BETTY Blair, from Exton, near Exeter, was a delighted winner of one of the two Blue Ribband singles events in the successful Duchy of Cornwall 21st Open Badminton Championships staged at Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Pool, over the weekend.
Jo Sullivan, a popular player based in Cardiff, South Wales, secured a marvellous brace of titles - her first two Duchy open wins.
Miss Blair defeated Caroline Simpson, her Devon compatriot - the 2002 finalist - 11-5, 11-2 in the final, recording a remarkable seventh singles title.
However, Miss Blair, in tandem with Matt Corby, the mixed doubles defending champions was denied a brace of wins when the number one seeds were out-pointed 15-7, 15-4 by Ian and Jo Sullivan, the experienced brother and sister combination from Gloucestershire.
Simon White, aged 24 and unseeded, took a notable scalp, beating his twin brother, James, seeded in a 5-8 berth, in the men's singles semi-finals and then went on to win the final, defeating Carl Jennings 17-14, 15-0 in an all-Leicestershire affair.
Day two saw Miss Sullivan, a continuing where she left off, late on the Saturday evening, when she partnered Rebecca Pantaney to victory in the ladies' doubles. They defeated the Hampshire pairing of Cas Taylor and Hazel Prince, 15-8, 15-8 thus preventing the defending champions from claiming a fourth consecutive win.
Tim Willis, from joint main sponsors, TAG Sports, partnered Avon's Ashley Thilthorpe to success in the men's doubles. The Devon and Avon combination beat the former England Junior International brothers, Matt and Daniel Corby, the number one seeds from Ivybridge in three games of play 5-15, 15-11, 15-11.
Tag Sports in conjunction with Yonex UK Ltd, joined the Badminton Community Network Company, Badders.com (www.badders.com) from Hampshire as the joint main sponsors of the prestigious event.
Tag Sports, incorporates South West Restrings (Tim Willis, Newton Abbot, South Devon) and stringers (Andy Gudgeon, Portsmouth, Hampshire) and as part of its sponsorship deal supplied the tournament's Yonex Aerosensa shuttlecocks as well as the individual silver plagues for all the winners and runners-up.
Amongst the other sponsors were The Countryman Inns Group, based at Piece, Carnkie, near Redruth, together with Dales Renault, of Scorrier and Summercourt.
Fourteen Cornish players competed and gained invaluable experience. Ka-Hoo and his partner, David Harrington, from Devon, reached the second round of the Men's Plate.
Meanwhile, the Bob Bell and Treve Evans partnership, former Cornwall "closed" champions, fared well to win through to the men's doubles third round.
St Austell Bay's James Whetter was awarded the best Cornish player trophy. This was in respect of his reaching the third round of Men's singles, together with the third round of the Men's doubles with Chris Penhaligon who was runner-up in the singles plate.
Helen Illidge from Hampshire was the delighted recipient of the Sporting Spirit Trophy.
Linda Collins was the chairman and tournament secretary with David Burgess from Barnstaple in charge of the courts and the play.
Ian Spear, Neil Collier and John Killick were the Badminton Umpires Association of England Umpires who officiated for all the semi finals and finals of the main events.
Janet Ritchie (treasurer) presented Mrs Collins with a bouquet of flowers which was arranged by G R and S D Mills, florists, Camborne, the company who provided the hall's pedestal displays.
The organising committee were also very pleased to welcome Mike Avery, the county badminton president and his wife, Pauline, Jenny Marchant, the county badminton chairman and her husband, Robbie, as well as Tony Poole, the Cornwall badminton development officer.
Mrs Collins on behalf of her management committee wishes to extend her grateful thanks to the following: The sponsors, badders.com and Tag Sports/Yonex UK Ltd, Carn Brea Leisure Centre management and staff, the players, officials, supporters spectators and helpers alike.
Finally, one has the opportunity to go online as well: www.badders.com for invaluable information on the open.
This weekend, September 27/28, the Cornwall closed Badminton Championships are being contested at Polkyth Leisure Centre, St Austell from 1pm-6pm each day.
The singles and mixed doubles disciplines are being organised for this Saturday with the level doubles scheduled for the Sunday.
RESULTS
Ladies' singles semi-finals: 1, Miss B Blair (Devon) bt Miss J Dix (Hants) 11-4, 11-4; 2, Miss C Simpson (Devon) bt Miss S Burgess (Hants) 11-2, 11-7. Final: Miss Blair bt Miss Simpson 11-5, 11-2.
Men's singles semi-finals: 1, C Jennings (Leics) bt P Le Tocq (Guernsey) 17-14, 5-15, 15-4; 2, S White (Leics) bt J White (Leics) 7-15, 15-7, 15-4. Final: S White bt C Jennings 17-14, 15-0.
Ladies doubles semi-finals: 1, Miss H Prince/Miss C Taylor (both Hants) bt Mrs H Illidge/Miss P Cray (Hants/Dorset) 15-6, 15-9; 2, Miss J Sullivan/Miss R Pantaney (both Glos) bt Miss J Dix/M iss S Burgess (both Hants) 15-5, 15-12. Final: Miss Sullivan/Miss Pantaney bt Miss Prince/Miss Taylor 15-8, 15-8.
Men's doubles semi-finals: 1, M Corby/D Corby (both Devon) bt J Morgan/J Phillips (West Glamorgan) 15-17, 15-7, 15-6; 2, T Willis/A Thilthorpe (Devon/Avon) bt M Trebble/D Harris (both Devon), 15-6, 15-7. Final: Willis/Thilthorpe bt Corby/Corby 5-15, 15-11, 15-11.
Mixed doubles semi-finals: 1, M Corby/Miss B Blair (both Devon bt C Evans/S Burgess (both Avon), 15-9, 8-15, 15-4; 2, I Sullivan/Miss J Sullivan (both Glos) bt P Le Tocq/Miss Z Ledger (Guernsey/Devon) 15-7, 15-1. Final: I Sullivan/Miss J Sullivan bt M Corby/Miss B Blair 15-8, 15-4.
Plate competition for first round losers - finals - Ladies' singles: Miss R Vernerfelt (Middlesex) bt Miss A Walters (Wiltshire) 11-5, 11-5; Men's singles: J Phillips (West Glamorgan) bt C Penhaligon (Cornwall) 15-5, 15-11; Ladies doubles: Miss Z Ledger/Miss J Williams (both Devon) bt R Vernerfelt/Miss L Tidy (both Middlesex) 15-8, 15-8; Men's doubles f: S Hulbert (Somerset)/J Andrews (Wilts) bt D Peters/J Turnbull (both Wilts) 15-7, 15-6.
