Hi,

Any brits here going to be going to the satellite and challenger tournaments taking place? Whats the entrace fee and is the standard any good? Been thinking about going to the the Hertfordshire open (even though i THINK it may be too late to enter) and the Essex Open (March of next year). I hope to see some of you there.

Matt

Too late for Hertfordshire. Pity, Matt! I was going to make you pay for posting that 'Women' thread! I'll be at the Hertfordshire Open for the doubles. Not going to play the Wimbledon this year as my game is not right yet. The ones near you are Middlesex and Suffolk. I believe the Middlesex is later this year. As for the Essex, well you probably will not get in unless you have played several other ranking tournaments first and got a good ranking as they tend to be over-subscribed and go on previous results. Each event costs around £10-£12. When starting it may be best to play in tournaments which run a plate event, that way you get at least 2 games.

Yeah Essex is picky. I'll probably be at a few which have a slightly lower level and a plate event. Herts is a little too soon for me. Wouldn't mind reaching far flung places such a Jersey just to get away as well!!

Yes , challengers are really for top 30 ranking players to get in, you need to play about 8 opens to get your ranking up (ranking points divided by 8 gives your score) so that when you're older you'll be in a position to get into challengers / grand slams.

Plus realistically challengers you'll get beaten first round and not learn much where as opens with a good draw juniors can get through a few rounds. Better value, better experience. Cornwall is usually very easy standard olus there is a plate, likewise Jersey is low standard, also Devon only few top players.

I will try to get my ranking up this year so I can access the Challengers later on. As dlp says you need to play 8 events a season to get your optimum ranking. More than that, though, you need to be averaging at least the quarter finals to get respect. Anyone could enter 8 events, lose them all in the first round and get an average of 37. This would get you into the top 50 in mixed and the top 100 for mens doubles.

I will play as many Satellites reachable from the South East as possible. If they have a plate event then I will definitely be there. I might give the Hampshire a miss though - I heard that it is oversubscribed to the point that they had to put an extra round in. If the opportunity comes up to play Essex, or even the Sussex Grand Slam, then I will have to think about it. Good decision to play the Jersey if you can UKP, I heard that there were only 8 pairs for the doubles. If you can compete with the Thingy-Goodfellows, nothing to do with the mafia, then you might win! I will play in Guernsey because it coincides with the Easter holiday, the perfect time for a break in my studies.

Slanter,

So wait, i have to play a few satellites first to get myself a grading, and then play in a challenger after about 8 satellite tournaments?

Matt

You can try and enter challengers but if the entry is strong you'll just be a reserve. Plus you'll likely lose first round (with respect ,cos you're a junior) , its better to play satellites first, build your ranking. Once you have a base of 8 tournaments you will have a true avareage for your ranking.

If you can play people stronger than yourself at satelite level I think thats the way to go. If you're under 17 you need to pick tournaments carefully as you will have huge commitments. Typical tournament load for under 17 england boys I've coached include 3 under 17 tournaments + nationals, 3 under 19 tournaments + nationals, satelite events, international matches and tournaments plus any county senior weekends. So its very easy to be overplaying in this age group.

But anyway you should plan out your season with your coach, idebtify your main goals, tournaments,

All true, Matt.

Think about how far you want to go and play the matches in order of priority. I would imagine that the more visibility you can gain the better when the selectors are around. A decent senior ranking won't hurt though. There is little visibility in Satellites but in playing them you will build up your ranking. Once your ranking is sufficiently high you can play in the Challengers and Grand Slams. At the very least it will give you valuable experience of playing senior tournaments.

I think the main jump from junior badminton to senior badminton involves two things. The first is that if finally opens out the age restrictions so that you can compare yourself directly to the best players in the country. It is fine being the best player in your age group but that means little when you enter senior competition.

