hear any of your thoughts on the above.

New beginnings around the Regions A warm welcome to Melissa Moss who has joined BADMINTON England as Regional Development Manager for Yorkshire and also to the following people who have taken up the exciting and challenging post of Badminton Development Officer:

• Amy Frith (Warwickshire) • Matt Hanson (Staffordshire) • Gillian Tyler (Buckinghamshire) • Tom Webster (Lancashire)

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 17

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

NORA PERRY I get up at 6.15am and I am on the road by 7.25am. I’m early because I live in Stevenage, work in Loughton, at the Davenant Foundation School, and travelling on the M25 can become clogged up. It should take half an hour, but first thing it could take an hour, so I leave plenty of time.

The school has recently been given academy status, something I’d been working towards. That ensures badminton is considered one of the top sports.

attended sport. We also had sixty-four people passing the badminton in schools award. But I don’t want an assistant.

I need someone totally on the same wavelength. I probably wouldn’t be one At 8.30am I pick up a colleague whom I of the most patient people to work with: give a lift to work, and I’m there by 8.40am at least I admit to that. for the first period at 9.00am.

Once a day I take gifted players’ practice I take children in years seven, eight and sessions. The school has seventeen county nine for basic skills, teaching them to serve, players. We have produced an England how to do overhead hitting, and how to player - my own son Lee - in the World score.

Class Performance Programme, and there are a couple of other very good I take one group for three weeks and

boys, potentially next tier, who have one session a week with me.

Time management is of the utmost importance. I have to be more organised and alert. I also have international affairs, at which I represent BADMINTON England abroad, and often have meetings, and when I get home in the evening I have to check emails.

Once I have done that I fall into bed, often around 10.30pm. My social life is non-existent.

another group for four weeks. It’s important to be selling the game, and if I don’t badminton won’t be considered popular.

My first two periods last till 11.10am, and then there’s a break and I see my mum, who lives in Loughton. She’s eighty-three and I take her dog out for a walk, and do any other things she needs doing.

I’m back by 12.15pm, and do a community club at the school. Then I do periods four and five till 3.30pm.

After-school clubs continue between 3.45pm and 4.45pm. Then I have districtcome-county squad until 7.45. I leave school at 8.00pm and I’m back home by 8.45pm.

I have no time to myself at all – none.

Food? I grab half a sandwich at break-time, and another half at about 3.30pm, and when I get home I sometimes grab a bowl of soup in the evening. But sometimes I just have a hot drink. It’s surprising what you can exist on.

Saturday is an early day too. I do primary school morning and afternoon, including the Under 11 and Under 13 squads. It’s a six-day week.

We have ninety-seven kids who play badminton after school, and it’s the most

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 19

COACHING & INSTRUCTION

DEVELOPING YOUR BRAIN GAME How often do you take time after a match to reflect on how it went, what you did well and which areas still require a bit of work on the practice court? If you do this, how much of your time is spent agonising over the smash that went into the net and the dropshots that caught you out time and time again?

What are you going to do about these problem areas? How many times would you go away from these situations determined to work on that problem smash or some footwork drills to get you to the net quicker, only to find that your smash technique is all right and works fine in practice, or that you are pretty quick around the court generally?

Having discovered that your technique is pretty sound and you move around the court well, where do you go next in order to develop your game a bit further and eliminate these errors? How much time do you spend considering whether you play a good tactical game and in actual fact what does that really mean? Maybe the reason that your smash kept going into the net was because either it was the wrong shot to play or you weren’t in the right position to play it. Similarly the reason you weren’t getting to the net quick enough could have been because your base position wasn’t right or your previous shot selection was poor, making you ‘easy pickings’ for your opponent – an Olympic sprinter wasn’t going to get to that shot from where you were!

When we talk about tactics, what are we actually thinking about? Tactics covers a lot of areas but is essentially about planning and decision making: Before the match (and between points) It is about developing a strategy for the game about to be played and this plan will be defined by what you know about your own game (and that of your partner in doubles) - we’ve all heard the phrase ‘play to your strengths’; it is also about the game of your opponent: if you know they have a really weak backhand overhead, where are you going to play the shuttle?

During the match – throughout the match you have to make decisions • What shot should I play?

20 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

• Why should I play that shot?

• When should I play it?

• Who should play it?

• Where should I play it?

• Where should I move to?

• Personal awareness Knowing whereabouts you are on the court, whether you are on or off balance, as well as being aware of your own technical strengths and weaknesses.

In order to be able to make these decisions effectively it is necessary for you to be aware of what is around you. Awareness can be broadly broken down into four key components:

• Partner awareness If you are playing doubles, in addition to being aware of yourself you also have a partner to think about, which adds in the decision about who should play the shot, as well as where is your partner positioned, what are their strengths and weaknesses, what implications will your shot have on them with regard to the next shot?

• Spatial awareness This involves being aware of height, depth and width and being able to use them effectively. It also includes being able to cover space well and to do that you will need to choose an appropriate ‘base’ that will position you best to respond to your opponent’s shot. The position of this base will vary depending on the shot that you have just played, the position of your opponent and therefore their likely reply.

• Opponent awareness This includes being aware of their court positioning, their strengths and weaknesses as well as reading their game plan. Is their game plan predictable? Do they always move to a certain part of the court or play a particular shot?

Okay, so now you understand what you need to be aware of in order to make effective decisions, and it’s all common sense really, but how can you actually practise awareness so that it becomes second nature when you play a match?

When we are learning a new skill or technique there is a tendency to limit the external factors and make the skills quite closed, i.e. a multi-feed to the same place allows you to hone your technique, which is important to allow our muscles and nervous system to learn the movement correctly. However once you are getting a reasonable success rate, this is the time to introduce a few more variables. Here are some very basic tips and ideas for making the practice sessions that you take part in a little bit more tactically focused: Spatial awareness Accuracy – Set up targets on the court to practice accuracy: this will change your focus from how you play the shot technically so that you begin to think about where you are playing the shot.

How tight was your dropshot when it crossed the net, do your clears reach the back tramlines, do your drives make full use of the width of the court?

Depth/height and base position – one player uses a dropshot continually, the other player lifts continually. Both players should work hard to get back to an appropriate base. The lifting player should

focus on working out the amount of height required on a lift that allows them to move successfully back to their ideal base.

Width and base position – just by developing the previous practice the lifting player can work out whether there are differences in the heights, bearing in mind the place they want to get back to is different.

Opponent awareness Ask your partner to lift the shuttle to you and then stand with their racket deliberately to one side of their body or the other. You should aim to smash to the side of the body where the racket isn’t.

Personal awareness Play a series of clears, then one player deliberately puts in a shorter clear. If the receiver of this short clear is aware of their position and is are on balance, then using a smash could be a good choice.

Once the smash is played, then the rally could be played out to see the outcome of the rally: did the choice of smash prove effective?

Partner awareness Devise a set routine of shots that allows you and your partner to interact efficiently on court. For example, using only straight shots initially, half-smash, block to net (and follow) and then lift straight should begin to make you interact with your partner to flow between front and back and defensive formations.

Where next?

Clearly there is a limit to what we can cover in this article, but if this is something that you want to understand better you might be interested in the BADMINTON England Tactics DVD. This DVD is a followon from the highly successful BADMINTON England Technique DVD. Whilst the Technique DVD hopefully helped players and coaches alike to develop good badminton technique, the Tactics DVD will help you to put these techniques to better use tactically!

The DVD will show how tactics can be used effectively for all elements of your game: singles and doubles. There are also interviews with top players and coaches who will tell you about how they use tactics effectively. This is a must for anyone keen to improve their game.

The Tactics DVD will be available from late spring and can be pre-ordered NOW from the BADMINTON England online shop (www.badmintonengland.co.uk) at a special introductory price of £17.99* plus p&p.

