There was a record entry of 134 overall, including a remarkable 66, in the Men's Singles discipline for the Duchy of Cornwall 23rd "Open" Badminton championships, which proved very successful, writes John Tresidder.

The event, in its sixth year as a Badminton England "Satellite" ranking tournament and with the prize-fund swollen to £1,185, was staged at Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Pool at the weekend.

Competitors were drawn from 27 English and Welsh counties, with Hampshire sending down its usual enthusiastic squad of 30 and the hosts Cornwall replying with ten, including youngsters Guy Michell (St Austell), Chris Glasson and Phil Simmons (Camborne) and Launceston's Tom Lyle.

Sadly, owing to injuries, the tournament lost three of its top seeds, Gloucestershire's Rebecca Pantaney (Ladies' Singles, Doubles and Mixed), South Glamorgan's Min Zhu (Singles and Doubles) and Mike Haywood (Mixed), a few days before play got underway.

Consequently, Betty Blair from Exton, and South Glamorgan's Paul Le-Tocq were "promoted" to the number one berths in the blue ribband events, with Miss Blair bidding for a remarkable eighth Duchy Singles title in the process. However, Betty and Paul maintained their original positions in the singles' draw.

Full report and results in this week's issue.