The other is the difference between being a good player and and an effective player. You can teach technique to people but tactics are more difficult to impart and come more from playing. I have watch many scenarios where excellent juniors are included in club teams and the statement "It won't be long before they start beating you, you know" is endlessly repeated. Most of them still can't beat me five years later. The only exceptions are the ones who play right at the top and those who get included in the top county teams. They have excellent technique but little knowledge about how to go about winning a competitive game, especially if a change in tactics is required.

I have gone off the point a bit here but I believe that playing Senior tournaments at you age would be really good for your game. Even better would be to have your coach or some knowledgeable person present to help you think about the games.

Events diary for next season is up on BAE site , watch the closing dates they come up fast!

dlp,

Where about? All i can see is the august spetember and october 2002, but the october one just takes you to spetember? So wheres the full seasons events diary? Could you please put a like up here? Thanks

Matt

Matt,

You're right BAE haven't put it all up yet..typical! You can get a printed booklet of the fixtures for the year by sending an SAE to BAE at Milton Keynes, or get one from your county or your coach, it should be out very soon

The under 17 tournaments / nats are on the esba site now. The Derby/notts under 19 is normally just before xmas and is one of the main tournaments to play up an age group.

The Oxford, Wiltshire and Wessex(Dorset) satelites are normally before xmas. The under 19 nationals are usually mid jan and often clash with the Devon satelite, the senior nationals are usually at the end of Jan.

Hope thats some help

dlp,

Thanks alot mate. I used Slanters old fixture list to look at some of the touraments and all of the places are about 2, 2 and a hal hours drive away from us. I'll see what my coach says, as his son is my doubles partner..Hopefully i'll be able to get to a few.

Matt

Btw,

If i come into a tournament with no ranking, does it stay that way and the ranking goes on how many games you win? Also, is there any limited age on the satellites or is it an open tournament?

Matt

From memory you get 37 points for a first round loss in a Satellite. You get 45 for a second round loss and it increases with each round. I think you get 120 points for a winning the event. There are more points on offer at challengers, but not that much more. So the answer to your age question is no - you do not remain on 0 points. The only exceptions may be in tournaments where the entry is large enough to mean there is another round before the quarter finals - in this case you get 30 points for a loss.

If you think about it, playing 8 events will give you an average of 37 points at the very least - this will get you relatively high on the ranking list. The more points you get the less chance you have of drawing a top seed in the first round - maybe even getting a bye.

Age is no problem, Opens are open.

Slanter,

I am thinking about going to the Harrogate open with my 16 year old doubles partner and my 40 year old mixed doubles partner. We (Me and my XD doubles partner) didn't lose a single game in the mixed division one last season, so she maybe interested..

Thanks for the info though slanter,

Matt

Slanter and dlp,

Do you have a current ranking in England? If so what is it? And also, at the challengers, do you get all the England scouts etc??

Matt

Matt,

I coach, I don't play competitvely anymore. The best player I have coached won under 19 national doubles this year and is currently senior ranked top 10 mixed, top 15 mens doubles. I do not coach him anymore because he trains with the national players at MK and loughborough.

You don't need to worry about scouts not seeing you because you aren't at challengers. Junior selectors pick on form at the big junior tournaments, York under 19, Derby/Notts , junior nationals, international junior tournaments if selected.

Don't waste to much energy trying to second guess selectors and don't set targets which are outside your control. For instance its no good saying I want to be in this squad or be selected for that match because that depends on other people. Instead aim to play well at the junior nationals , aim to improve parts of your game, set measurable fitness goals, record your improvements.

I only played one event last season ant my ranking is currently poor. I will be making more of an effort this season though. Starting at Herts. I thought about the Harrogate but will probably not be going. If it is to be your first Satellite then I would seriously think about playing the Duchy of Cornwall. That date is one of two or three occasions when two Satellites run concurrently. I seem to recall UKPlayer stating in a previous post that he was going to play both! :confused: Anyway, comparing the two the Harrogate loses out because it is does not have a plate event and the standard in Yorkshire means that you are highly likely to get someone like Trueman in the first round. It is a long distance to travel for one or two games.