If you haven’t already got a copy of the BADMINTON England Technique DVD, this can also be ordered from the online shop. *normal price will be £19.99 from 1 May 2008 onwards.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 21

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

Contact Chris Miller, Competitions & Events Co-ordinator on 01908 268400 chrismiller@badmintonengland.co.uk

COUNTY ROUND-UP

THE VICTOR SPORTS INTERCOUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS With the first half of the season completed, and two of the three Premier weekends played, the race for survival and promotion is becoming intense.

The second of the Premier A and B weekends were played on the 15th and 16th December – just one month after the teams’ initial outing. For some, it proved to be another hurdle at which they would fall, but some gained valuable points to aid their promotion hopes.

contender with wins of 6-4 and 7-3 over Hampshire and Warwickshire respectively.

As they narrowly lost to Yorkshire in the first weekend, enough may have been done to earn one of the top few final positions.

results respectively. The final 8-2 against Avon edged Hertfordshire into top position going into Christmas, with Dean George literally serving his way through the Mixed Doubles with Natalie Munt.

Yorkshire remained untouchable. With results of 8-2 against Hampshire and Premier A returned to the National Warwickshire they are certainly living up Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, but to expectations. Lancashire were on better the sanctuary of the ‘home’ venue was form than previously, and gained an not enough to inspire the Buckinghamshire important 12 points from their ties against team. Following a disappointing first Warwickshire and Worcestershire, but weekend, they fielded a confident line-up Yorkshire flexed their muscles and crushed of players including England stars Nathan their northern neighbours with a decisive Rice, Richard Eidestedt and Arthur Cheung. 9-1 result. They will no doubt be heading This, however, was not enough against the into the final weekend in April with strength and experience of Surrey and confidence.

Hampshire and only three points were Just down the road at the Hertfordshire gained from each tie. Leicestershire finally Sports Village in Hatfield, Premier B saw dealt a devastating 9-1 result to last year’s Yorkshire 2 demonstrate the ‘strength in Premier B Champions, who are almost depth’ mentioned earlier in the season. certainly facing relegation.

Having dropped a tie to Nottinghamshire At the other end of the table, Essex seem to in November, they will have to work hard be rising to the challenge set by Yorkshire, to top the table, but beating Warwickshire leaving them just four points behind the 2, Hampshire and Dorset 8-2 will give reigning Champions. Having discarded them hope. of Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and The Premier B title challenge, however, Lancashire in November, they continued involves just two teams – Hertfordshire their winning form. Olympic Bronze and Nottinghamshire. With impressive medallist, Simon Archer, was unable to results and flair on court, both teams halt their progress as Worcestershire appear eager to raise the trophy on the were the first to fall. This was the first final weekend in February. Hertfordshire of the three 7-3 results gained by Essex made easy work of their opponents by during the weekend. An experienced Surrey once again fielding a formidable team, and confident Leicestershire suffered the including one half of Sydney 2000 Bronze same fate, giving Essex huge momentum Medal pair, Joanne Goode. It’s surreal to for the final weekend and their Premier A imagine that at some point we could see title contention. both of badminton’s Olympic medallists Third placed Glasgow & North Strathclyde representing Hertfordshire within the would have tightened the gap at the top if competition! Cheshire and Middlesex made Leicestershire hadn’t held them to a 5-5 valiant efforts to dampen Hertfordshire’s score. They proved they are another serious spirits, but could only gain 2-8 and 3-7

Their closest rivals, Nottinghamshire, also took no prisoners. With both Robert and Chris Adcock appearing alongside David Lindley, Peter Mills and Neil White, the men were in full force, and the consistency from the women helped Nottinghamshire secure some important points going into the deciding weekend. Dorset gained the most points by achieving a 3-7 result, with Cheshire only getting two, and Rajeev Bagga earning Warwickshire 2’s only win.

Given the determination from both teams, the concluding weekend is set to be extremely exciting and closely matched.

Derbyshire once again struggled, this time missing Donna Kellogg. Losing 3-7 to Warwickshire 2 and 2-8 to Cheshire and Middlesex puts them at the bottom of the table, despite some serious dedication and acrobatics from Darrell Roebuck during his matches.

All league tables can be found through the BADMINTON England website www.badmintonengland.com and I can be contacted with any queries on chrismiller@badmintonengland.co.uk

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 23

JUNIORS

DO JUNIOR EVENTS MATTER MUCH ANY MORE?

By Richard Eaton Badminton Correspondent for The Times.

Andrew Smith caused a ripple recently by saying he wished he had gone to Kuala Lumpur earlier and never played junior tournaments. “When you get out in the big wide world you realise they don’t mean much,” the England No.2 said.

It reminded some people of the Williams sisters, who ignored junior tennis, plunged spectacularly on to the circuit, and became the world’s greatest.

Had they, and has he, found a new way to speed talented players to the top in rapidly evolving professions? Is it better to accelerate a player’s physical and mental maturation away from the parochial ambit of junior events?

That idea horrifies some. Junior competition brings people into sport, creates a community, improves match play, and nurtures youngsters with differing needs.

Bring the junior edifice down, and you would bring the sport down.

Holding a similar view is Eric Brown, Chairman of the BADMINTON England’s schools and youth board. “Luck would play a big part in the success or failure of any unstructured process,” he said. “We need to know what juniors are made of before experimenting with their future.

“Should the wrong choice be made the individual’s future could be ruined. Such actions could conceivably be interpreted as abuse.”

Strong opinions. And from the viewpoint of the many who won’t reach elite level, convincing ones too.

Also, would what suits Smith suit other elite players? We sought answers from four of England’s finest – Nathan Robertson, Simon Archer, Darren Hall and Tracey Hallam.

“It‘s probably true that English players don’t develop physically early,” Robertson said. “Asian players come out at 17 and 18, already playing at top 20 level. That’s what

24 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

we are competing against. We can’t be happy that we’re only good enough at 24 or 25. That’s probably too late.”

Archer thinks so too. “Throw juniors in with seniors so they play at a higher level and learn how to compete mentally,” he says. “You need to make youngsters physically good enough at 16, 17, 18, to jump in with the seniors straight away.

“What actually happens is our youngsters play other juniors, and at 18 or 19 they still look like they did when they were playing as a kid. So it takes them till they are 23 or 24 to grow out of it.“ Both Robertson and Archer believe it can be right for promising youngsters to opt out of junior events. “They need pushing to be hard and tough,” Archer claims.

“And from 14/15, even 12/13. At 16/17 most of our kids still look like they are 15.”

Hall’s view is not dissimilar. “Play juniors for experience, and for guidance to where you are,” he said. “Long term, set your standards much higher. The standard is incredible now all over the world”.

However none of them is against junior tournaments. Their views suggest that a synthesis of more rapid elite development with structural stability is more than possible.

But Hallam is the most in favour. “You don’t want to go straight in at the top.

It can be demotivating to go to a big tournament and get hammered,” she says.

“You need a gradual increase in your programme. Girls are a bit more emotional.

If they suffer a loss they can take it hard, and find it difficult to come out of it.” There is an area of agreement here. As Brown says: “Junior play is exceedingly important

to the development of a player as it helps build appetite, hone skills and measure progress.”

This resonates with Hallam. “Even if you’re the best in an age group you should play junior tournaments to create that winning habit,” she reckons. If she is right, boys and girls have differing needs. But then the needs of all youngsters diverge as widely as the gene pool of evolution.

Brown translates this into policy: “Players develop at different speeds, as identified in the Long term Athlete Development Policy,” he says. “Therefore as players fulfil their potential in a particular area they must move forward. For this there needs to be a clearly defined pathway.

Experience in my opinion is the most effective educator, and this takes time”.

Disagreement therefore is more one of emphasis. “To win medals, players need to be appropriately challenged as they progress, and will experience both winning and losing along the way,” Brown says.

“This is a vital part of anyone’s education.”

But for Archer, it is a limited scenario. “I don’t think junior tournaments made any difference to my career,” he said. “What happened with me, and what youngsters need, is to be physically good enough at 16, 17, 18, to jump in with the seniors.”