Originally posted by Slanter
I only played one event last season ant my ranking is currently poor. I will be making more of an effort this season though. Starting at Herts. I thought about the Harrogate but will probably not be going. If it is to be your first Satellite then I would seriously think about playing the Duchy of Cornwall. That date is one of two or three occasions when two Satellites run concurrently. I seem to recall UKPlayer stating in a previous post that he was going to play both! :confused: Anyway, comparing the two the Harrogate loses out because it is does not have a plate event and the standard in Yorkshire means that you are highly likely to get someone like Trueman in the first round. It is a long distance to travel for one or two games.

No not both lol, I wrote that I was going to pick between the 2 lol

Slanter,

Ok, matts dumb moment....what is a plate event?? :confused:

Matt

Hi,

When is the Horrogate tournament? It must be coming up?

Matt

Originally posted by Matt Ross
Slanter,

Ok, matts dumb moment....what is a plate event?? :confused:

Matt

If you get knocked out the 1st round then a plate event is another competition for all the losers of the first round. Means you are guaranteed 2 games minimum.

Harrogate is on 21/22 September

UKP,

K, got ya, i thought it might be something like that! Cheers, you intend on going to any?

Matt

Thinking about Harrogate or Cornwall. Got just over a week to decide which one.

UKP,

Go to harrogate, i mite even go there, i'll have to have a word with my partner or mixe doubles partner. I think the deadline is coming up soon so i better get in touch.

Matt

BAofE finally sent through the diary yesterday. Good thing I was not relying on it as some deadlines are already gone!

What season does the Herts and the Cornwall/Harrogate tournaments contribute to? Is it the 2002-3 or 2001-2 season? I thought the new season starts in October rather than September?

New season starts last week August, leagues may start in Oct

Slanter - out of interest who do you play for in Sussex?

Originally posted by dlp
New season starts last week August, leagues may start in Oct

thanks

You would have thought that the BAofE might then bring their membership in line with this instead of it starting from October and expiring at the end of September :rolleyes:

You would think...

Originally posted by UkPlayer


thanks

You would have thought that the BAofE might then bring their membership in line with this instead of it starting from October and expiring at the end of September :rolleyes:

and who says the badminton federation aren't run by businessmen? ;)

Oh gawd, well I've been trying to affiliate for a few weeks now so I can play the tournaments. It's turned into quite a saga.

- My club is disorganised so they don't want to affiliate me now because they have to do stuff to re-affiliate eveyone at the end of September.
- Ok so I ring the BAofE and ask if I can affiliate without a club. Yes they say, so I send off form a form.
- I get the form. It's more expensive to affiliate individualy than through a club but it turns out I can't play tournaments if I affiliate individually . Duh?
- I ring the BAofE about affiliating for the rest of the season, they tell me to speak to my club.
- I go back to my club they say they can't do it for 2 weeks because they are lazy and don't want to fill out another 3 forms when they're going to do everyone else at the end of Septmeber and blah blah bah. Oh and it's an extra £12 if I want to play in the County tournament when I do affiliate WTF??

So I'm about to miss the first Tournament of the season because I can't seem to sort out Membership to the BAofE. I have the money, I have two affiliation forms , I have the tournament forms, I have the train timetables, I have a few months of specific preperation, I have a physio that's been working with me, I have a coach that's been training me, but I can't seem to affiliate

---

Ring up my coach - he can sort it for me. Thank God for that.

What a nightmare
:rolleyes:

Get Ian Pearson as your coach :eek: :eek: :eek: Gawd!

Matt

Well quite. Fortunately my Coach can also sort it out for me quickly but if I didn't have one I'd be in trouble right now.

Get this problem with players every year. Clubs don't get registration numbers until end sept but season starts end Aug. Its ok if you were affiliated the previous year, you can use the same number. Big problem for students moving into new area as well, not knowing which club to join they miss out on early tournaments.