If he is right, promising players should break away from ‘the effective educator which takes time’. More controversial however is the notion of ‘unstructured process’, in which junior competition is abandoned. That though is not being advocated. Several weeks after making his remarks, Andrew was asked to amplify them. His views were quite flexible. “I don’t see a problem if someone wants to play junior events,” he said.

spiralling. They are squeezed like the jam in the sandwich.”

Surprisingly therefore this may become our most vulnerable area. While gazing at visionary plans for elevating the apex, it is easy to overlook the middle steps of a pyramid.

“It depends on the amount they play. And if someone at an early age is a lot better, then they have to move on. It’s important to realise how hard it is: you have to be incredibly tough physically and mentally.

Without that, you won’t reach the top.”

The most contentious issue therefore may be less with our best player, as about less vaunted ones. Brown articulates this.

“Clearly junior badminton does matter, because investment in it is at its highest level. The money is used for elite development and to drive up participation. While one must commend this, it helps the top and bottom of the sandwich, and in the middle are players who underpin our future,” he points out.

“Here investment has hardly changed, and depends on players, parents, coaches, clubs and counties whose costs are

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 25

SUPER SERIES

It is new, streamlined, and fairly successful despite several teething problems – but for some it has hidden risks. It is the Super Series, the sport’s great new promotional vehicle, but the end of its pioneering first year has brought difficult calculations for those who join it from Europe.

COPING WITH LONG HAUL TORTURE

By Richard Eaton Badminton Correspondent for The Times.

Its thirty-two player, twelve tournament format reduces the number of matches for elite players and creates a pleasingly simplified shop-window for the sport, but it also increases the travel burden and health risks for those with the heaviest load.

Because eight of the twelve events are in Asia, it creates a further swing of a pendulum already weighted heavily to the East, where exist many of the major sponsors, most of the major players, and hegemony of political power.

London to the Far East brings almost two hundred hours flying for players competing in the full dozen. Estimate one day’s jet-lag for every hour’s time difference, with an average clock change of six hours, and it’s forty-eight days’ jet-lag for English players – and that’s if it only happens in the outward direction.

“It gives a big advantage to the Asian countries,” says England Coach Andy Wood.

“We try not to make too much of an issue of it in front of the players because we don’t want to put more weight on their shoulders.”

But for a few of them it’s worse still. Like those who qualify for the Super Series Finals, also in Asia, or get selected for Europe v Asia (in Asia this time). And then there was last year’s world championships (guess where).

So it’s not entirely surprising that half England’s squad returned ill from the China Masters at Chengdu in July. Tiredness, jet-lag and stress lowered resistance, bringing fever, diarrhoea, and exhaustion.

Even after lengthy recoveries, worries

26 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

remained about viruses remaining in the system for months more.

tested for signs of asthma which they may not have realised they had.

Two of the hardest hit were Wood himself and Clark, who suffered damage to his form and confidence. “Some were affected for a long time,” said England Head Coach Ian Wright. “It was a really difficult period. We underestimated the effects at the time.”

An old hazard, but more critical now, is air-conditioning. “On a two- to three-week tour in Asia when it’s hot, it’s a major problem,” says Wood. “I turn it on when I’m not in the room, and off when I am.

If I don’t, some time later I get a cold.

But if players can’t sleep when it is hot, they have to have it on.”

He responded by bringing everyone together including Bronwen Lundy, the Nutritionist and Cathy Speed, the Doctor, to discuss possible responses. They sought to learn, via the English Institute of Sport, how other sports tackled such problems.

So far the outcome has been food supplements to improve nutrition, probiotics to strengthen gut resistance, and a long-term study to see if these helped the players.

“We are doing a lot of work on coping strategies,” Wright said. “The sport is going more and more Asian. It’s not going to get any less Asian, so we have to be as professional as we possibly can. The travel is not going to go away.”

One of the strategies might look good in Follies on Ice. It is a tight Lycra track suit worn as an under-garment on flights, and works through compression aiding circulation. And, by all accounts, rather well.

Another is a travel manual outlining the basics of hydration, acclimatisation, how to sleep, what to eat, and ways to shorten the adjustment period.

A new hazard is escalating air pollution in Chinese cities. Because this is a concern for every Briton who may compete in Beijing, potential Olympians are to be

Some of the possible remedies for long haul torture are administrative and political as well as medical and scientific.

But they may be determined by practical considerations. If you wanted to reform the Super Series, would it be possible?

“There are one or two countries in Europe who could have a Super Series,” says Wright. “Russia has some money: maybe they could step up. But not many nations have the level of finance needed.

“So to be honest I can’t see it will change.

The original idea was, after Anaheim (World Championships in 2005), to attack the American market and to have a Super Series there. “But turned out a disappointing event which did nothing for badminton or American badminton or for a Super Series after it. A Super Series there would have been great. But obviously Asia took the extra place.”

Nor do smaller draws necessarily prevent exhaustion. Good for singles players they may be, but two tournaments in two weeks is still a lot. “By the second week they are falling to bits,” says Wright. Even modern scoring does not always help: women’s singles are actually longer.

‘‘

‘‘

The XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China promises to provide a spectacular showcase for badminton, but will also present unique challenges for all competitors

The sport is going more and more Asian. It’s not going to get any less Asian, so we have to be as professional as we possibly can. The travel is not going to go away.

Ian Wright England Head Coach

Still, there are reasons to be hopeful.

There were few health issues after the China and Hong Kong Opens in November and, though evaluation is still far from complete, the new preventive measures may have helped.

Maybe the experienced travellers, the bulk of the England squad, are now less blasé about those things better avoided: un-bottled water, salads, mayonnaise, food from side stalls, and lack of rest.

Body fat ratio can increase and immune systems weaken while away.

Another improvement is flight upgrades, through Virgin Airlines. Some come through the Flying Start scheme, others through Olympic upgrades.

And after the Malaysian and Korean Opens in January, the Olympic run-in is less daunting: it ends with the Yonex All England and Swiss Opens and no more long journeys.

Better still, once the Olympics are over it may not be necessary to fly East as much. In the non-Olympic years English

players may enter one or two European tournaments instead.

Finally, cast your mind to the country which encounters long haul problems almost every time it seeks international success: Australia. Despite this, their tennis and squash players have sometimes been able to beat the world.

How? Partly through homes from home and training bases abroad. With good contacts and reciprocal gains, it need not cost a fortune. It may be an option for the future.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 27

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

DErinda Fullerton

The Further Adventures of a Badminton Development Officer I am writing this just after Christmas which is a very stressful time for women generally, and more particularly so when you are a Badminton Development Officer (BDO). It wouldn’t have been quite so stressful if my husband hadn’t spent the whole of December saying, “Have you ordered the turkey? You haven’t ordered the turkey! You won’t get one now!”

I was up to my ears in badminton festivals, badminton for teachers courses, silver club files and funding application forms – no wonder I didn’t manage to get hold of a Nintendo Wii. Thankfully, neither of my children wanted one.

that suing my immediate family might be counter productive, so I have decided to cast my net a little wider and I am currently having a very close look at my neighbours’ activities during the last fifteen years.

Inexplicably, during this time I decided to improve myself by reading ‘War and Peace’ so that I would have something other than badminton to talk about at dinner parties. To be perfectly honest, we are never asked to dinner parties, but that might be because people assume I would talk about badminton all night.

Once word gets around that I am reading “War and Peace”, we’ll probably be inundated with invitations. I did actually go to a very nice party at the beginning of the season and who should I bump into but lovely wavy haired top coach Andy Wood! (He tried to get past but I blocked the path.) “Here’s my chance to impress him and make a late entry into the England team for Beijing!” I thought, but blow me if I wasn’t in the only garden in the country without a swingball set! Funnily enough, he went home shortly after I had spoken to him.