I do wonder about the intelligence of the BAofE on occasion. Clubs have a similar problem in that they have to pick teams and enter them in leagues and attend the annual bitch 'n moans that are the fixtures meetings before they request payment from the members. :mad: You end up having the problems that UKP is experiencing across the board. I expect it is all done 'for our convenience' though.

Off to the first tournament of the year but there is still a fair distance to go before I am on my best game. I just hope that everyone else is in the same boat.

Not playing club badminton this year, AC.

Can't you use the previous years' affiliation number for the new tournaments?

Still not an answer if you didn't join a club the previous season..

Ah no - that's the problem

I was a member of the club last year but because I wasn't playing tournaments I didn't need to be affiliated to the BAofE

Seems you can't get affiliation before about a couple of months into the new season, what's that all about?

:mad: Did not play well at Herts. Got through a round of mixed but then encountered a seeded pair. Didn't feel that overwhelmed but need to sharpen up a lot. Also need to get it into my thick skull that the best way to win is to play conventional mixed. I am not even talking about the mens!:mad:

TELL US :):D

:eek:

Well at least you got through a round.

It's a shame you can't find the results anywhere, and when are the rankings gonna update? The BAofE are still stuck in July.Gawd. :rolleyes:

Lost in the first round of the mens. There were several events leading up to the game which led to me never quite feeling in it. Both opposition players played quite well and had a lot of power from the rearcourt. My defence did not make the journey with me.

The mixed was much more positive. I do not mind going out to a seeded pair, especially if the then go on to make the final. Within the game the general trend was for them but we managed to go on runs of points.

Much more practice on serve and returns is needed but I remain positive.

Good luck if you are playing the Harrogate or Cornwall. My next outing is the county restricted and then maybe the Wessex.

Did anyone play /watch the WImbledon challenger. I have heard some results

Mens doubles semis
Thilthorpe/Kidd bt Corby / SMith
Boxall/Crow bt Scholes/Vincent

Final
Thilthorpe/Kidd won, due to Boxall retiring injured

Mens singles, Rice won beating Honey on the way.

Interesting results. Kidd and Thilthorpe playing together involves a significant amount of smashing power. Rice winning is again interesting. It is too early for Challengers at the moment, although I may play in Yorkshire.

Matt, have you got the tournament players diary through from the BA of E yet? Playing U19 events gets you points too.

No response for ages = multiple post.

Again. I really must be more patient. Or go broadband.

Kwun, why can't I delete my own post? If I can edit it, it makes sense to be able to delete it too.

Still no BAofE ranking updates, we are still in last season.

What is this, the dark ages :mad:

The rankings are updated relatively reguarly, compared to a few years ago , but I agree they need to be better.

The rankings on the site were updated in July, they are on a 12 month rolling basis so the only tournaments not included are Herts and Wimbledon,

The rankings are usually updated once a month, although I believe that this can slip out to two months on occasion. They are also pretty innacurate, especially when you proceed down the list. Given that the BA of E possess all the information required for accurate rankings via the membership information they really is no excuse. Have a look at the list towards the end of the month.

Why the interest UKP? Have you played any events and not told us? Or are you assessing the opposition?

Also, are you still thinking about playing Jersey?

hello Slanter,

No, the reaason I'm anxious is because I've got 3 weeks before playing the Cornwall open and my Uni trials. I want a ranking before then, any ranking will do. I know the quality of my badminton will speak for itself, but, if there is any political stuff going on I have something to take to the AU. I'm sure it won't happen, but I'm just making sure I have all the bases covered. I've seen too much of this kind of thing happen to be naive about it.

Plus, I can also apply for a bursary from the AU to help with travel costs to badminton tournaments, and towards courts etc. and a ranking may help that decision go in my favour.

Yes, I am thinking of playing Jersey, along with Oxford, Hull, Northumberland, Leicester and Guernsey, injury permitting. Jersey will be fun because I can fly out there in an hour. But I will see how it goes down in Cornwall next weekend first.

Fancy giving us a lift?? :D :) ;)

Umm.. that might be a bit difficult seeing as I'm going by train. :D

You coming to cornwall then?