Once again this season I have driven all over the country to matches and tournaments with my daughter. However, this year we haven’t had to make any desperate phone calls to tournament organisers asking them not to scrap Abigail’s games because we went down the wrong motorway. The reason for this miracle is that I now have Satnav, which is the most important thing to happen to women since the Wonderbra. We’re planning a fundraiser to buy one for Worcestershire’s Under 17s team manager who misses the first half of all our away matches.

His arrival, an hour late, at the Warwickshire match after he had eventually been found on the other side of Coventry was greeted with rapturous applause from both teams, which was probably a mistake because he’s just going to do it all the more now for the attention.

Unfortunately, this has got to be my worst ever season on the playing front. Between you and me, I’ve played nine matches so far and only won one! I can assure you the widely held belief that ‘it’s not the winning, it’s the taking part’ is absolute rubbish.

A record of eight games won and forty-six lost probably means that my chances of Olympic selection are pretty slim. I did try the old trick of sticking a picture of myself next to Tracey Hallam in the photograph of the last Commonwealth Games team at the National Badminton Centre, but I haven’t heard anything from the elite play department and it’s been several months now.

However, in today’s compensation culture I have decided that it is not my fault I’m not good enough. Someone else must be to blame and once I have figured out who that person is I shall contact Claims Direct and sue them for the distress I have suffered this season. There are some obvious contenders: my parents for starters. What were they thinking of letting me go to nightclubs and five Duran Duran concerts at such a crucial time in my playing career? My husband has some difficult questions to answer. For example, didn’t he think that booking me a two hour badminton lesson with Simon Archer for my fortieth birthday was leaving it a bit late? Not even my children are above suspicion. When Gail Emms was twenty-six she was playing in an Olympic final. When I was twenty-six I was at home mashing carrots and watching Teletubbies. My only concern is

28 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

If you find this man looking confused on a dual-carriageway in your town, please return him to Worcestershire.

So, as you can see, it has been a pretty emotional season so far and there have been times when not even a dose of Mr Darcy has been enough to lift my spirits. Fortunately I have found another way to cheer myself up and you might like to try it. If you turn on Channel 5 at about 9pm they are generally showing a programme about some poor blighter who was born with a big toe where their ear should be or a woman whose cosmetic surgery went wrong and left her looking like Ann Widdecombe.

After an hour or so of that I am reminded of how lucky I am and I’m ready to trot back upstairs to read some more emails.

Cheerio, Derinda

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

CLUBLIFE! NOTORIOUS BADMINTON CLUB When you start a club, what do you call it? Quite a crucial decision and at your first committee meeting, you probably decide on the name of the part of the town where you play or most of you live, but probably not after your favourite band’s greatest album!

Well that is what Jamie Russell did when he started a club in the Swanmore area of Gosport. He named it ‘Notorious’ because he is a fan of Duran Duran.

Publicity is important and the club’s home page looks sharp and interesting. They back this up with posters around the area and close links with local schools. You are told that they don’t lose members and they Is that the reason or is it because of the drive of the founder and his fellows on the put this down to several factors: the school links, friendly but competitive atmosphere, committee? Both, I suspect. Either way, the club is now one of the most successful taking on juniors early enough so that a good number of those aged twelve and and forward thinking in the South of over play with the seniors.

England.

They have a wide range of abilities all the way up to National standard players, while still managing to take on total beginners and this without having to suffer the aggravation which, traditionally, experienced players can feel when time and space is taken up with teaching the fundamentals to novices.

Jamie and his committee of six, which includes an enthusiastic junior element, have set out to build up the club and do whatever it takes to accommodate the growing numbers. That is why they play on two nights during the week and twice during the weekend and that turns into a good attendance record… around seventy per cent.

Jamie tells of the occasion when they turned up at a league match one player short and had to drag one of their thirteenyear-olds into the match. She was quite short even for thirteen but played so well that it took the opposition by surprise and they never really got into the match.

Notorious is first and foremost a competitive club and everyone is expected to reach their potential, but what holds it together and adds to the welcoming atmosphere is the strong off-court and social side. Social means cinema visits, restaurants, tenpin bowling and events to mark birthdays and Christmas. Off-court includes visits to County matches and, further afield, Slovenia for example.

Jamie and his committee are confident about the future. He sees no chance of the club reducing in size - the opposite in fact - and I am sure that is what will happen.

Everyone at Notorious seems to want the same thing. They take their badminton seriously and they want to see more people taking it up… giving it a go. Numbers will grow so they will find more court space, increased coaching and playing facilities and expect that to lead on to ever increasing numbers of top quality players.

This width of ambition is not for every club, but I suspect that Notorious would run quite happily with a membership of three hundred. Seven nights a week, anyone?

NOTORIOUS Badminton Club plays on Tuesdays and Fridays at Swanmore College of Technology, on Saturday mornings at the Bridgemary Community Sports College and at Crofton Community Centre, Fareham at midday on Sundays.

Contact Jamie Russell on: 07787 155531 or 0239 9243 1177 or visit the website at: www.notoriousbadminton.co.uk

by John Copsey

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 29

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP CHINA OPEN SUPER SERIES Sixth seeds Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg went out of the Mixed Doubles in the first round of the China Open losing to tough Thai pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam 24-22 13-21 21-14.

Andrew Smith’s run in the Men’s Singles came to an end when he fell 21-13 21-9 in the second round against second seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, whilst Commonwealth Champion Tracey Hallam lost to third seed Lu Luan of China 21-16 21-9 in the Women’s Singles.

European Champions Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg, the seventh seeds, went down 21-11 21-7 to Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna of Japan in the second round of the Women’s Doubles.

In the Mixed Doubles Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms’ bid to reach the China Open final ended in disappointment when they lost 21-19 21-16 to second seeds and World Champions Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia.

Men’s Singles Chunlai Bao (CHN) bt Chong Wei Lee (MAS) 21-12, 21-13 Women’s Singles Mew Choo Wong (MAS) bt Xingfang Xie (CHN) 21-10, 8-21, 21-17 Men’s Doubles Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan (INA) bt Zhendong Guo & Zhongbo Xie (CHN) 21-12, 21-19 Women’s Doubles Ling Gao & Tingting Zhao (CHN) bt Jing Du & Yang (F) Yu (CHN) 17-21, 21-15, 21-8 Mixed Doubles Nova Widianto & Lilyana Natsir (INA) bt Sudket Prapakamol & Saralee Thoungthongkam (THA) 15-21, 21-18, 21-11 YONEX-SUNRISE HONG KONG OPEN Andrew Smith put up a strong first-game bid in the Men’s Singles before losing out 21-17 21-5 to World Champion Dan Lin in the first round of the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open.

Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg were also first-round losers in the Mixed Doubles, going down 21-17 21-16 to Min Jung Kim and Yean Seong Yoo of Korea, whilst Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms suffered a surprise defeat, losing out to Korea’s Yong Dae Lee and Hyo Jung Lee 21-12 21-16 in the second round.

Tracey Hallam reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles but was overcome by fourth seed Lan Lu of China 21-14 21-15.

Donna Kellogg and Gail Emms also fell in the quarters of the Women’s Doubles, losing to top seeds Yawen Zhang and Yili Wei of China 21-11 21-17.

Men’s Singles Dan Lin (CHN) bt Chong Wei Lee (MAS) 9-21, 21-15, 21-15 Women’s Singles Xingfang Xie (CHN) bt Lin Zhu (CHN) 21-19, 21-14 Men’s Doubles Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan (INA) bt Candra Wijaya (INA) & Tony Gunawan (USA) 21-12, 18-21, 21-13 Women’s Doubles Jing Du & Yang (F) Yu (CHN) bt Yawen Zhang & Yili Wei (CHN) 22-20, 13-21, 21-17 Mixed Doubles Nova Widianto & Lilyana Natsir (INA) bt Bo Zheng & Ling Gao (CHN) 21-23, 21-18, 21-19 RUSSIAN OPEN GOLD GRAND PRIX At the Russian Open Gold Grand Prix in Moscow, England’s big hopes fell at the quarter and semi-final stages.