UKP,

I would love to, but the problem being my age is there is hardly any way to get to these places. And concidering my whole week and weekend is full of badminton, i have no money to work :( The only way i can get to these places is by a lift, and because i have a working family and my doubles partner is 15, we have problems...

Matt

always a bit of a problem :( If I was going to these places by car, and living in Essex, I would happily because company is always good - but I'm gonna be living in York and travelling by train :(

Have you looked at doing some under 19 tournaments? Is there one in Essex? You know you also get ranking points from those too.

UKP,

I dont know, i'll take a look some time. I may try and nudge one of the adults who i play with to play a few tournaments, so that way i can get a lift. But apart from that, i am totaly stuck. Roll on next year when i can drive, it will solve so many problems...

Matt

No, the reaason I'm anxious is because I've got 3 weeks before playing the Cornwall open and my Uni trials.

Should be between not before

Best of luck

I haven't got a club game until the 24th, in the Mixed 6 Division one, so i gotta wait a while yet. Also got county trials coming up soon..

Cheers

When's your County Trials? Is that for U17?

County restricted at the end of this month.

County Trials in a couple of weeks. I think it is for the u/17's, i'll have to check. Lets hope i get in...

Matt

I have heard that the entry standard this year at Cornwall is low. The seeds are mostly Devon players, I think top seeds MD Corby/Corby, MS M Trebble, with most of the entries being south west players (not Bath players).

In fact here's the full seedings for Cornwall

Duchy of Cornwall Open seedings. Men's singles: 1 Mark Trebble (Devon). 2 George Bevan (Avon). 3/4: Matthew Bate (Berks), Andy Watson (Hants), Reaz Vawda (Middx), Kevin Le Moigne (Guernsey), Tim Willis (Devon), Jack Webb (Hants).

Ladies' singles: 1 Betty Blair (Devon), 2 Caroline Simpson (Glos).

Ladies' doubles: 1 Caroline Taylor & Hazel Prince (Hants). 2 Lynne Hunt & Karen Major (Devon).

Men's doubles: 1 Matt & Daniel Corby (Devon), 2 Tim Willis & Matt Hemsley. 3/4: Chris Evans & Simon Gennery (Hants), George Bevan & Danny Hendry (Hants).

Mixed doubles: 1 Matt Corby & Betty Blair (Devon). 2 Tim Willis (Devon) & Caroline Taylor (Glos). 3 / 4: Mark Trebble & Karen Major (Devon), Chris Evans & Sarah Burgess (Hants).


The standard is really low, probably lower than the Devon restricted normally is......

sounds good! :D

p.s. where did you find this out from?

I coached the top seeded doubles pair, plus the full seeding are in the devon paper.

I always look for a pleasantly low standard in the tournaments I play in. Too late for the Cornwall though. It was definately better playing there than Harrogate as the standard there will be excellent. I think that calling the standard low at Cornwall is not doing some of the seeded players that much justice. I can't really get near the Corby's. Trebble is a different matter as he is a confidence player. If possible try to bore him and he will lose.

Uni trials really are open to a lot of bias, but I do not think this is any more pronounced than at club or county selection. Let your racquet do the talking. Also get yourself along to the Railway Institue when you get to York, you won't find any better badminton there. I am thinking of playing the Yorkshire Open there later this season.

The reason I mentioned Jersey is to enquire whether you felt like making the court-time verses expense ratio a little more frugal by playing doubles. I will probably go to Guernsey as well. Oxfordshire is a possibility but is very well supported even in the doubles events. I expect that in the singles you would have to play a couple of rounds just to get any real points. I will try to play Wessex, Hampshire, Jersey, Guernsey, Yorkshire, Middlesex, either Devon or Cambridge, and maybe Hull or Lancashire or even Essex. It is really about getting into the winning habit in tournaments, once that is achieved I am confident of getting through at least one round in doubles and probably two or three in the mixed.

Ok - sending you a PM about the doubles.

Currently there are 3 levels of uk tournament, but sometimes an open is very low standard (Cornwall) , sometimes you find Anthony Clark at a challenger!

Should there be restrictions on who can play each event? Should the number of ranking points available depend on the quality of the field not just the level of the tournament?

I can think of players who have won over 30 opens and yet continue to enter those events and not challengers.

There actually is some sort of restriction already. I think that it says in the handbook that if too many entries are received that the decisions for who misses out is based on ranking points. This does happen at Challengers as I know of several people who have been placed on reserve and not made it into the draw. As for those people who enjoy playing and winning in the Satellite Opens I am all for them playing as without them there would probably be no Satellite events by now. A lot of people live in areas where the club standard is low and rely on county games and tournaments for their good badminton, they should definitely be allowed into the draw. To stop this occurring may well mean that all tournaments end up with the draw starting at the quarter finals.

What I believe should be stopped are not the people that play the winning game but the people that play the points game. These people play in Satellites for perhaps one season then use those points to get into the Challegers and even the Grand Slams and Nationals. Losing in the first round of the Nationals carries roughly the equivalent points as winning a Satellite event. Anyone could do that in the Nationals, the Grand Slams and the Challengers and end up well inside the top twenty. These people show little interest in supporting badminton at all, yet get to play at all the best events, albeit just for one game.

You make the call dlp, which is worse?

Well Cornwall went ok, despite the stomach bug this morning. Possibly due to my tournament prep there, but very difficult to do properly when you spend 7 hours travelling the day before.

Lost in the 2nd round to one of the 3/4 seeds 15-11. 15-11. The game reached 11-11 in both the first and second games but ended up with me putting three or 4 smashes in the net in a silly attempt to try and finish it off quick :rolleyes: So I was pretty close to getting into the quarters, which I would have liked, but can't complain with my performance given that this is the first tournament I've played in a few years.

That game lasted just under one hour with long rallies, so it was bloody draining!. I need to work on the fitness! And my tournament prep! But certainly didn't feel outmatched by any of the players there. So all in all a good day :)

Slanter, did you get my PM? It hasn't appeared in my message tracking :confused:

I did. Thanks UKP. Well done for Cornwall. It sounds like you were staying with the opposition in the games. Losing at the end like that is nothing to do with your quality of badminton - just lack of tournament play and patience and maybe a little confidence in your own game. :)

Cheers Slanter :)

Cornwall open results (unofficial) I've heard

Corbys won doubles without dropping game, Nicola Cavill beat Betty Blair to win WS, Matt Corby/Blair won MXD, Mark Sewell? won MS beat Trebble easily. WD umm...whatever ......forgot to ask...whoever turned up:)

Slanter, I know that only the top players get into the challengers, I think this is necessary, however that only works if it is genuinely the top players and as you say not just players who get first round loser points.

I know this is a big problem. Especially in womens events where there are few doing the circuit. I know of some top 20 women who have literally won 1 match out of 10+ tournaments and yet retain their place through consistently playing challengers/grand slams. The ranking needs to be averaged over a number of events but few play the 8 or so required for good ranking. Less 1st round loser points? Bonus points for beating players above you? Opens offering variable points depending on strength of the entry?

For instance Cornwall yesterday the winner, no disrespect, would probably be outside the top 25 on merit, Devon earlier this year, same points, Honey played Kidd in the final , both would just be in the top 10.

Or there could be grades like in junior events. For instance Cornwall could run C and D grades on the same day, a challenger would be B and C etc. Winning a D would upgrade you, or certain number points over season in D etc.

But essentially there are already grades. Grand Slams being A, Challengers being B and Satellites being C. If you win a C you can get into a B. If you accumilate C points you can get into a B. Are there enough players to split the field up on the day?

The points game is played all over isn't it? Some of our English badminton players play it on the World stage. Tim Henman plays it!