In the Men’s Doubles Dean George and Chris Adcock went down 21-12 21-17 to Shuichi Sakamoto and Shintaro Ikeda, the top seeds from Japan, in the quarterfinals, whilst in the Women’s Doubles Joanne Nicholas and Natalie Munt ran into China’s Du Jing and Yu Yang, losing out 21-10 21-11 in the last eight.

In the Mixed Doubles Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier had defeated Kristian Roebuck and Jenny Wallwork in the opening round before being beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk from Poland. David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan produced a strong run through to the semi-finals before facing the Polish pair, who beat them 21-16 20-22 21-11.

Men’s Singles Yi Lu (CHN) bt Andre Kurniawan Tedjono (INA) 21-19, 11-21, 21-10 Women’s Singles Yihan Wang (CHN) bt Huaiwen Xu (GER) 21-17, 16-21, 21-19

Men’s Doubles Kristof Hopp & Ingo Kindervater (GER) bt Shuichi Sakamoto & Shintaro Ikeda (JPN) 21-16, 22-20 Women’s Doubles Jing Du & Yang (F) Yu (CHN) bt Yu Chin Chien & Wen Hsing Cheng (TPE) 21-14, 21-14 Mixed Doubles Robert Mateusiak & Nadiezda Kostiuczyk (POL) bt Yang (F) Yu & Hanbin He (CHN) 25-23, 13-21, 21-13 YONEX WELSH OPEN Jill Pittard won her first title since the 2003 Slovenia International when she clinched the Women’s Singles title at the Yonex Welsh Open in Cardiff.

In the Men’s Doubles the young pair of Matthew Honey and Peter Mills fell in the final against second seeds Adam Cwalina and Wojciech Szkudlarczyk of Poland 21-10 20-22 21-15, and fourth seeds Sarah Walker and Samantha Ward lost the Women’s Doubles final to top seeds Chloe Magee and Bing Huang of Ireland 21-11 21-14.

In the Men’s Singles Rajiv Ouseph reached the semi-finals before losing in three games to eventual winner Marc Zwiebler of Germany, who lifted his third title since returning from a lengthy injury.

Men’s Singles Marc Zwiebler (GER) bt Irwansyah (WAL) 21-16, 21-13 Women’s Singles Jill Pittard (ENG) bt Helen Davies (ENG) 18-21, 21-17, 21-9

Men’s Doubles Wojciech Szkudlarczyk & Adam Cwalina (POL) bt Matthew Honey & Peter Mills (ENG) 21-10 20-22, 21-15 Women’s Doubles Chloe Magee & Bing Huang (IRL) bt Sarah Walker & Samantha Ward (ENG) 21-11, 21-14 Mixed Doubles Malgorzata Kurdelska & Adam Cwalina (POL) bt Ilse Vaessen & Jorrit De Ruiter 21-16, 21-19

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 31

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP YONEX IRISH OPEN

YONEX KOREA SUPER SERIES 2008

National Champion Elizabeth Cann clinched the Women’s Singles title at the Yonex Irish Open when she beat top seed and World No.23 Kaori Mori of Japan 21-19 21-9.

Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg missed a big chance to progress at the Korea Open in Seoul when they lost to Taipei qualifiers Cheng Hung Ling and Chou Chia Chi 8-21 21-17 21-17.

Men’s Singles Peter Mikkelsen (DEN) bt Marc Zwiebler (GER) 21-19, 21-18 Women’s Singles Elizabeth Cann (ENG) bt Kaori Mori (JPN) 21-19, 21-9 Men’s Doubles Khan Bob Malaythong & Howard Bach (USA) bt Michael Fuch & Roman Spitko (GER) 21-15, 21-17 Women’s Doubles Bing Huang & Chloe Magee (IRL) bt Mesinee Mangkalakiri & Eva Lee (USA) 21-16, 10-21, 21-9 Mixed Doubles Howard Bach & Eva Lee (USA) bt Wouter Claes & Nathalie Deschamps (GER) 21-10, 21-13

Andrew Smith, however, put up a fine display in taking eighth seed Kenneth Jonassen all they way before losing out 21-19 13-21 21-11 whilst Elizabeth Cann put up a bold effort before losing her Women’s Singles to Korea’s Jae Youn Jun 21-17 21-18.

Natalie Munt and Poland’s Michal Logosz also lost in the second round of the Mixed Doubles 21-13 21-10 to seventh seeded Danes, Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl.

In the Women’s Doubles Suzanne Rayappan and Jenny Wallwork lost to fifth seeds Chien Yu Chin and Cheng Wen Hsing of Taipei 21-12 21-7.

Men’s Singles Hyun Il Lee (KOR) bt Lin Dan (CHN) 4-21 23-21 25-23 Women’s Singles Mi Zhou (HKG) bt Lan Lu (CHN) 21-18, 15-21, 21-15 Men’s Doubles Haifeng Fu & Yun Cai (CHN) bt Luluk Hadiyanto & Alvent Yulianto Chandra (INA) 21-7, 20-22, 21-17

There was also first-round disappointment for National Champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg whilst David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan produced another battling display against Jens Eriksen and Helle Nielsen before going down 21-16 20-22 21-17 in the second round. Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier, also lost out 21-18 21-13 to another Danish pair, Joachim Fischer Andersen and Britta Andersen.

Robin Middleton and Jenny Wallwork came through tough qualifying rounds only to run up against eighth seeds Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam, losing 21-11 22-20 to the experienced Thai pair.

Singles stars Tracey Hallam and Andrew Smith both lost in their first round matches with Hallam, the Commonwealth Champion, falling 21-8 21-12 to fourth seed Lu Lan while Smith went down 21-15 21-7 to Indonesian Simon Santoso.

In the Men’s Doubles Robin Middleton and Robert Adcock fell to second seeds Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan 21-9 16-21 21-16.

Men’s Singles Chong Wei Lee (MAS) bt Hyun Il Lee (KOR) 21-15, 11-21, 21-17

Women’s Doubles Jing Du & Yang (F) Yu bt Lin Gao & Tingting Zhao (CHN) 21-15, 21-13

Women’s Singles Tine Rasmussen (DEN) bt Lin Zhu (CHN) 18-21, 21-19, 21-18

Mixed Doubles Yong Dae Lee & Hyo Jung Lee (KOR) bt Flandy Limpele & Vita Marissa (DEN) 15-21, 21-14, 21-18

Men’s Doubles Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan (INA) bt Lars Paaske & Jonas Rasmussen (DEN) 21-10, 20-22, 21-18

PROTON MALAYSIA OPEN SUPER SERIES 2008

Women’s Doubles Wei Yang & Jiewen Zhang (CHN) bt Ling Gao & Tingting Zhao 21-13, 16-21, 24-22

Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms’ hopes of a title from the first Super Series event of the year ended in disappointment when they lost a 65-minute semi-final against Koreans Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung 23-21 16-21 21-16.

Emms’ hopes of a second semi-final berth ended when she and Donna Kellogg fell to China’s Gao Ling and Zhao Tingting 21-14 21-7 in the Women’s Doubles quarterfinals having overcome compatriots

32 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

Joanne Nicholas and Natalie Munt in the second round. Jenny Wallwork and Suzanne Rayappan lost to Malaysia’s Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui 21-12 21-4 in the first round.

Mixed Doubles Hanbin He & Yang (F) Yu (CHN) bt Yong Dae Lee & Hyon Jung Lee (KOR) 21-14, 21-15

GFJK98> Gc\Xj\ [f ni`k\ kf lj n`k_ pfli m`\nj fe Xepk_`e^ kf [f n`k_ YX[d`ekfe# `eZcl[`e^ n_Xk pfl nflc[ c`b\ kf j\\ `e k_\ dX^Xq`e\% @] pfl [feËk k\cc lj n\ nfeËk befn \dX`c1 IXZ_\c%glccXe7`jgfik^iflg%Zfd fi ni`k\ kf IXZ_\c GlccXe# <[`kfi# `JGFIK^iflg# Ef% + K_\ Jg`ee\p# :_\jk\i IfX[# Gfpekfe# :_\j_`i\ JB() (?9

SHUTTLECOCKS! I have just waded through yet another 50 dozen (600) shuttlecocks removing the useless little sticker that says ‘New Magnum’, a very tedious operation involving a fine pair of tweezers. A very necessary operation, as if they are not removed, many of them fly out during play and stick to the floor, and boy, do they stick there!

H

Our Club’s trouble started when we moved our matches to a new sports hall. The owners were, quite rightly, upset by all these little stickers stuck all over the floor and being virtually impossible to remove cleanly without solvents. I contacted Yehlex UK who supply the shuttles on behalf of Badminton England, and asked if they could be supplied without the sticker, but was told they could not as they arrived from China already packed and sealed. I was also told other Clubs had complained!

Surely, a lot of Clubs must have this problem, as a large percentage of New Magnum shuttles lose their stickers; this is not the case with other makes. It must be possible to either stick them firmly or supply them without this piece of paper which serves no useful purpose. I’m sure the Chinese would be happy not to stick them in if asked! And if they come out over floors everywhere, this little legacy of our games can only, in the long run, give badminton a bad name!

Co Winter Kennet Badminton Club

25TH DUCHY OF CORNWALL OPEN Yet another memorable and successful weekend was experienced at the 25th Duchy of Cornwall Open Badminton Championships in its Silver Anniversary year.

Two ladies carried home a brace of Duchy titles and furthermore a Liskeard youngster was awarded the Best Cornish Player silverware, in his inaugural appearance.

There was a bumper entry of 117 for the Tournament, which was staged at its usual base, Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Pool, near Redruth. Amongst the Cornish entry of twenty-six were fifteen players from the successful Cornwall Youth Badminton Organisation.

The event, in its eighth year as a BADMINTON England Satellite Ranking Tournament and with a prize-fund of

£1,260, attracted players from a marvellous spread of twenty-three English, Welsh and Scottish Counties.

win the Women’s Doubles beating Jo Dix and Caroline Simpson 21-15 21-13, thus reaping two glorious titles apiece for the ladies.

In the blue riband singles events, on day one, there were two inaugural winners.

In the Men’s Doubles the Lancashire outfit of Keith Cuncarr and David Edgar, seeded two, beat favourites Matt and Dan Corby in a close-fought 21-18 21-18 final to register their first English Satellite Ranking Tournament appearance and victory.

The England No.4 and Gloucestershire’s No.1 seed, Rebecca Pantaney, secured her first Duchy Singles title, when she outpointed Jo Dix from Hampshire 21-11 21-3, and Hampshire’s Mark Ashton (pictured), a finalist for the past two years, overcame the challenge of his County compatriot, Andy Penn, running out a deserved winner, 21-17 5-21 21-11.

In the Mixed Doubles Sarah Burgess teamed up with Matthew Sprake to defeat Hampshire duo Andy Penn and Jo Dix 21-12 21-16.

In the special Awards, Chris Glasson of Truro School and The Tecans Club was the popular recipient of the Sporting Spirit Trophy and Douglas Andrews from Liskeard Community School and the Liskeard Badminton Club was voted The Best Cornish Player.

The 26th Duchy Open is scheduled for 13th and 14th September 2008.

John Tresidder

Burgess and Pantenay then teamed up to

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 33

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POSTBAG MORTEN FROST IS RUNNING THE 2008 FLORA LONDON MARATHON I have known Morten Frost for more than 25 years, both as a player and a friend.

In April 2008 he reaches a landmark in his life - his 50th birthday, although anyone who has seen him recently will find that hard to believe: he still looks fit enough to take on the world’s best, and so he will – not on the badminton court but in the 2008 Flora London Marathon.

Morten Frost’s achievements are legendary.

He was an All England Men’s Singles finalist

for eight consecutive years in the 1980s, winning four titles, the only European Men’s Singles player to compete successfully against the Far Eastern players both here in Europe and the Far East. He showed Europe that, with the same dedication and approach to the game, we could compete and break the Far Eastern dominance. He had a huge following here in the UK partly from his All England achievements but also from his country-wide tours with the very popular Carlton Challenge series. In the world’s top three for more than twelve years, most of the time spent at No.1, he is possibly the most famous badminton player ever. He won just about everything there was to win with the exception of the World Championships, where he was runner-up twice.

He will be running for a very worthwhile charity, one close to my heart and my home, The Children’s Trust in Tadworth, Surrey.

This treatment and residential centre caters for children with the most severe multiple disabilities, offering them loving care and challenging them to achieve the very best they can. Youngsters come from all over the UK, and indeed world wide, to receive therapy and stimulation to enable them to make improvements in their life.

Morten is hoping to raise at least £5,000 to equip one room in their new residential block for children with acquired brain injuries. You can find out more about the work of The Children’s Trust by checking out their website at www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk So all of you who are blessed with health and strength to enjoy this great sport of ours, and/or who have had the pleasure of watching him play and been influenced by his ‘masterclass’ performances on the badminton court, please help him and this wonderful centre now by supporting his great effort.

If you feel you would like to make a contribution to the fundraising please forward it to: Morten Frost c/o 23 Hawthorn Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4PF (Cheques to ‘The Children’s Trust’) or visit: www.justgiving.com/mortenfrosthansen Thank you - Val Andrews

PORTA-SHUTTLE. THE PORTABLE BADMINTON COACHING AID When coaching, have you ever wrestled with the idea of being able to hold enough shuttles for a reasonably long rallying period, without being restricted in moving around the court?

I have, so I came up with Porta-Shuttle.

Two tubes connected to a shoulder strap which run down your back are held by a strap, which then runs across your chest.

You are free to move around court while multi-feeding and you can have up to fifty shuttles at your disposal before you have to refill.

Once the strap is set, the feeder is comfortable to wear. Weighing not much more than 1kg (the weight of a bag of sugar) it is light and easy to use. The non-racket hand takes a shuttle from the bottom of the tube behind you to the front of your body to serve. You are then free to move around the court keeping the rally going as long as possible.

Currently, Porta-Shuttle is on trial with one of the National Coaches at Milton Keynes, who has provided some very positive and constructive comments.

The feeder is available for purchase, provides excellent value and comes in a variety of colours.

Mike Bennett Level 2 Coach For further details contact:Tel. 01949 843041 or mikebennett33@talktalk.net CONGRATULATIONS to Steve Lang of Lancashire who was the lucky winner of the Sure Sport Competition in the December issue of Badminton Magazine.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 35

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

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National Inter-Schools Badminton Championships We are pleased to announce that Gransprung Flooring is the sponsor for the 2007/8 National Inter-Schools Badminton Championships. Gransprung Flooring has been the market leading indoor sports flooring provider in the UK for over 40 years.

Following last year’s successful pilot of the National Inter-Schools Badminton Championships, the event has this year been opened up to all schools in England (including Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Guernsey and Jersey). As a result, 119 School Sport Partnerships (SSP) have entered, alongside eighty-five individual/independent schools. The first SSP rounds were held around the country, the winners of which will continue through the championships as follows: Round

Potential Host / Organiser

Round Completion Date

1st SSP

SSP/BDO/Competition Manager (CM)

Friday 14th December 2007

2nd County

SSP/BDO/CBA/CM

Friday 22nd February 2008

3rd Regional

BDO/BADMINTON England/CM

Friday 11th April 2008

4th National Final

BADMINTON England

Sat 19th & Sun 20th April 2008

The championships have been structured as a single gender Year 7, 8 & 9 event, and a Year 10 & 11 event, and have attracted over 10,000 participants.

The Vale School Sport Partnership round of the National InterSchools Championships took place on Thursday 13th December in the new dome at King Alfred’s Sports College. King Alfred’s, the first school in Oxfordshire to be given Sports College status, has also recently been awarded Forza Academy School status

by BADMINTON England.

Racket Skills Award BADMINTON England has been working in partnership with England Squash, English Table Tennis Association (ETTA), and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to produce a Racket Skills Award.

The aim of the award is to increase the number of racket sport players through collaboration to promote generic ‘racket skills’ within education and the community.

Liz Gottwald, Competition Coordinator, said: “The competitors were able to make full use of this fantastic new facility with nine indoor courts. The quality of badminton throughout the tournament was extremely high”. The Year 7, 8 & 9 Boys event and both Girls events were won by King Alfred’s, with John Mason School winning the Year 10 & 11 Boys event.

The course is targeted at Primary School Teachers, Coaches, School Sport Coordinators, Community Sport Coaches and Badminton Junior Helpers, who will deliver the award to Key Stage 2 or lower Key Stage 3 (ages 7-13). The three hour training course enables participants to understand the benefits of using all aspects of racket sports in a multi-sport environment, teach young people racket skills, and organise a racket skills festival.

This was the first step in the National Inter-Schools Championships, with the winners going on to compete in the next round in February against schools from across Oxfordshire. The winners from the county competition will then go on to regional and, finally, national competitions. We wish both schools the best of luck!

A number of pilots have taken place around the country, including a course for young leaders at the Step into Sport camp in Loughborough in April. The aim is to officially launch the Award early next year at the Sports College Conference in Telford.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 37

UNDERSTANDING ENERGY Badminton players based at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes are learning more about their energy expenditure and how it impacts on their performance thanks to trials being carried out by English Institute of Sport (EIS) Nutritionist Bronwen Lundy.

Lundy, in collaboration with EIS strength and conditioning coach Andy Allford and Physiologist Gary Walker, has been measuring exercise intensity, energy expenditure and sleep quality of athletes using a band worn on the subject’s dominant arm which picks up changes in body movements and behaviours.

“Energy expenditure in badminton players is of interest to us because it is not as easy to quantify as in some other sports”, explains Lundy. “The players train for up to six hours a day so we expect their energy expenditure to be high but the stop start nature of the sport makes it harder to decide how high.

The results of this research will hopefully educate the athletes as to how much energy they burn in different types of training sessions and guide their recovery practices”, she says.

The sophisticated software, known as the Bodymedia sensewear armband, can even detect when the subject is asleep.

But how does this knowledge help a nutritionist?

“It gives us a greater understanding of the athletes’ daily energy expenditure whether they be competing, training, travelling or resting at home” Lundy explains. “This is one of the areas in nutrition athletes often struggle most to understand and can be detrimental to performance if not successfully managed.

“It also enables us to see how changes in the types and intensity of training might impact on their energy levels.

“We can then adjust their nutrition intake appropriately to accommodate the amount of energy they are burning.”

The trial hasn’t been without its problems however, with some of the senior players’ on court power play proving too much for the sensitive equipment, but Lundy has continued the research on more junior badminton players and is keen to see similar work being done in other sports.

‘‘

The results of this research will hopefully educate the athletes as to how much energy they burn in different types of training sessions and guide their recovery practices

‘‘

“The device can tell us how long the athlete took to get to sleep, whether they had breaks in their sleep and how long they were asleep for”, explains Lundy. “This is particularly relevant for athletes involved in international travel and enables us to look at how things such as jet-lag might affect their energy levels.”

“Mhairi Keil [a fellow EIS nutritionist] is considering similar work with archery whilst synchronised swimming competitors have also shown an interest”, says Lundy.

“The work we’ve done so far has certainly been of great value and it’s something we’ll continue to work on with interest”, she concludes.

by James Skitt

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 39

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

KFLIE8D<EK IFLE;$LG 2007 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND A selected team of eight players and three coaches travelled to New Zealand for the World Junior Championships.

Chris Adcock Panuga Riou Jamie Bonsels Sarah Walker

Arthur Cheung Sam Ward Marcus Ellis Gabby White

Coaches: Martin Andrew, Lorraine Cole & Martin Wells.

INDIVIDUAL EVENT Unfortunately during a light training session Jamie Bonsels turned his ankle, keeping him out of the individual event.

Our singles players performed very well against some tough opposition with Arthur Cheung and Sarah Walker losing out in the first round, whilst Panuga Riou reached the third round before losing to Lin Wang from China – the eventual winner.

In the doubles events Panuga and Sarah performed well, losing in three games to the top seeds from Indonesia in the third round. Gabby White and Sam Ward reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by a Malaysian pair who were very strong and had exceptional racket work.

Marcus Ellis and Chris Adcock also reached the quarter-finals before losing to a Malaysian pair in straight games.

We arrived 5 days before our first match which gave us plenty of time for getting adjusted to the time zone (12 hours’ difference at that time) and preparing fully.

In front of us we had 11 days of competition involving a Team and Individual Event. In the Team Event we had been drawn into a strong group with the following teams: Z1

Z2

China England Russia

Japan Hong Kong Chinese Taipei Germany

Our first match was against China which we prepared for well and although we performed well, with all matches being very competitive, we lost.

We then faced Russia whom we beat 4-1, resulting in us finishing second in the group.

We then faced Hong Kong who had finished second in the opposing group, winning 3-2 to finish 3rd in Group Z, putting us in the 9-12 end finishing group. Our next match was against Bulgaria, whom we beat 3-0 to progress to the 9-10 place match against Scotland, whom we beat 3-2 losing both singles and winning the three doubles matches. This resulted in us finishing in 9th place overall, the highest possible finish for us after losing our 1st group match to China, the eventual winners.

In the Mixed Doubles Arthur and Sarah lost in the second round to the No.2 seeds from China but fought hard, only losing 22-24 in the third game.

Chris and Gabby had played well throughout the event, defeating the Koreans 21-10 21-16 to reach the final. In the final Chris and Gabby won the first game 25-23, and had control in the second until it got towards the end and they lost the initiative.

This opening was capitalised upon by the Malaysians and the game reached 19-19 with Chris and Gabby winning the next point to serve for the match; however a good return from the Malaysians finished the point early and they closed out the game. In the third there were never more than two points separating the pairs but unfortunately the Malaysians held on to become World Junior Champions – but we came home with a Silver!

BUSA INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

We achieved a World Junior Championships Silver Medal, two quarter-finals and an excellent ninth place in the Team Event!

This was as good as any expectation had been on our departure 18 days earlier. The whole Team had contributed to the success and each was as important as the other.

Well done to all.

Men’s Doubles George Bevan & Harry Wright (BTH) bt John Forde & Ivoe Griffiths (BHM) 21-11, 22-20

At the 2007 BUSA Individual Championships held annually at the University of Nottingham, team Bath went on a frenetic medals rampage as they successfully beat their 3-gold feat achieved last year and fell just short of a clean sweep of titles to take home four of the five titles, including a handsome hat trick by rising star 22 year-old Harry Wright (pictured).

Men’s Singles Harry Wright (BTH) bt Nikita Kolomnin (LMT) 21-11, 21-11 Women’s Singles Chew Mei Lien (LSE) bt Elena Slavutina (LMT) 18-21, 21-12, 21-12

Women’s Doubles Mariana Agathangelou & Hayley Connor (BTH) bt Laura Cousins & Philippa Kirby (BTH) 21-12, 21-11 Mixed Doubles Harry Wright & Mariana Agathangelou (BTH) bt George Bevan & Hayley Connor (BTH) 21-10, 21-19

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 41

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Badminton England brings 2011 World Championships to London BADMINTON England was celebrating today after London won the right to stage the World Individual Badminton Championships for the first time.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) awarded England the 19th World Championships and the event will come to the capital just a year before the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy and David Hornby, Commercial Director for Events for London, were in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur yesterday (Fri) to make the final bid presentation to the Council of the BWF – and today it proved to be a winner!

The bid has received strong financial backing from UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme and has also been supported by the Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and London 2012 Chairman Lord Coe. A jubilant Christy said after learning the decision: “This is great news for badminton fans throughout Britain and just what the sport needs as we aim to raise its profile in the countdown to the London Olympics.

“I am determined to bring more big events to England and I am confident that I will be able to announce more good news for badminton fans early in the New Year.

“But winning the bid was the easy part. The hard work starts now as we aim to make this first World Badminton Championships to be held in London a worthy event in the build-up to the Olympic Games.”

Upon awarding the Championships to London, BWF Deputy President Punch Gunalan said “The bid from BADMINTON England was very impressive and we are delighted to award the World Championships to England. We know the badminton world will look forward to coming to London.”

The tournament will benefit from an award of up to £500,000 from UK Sport’s National Lottery backed World Class Events Programme and UK Sport’s International Director, John Scott,

was equally delighted that a vital opportunity to secure an event of this status had been achieved in the lead up to London 2012: “This is a tremendous result for BADMINTON England, the UK’s World Class Events Programme, and of course our elite players, as they prepare for the challenge ahead in five years time.

Hosting the World Championships in a pre-Olympic year is strategically the most important in the Olympic cycle and guarantees that the very best players in the world will be present in London,” he said.

David Hornby spoke for Events for London when he added: “This is amazing news for both Badminton and London and a great way to end a spectacular year for the capital in terms of sport. In a year that has seen London host the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Depart and the first ever competitive game of NFL outside North America, this win underlines again London’s credentials as the leading World City for major events. In the year before the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we look forward to working with all the partners to make this a fabulous experience for fans, players and the world of Badminton.”

One of the deciding factors in the successful London bid was BADMINTON England’s plans to not only welcome the elite players from all over the world but to use the Championships to inspire thousands of people of all ages to get involved in the sport. There will be a London Schools World Championships as well as a big opportunity for badminton enthusiasts to play a part under a major initiative to recruit new coaches and volunteers to the sport.

For further information contact William Kings on 07787 51 53 53.

BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 43

Get some money back from the taxman for your sports club!

runningsports can tell you how Over 4,500 sports clubs have already registered for Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status, resulting in some £23 million being saved by grassroots sport.

Is your club missing out?

Clubs that successfully apply for CASC status benefit from: 80% mandatory business rate relief to get your rates bill down 20 pence for every £ you currently spend The ability to raise funds from donations under Gift Aid so you get 25 pence from the taxman for each qualifying £ donated Exemption from corporation tax so you pay no tax on up to £30,000 of trading income and £20,000 of property income profits And the good news is that runningsports can help. Our Quick Guide can provide you with all the information you need to find out if your club is eligible. And our interactive 3-hour workshop, How to get tax breaks for your club...achieving CASC status, will show you how you can qualify.

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MEN’S 1

Middlesex

SINGLES

Rajiv OUSEPH

2

3

Hampshire

Andrew SMITH

World No 53 Avon

Carl BAXTER

World No 30

World No 90

4

5

Buckinghamshire

Nicholas Kidd World No 96

World No N/A

DOUBLES

David LINDLEY

2

3

Leicestershire

Robert BLAIR

World No 46 Yorkshire

Robin MIDDLETON

World No 46

World No 44

4

5

Buckinghamshire

Richard EIDESTEDT World No 60

2

3

Middlesex

Elizabeth CANN

4

Surrey

World No 60

Nottinghamshire

MEN’S Nathan

MIXEDDOUBLES ROBERTSON

2

Anthony Clark

3

Nottinghamshire

David LINDLEY

Warwickshire

World No 53

5

Helen DAVIES

Hertfordshire

Rachel HOWARD World No 169

WOMEN’S 1

Hertfordshire

DOUBLES

Gail EMMS

2

3

Derbyshire

Donna KELLOGG

4

World No 8 Hertfordshire

Natalie MUNT World No 24

Lancashire

Joanne NICHOLAS World No 24

5

Yorkshire

Jenny WALLWORK World No 32

1

Hertfordshire

Gail WOMEN’S MIXEDDOUBLES Emms

World No 7 Nottinghamshire

World No 16

Jill PITTARD

Cheshire

World No 8

Chris LANGRIDGE

1

SINGLES

World No N/A

Nottinghamshire

Staffordshire

Tracey Hallam

World No 30 Yorkshire

Alex MARRITT

MEN’S 1

WOMEN’S 1

World No 7

2

Derbyshire

Donna KELLOGG

3

Hertfordshire

Suzanne RAYAPPAN

World No 9

World No 26

World No 9

World No 26

4

5

4

5

Leicestershire

Robert BLAIR World No 31

Northamptonshire

Kristian ROEBUCK World No 64

Hertfordshire

Liza SMITH World No 36

Hertfordshire

Natalie MUNT World No 64

For the =fi k_\latest cXk\jk rankings iXeb`e^j visitm`j`k www.badmintonengland.co.uk nnn%YX[d`ekfe\e^cXe[%Zf%lb BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008 | 45

www.badmintonengland.co.uk

Contact Julia Strong, Club Future Co-ordinator on 01908 268400 juliastrong@badmintonengland.co.uk

CLUB FUTURE

A TALE OF THREE CLUBS Many people ask me, “Why bother with Club Future and Clubmark, we’re fine as we are?” Just three of the many club success stories have been underpinned by accreditation and if this isn’t reason or inspiration enough…..

Ramgarhia Junior Badminton Club Newham in London is one of the most deprived and diverse local authority areas in Europe.

Head Coach Kilvir Bahra said, “It has been a thrilling and hugely rewarding achievement from when the club originally formed in 2004, we did not have any notion or inclination of how the club would develop or grow”.

How? Six playing friends got together, qualified as coaches and started a junior club - no messing they just got on with it!

With the help and support of the Newham Sports Development programme and Ramgharia Sikh Sports Centre, they secured two courts at the local school.

Within weeks the club became so popular it was using all six courts.

The club provides young people with the opportunity to reach their badminton potential, which is what Club Future is

about. With a team of ten coaches, over sixty young people benefit from quality coaching in a fun orientated environment, and the more talented players are given the chance of sparring with the senior players.

Kilvir is justifiably proud of the club’s achievement and the responsibility for selecting and coaching the players for the London Youth Games completed an outstanding year. “The success of both junior and senior clubs is largely due to the resourcefulness and commitment of the coaching team,” remarked Kilvir.

The Park Badminton Club, Oxfordshire A ‘raw’ new player turned up to play as a visitor. His standard was not up to the satisfaction of club members and in traditional club fashion he was strategically avoided. “Aren’t we supposed to be A CLUB FOR ALL?” provoked the Development Officer. So she suggested that every club member played just one game with him

on the basis he would improve. Ten weeks later and after a three week Easter break in China, some private coaching and donning new Yonex racket and shoes, he stood proudly on court ready to take on one and all. This season he secured a place in the men’s second team and has been seconded into the first team as well.

For this club, gaining Premier status enabled the club to see the importance of welcoming all levels of play. The club is a better place now and truly a Club for All! YMCA Norwich Badminton Club One of the most established and competitive clubs in Norwich found itself without any courts. A relationship was forged with Hellesdon High School - they needed each other. Funding secured from the Community Club Development Programme made a refurbishment of the changing facilities possible and the new facility opened for community use. With the collaboration of Hellesdon and other schools alongside the motivation and determination of the club’s coaches, Bev Sharman and Suzanne Benton, a new junior section was an overnight success. With sixty-five members the club now operates two sessions accommodating difference in abilities.

The club continues to relish its new badminton facility. The future for this club…more young people, new coaches, better quality coaching and juniors feeding into the senior club and county squads.

There are numerous Club Future success stories and this is just a snapshot of the outstanding work by coaches and volunteers for the benefit of badminton.

Club Future is about the player and the right environment so that participants whatever their age or ability can progress, reach their potential and ultimately have fun. Will that ‘beginner to medal winner’ emerge from one of these clubs?

46 | BADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2008

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