Yes there are grades of tournament but not grades of player. In many countries players are graded. For instance if you travelled to Cornwall and played Kidd or Honey first round (quite possible) you'd be dissappointed. They could win the tournament without trying and pick up the prize money and points, possibly you would have won that tournament if they hadn't been there. Instead you're out first round. If a "D" player is guaranteed not to play a top 50 player maybe they will be more inclined to play the tournaments.

Conversely if you're an upcoming player or junior or haven't played the right touraments you may fail to get into a challenger when many blatently worse players are in. As you play around the circuit you will see some players who turn up to every G slam and Chal just to pick up their 1st round losers points!

There a big problem for top under 17s, they want to be g slams within a couple years but initially must play a lot of opens (where they'll be unseeded) just to get into challengers.

I just think the rankings should reflect the actual merit of the players more....:mad:

Looking at the chal / sat circuit finals this year 2 of the top four in both MS and WS were the same. So you have Kidd beating Clarkson to win the sat circuit then playing him again onthe same day in the Chal semis! There were also players in both sat / chal doubles events.

This proves that the intention of different levels of tournament is not working!

I agree with a number of your points dlp, but such things are part and parcel of playing an amateur game. I have yet to see any evidence that badminton in England is run in a professional manner. The pattern has always been that more money results in more players. If the Cornwall had decent exposure and sponsorship and offered a prize of £1,000, which is peanuts in most other sports, do you think that the quality would have remained the same?

The ranking tournaments do resemble a pyramid structure and this is as it should be. The fact is that not enough people play in the tournaments. This is always going to favour those players who play in eight events without winning over those who play one event and win it. The alternative is to reduce the number of opportunities for people to play in tournaments and I don't favour that approach.

I take your point about ladies doubles though. Our Restricted had two entries in the ladies singles and four pairs in the doubles. There was an Open recently that had the top seeded pair go straight into the final and the next two pairs play a semi-final.

I agree Slanter but the pyramid system simply does not work. Whats the point of having C tournaments if top ten players are entering them?

Yes , in the womens events there is no standard in the uk. By that I mean you can count on one hand the number of fit , serious women who are on the circuit. The dropout rate for women at 18+ is terrible even amongst england juniors. I remember seeing Julia Mann win the nationals a couple of years ago and barely dropped 11 points in all her games together. At the same time she probably wasn't in the top 30 in the world.

The Cornwall had good prize money for an open (£1000 total) so the doubles winners could get £60 each, so they're just in profit after the costs of travel etc. Geography and scheduling meant the Cornwall was doomed to be weak this year.

Another option would be that at the bigger events there was a qualifying event and the top players only came in later. Realistically the top seeds at these bigger tournaments never lose to low players. This happens in a way at challengers where the draw is 24 not 32, meaning all but the top 8 play first round and thus they are guaranteed not to meet the top 8 first round.

Why don't you ask the folks of Badders.com? ;)

Well the entry forms are off for the Yorkshire Open. I just hope that we are accepted. I expect the standard to be pretty high there. It is going to be a busy month with three fairly local tournaments in three weeks. After Yorkshire, which is decidedly not local, there is Middlesex, Hampshire and Wiltshire in succession. That has got to be bad planning on somebody's part. There is little time to practice the 50 things that you come away from a tournament knowing you need to work on before your up for similar treatment. Anyone else out there playing any of the above? Matt - sorted out your lift yet? UKP?

I've entered the Yorkshire as well. Its fairly close for me (hour and a half away), so I hope I get accepted, but I can't see it happening to be honest. After that I've got the Northumberland Satellite and the North East Challenger at the beginning of next year.

Not playing any of those Slanter as will only be paying the remaining Satellites up North. Will probably be at the Yorkshire Open though as a friend of mine who is playing in it is coming up to stay with me. Will probably play Northumberland though.

UKPlayer - if you haven't already got a form for Northumberland, you can download one at:

http://www.northumberlandba.abelgratis.co.uk/Satellite.htm


Closing date is the 16th of November.

cheers

Hi there,

I played the Cornwall MS (rather badly - out first round)
My first tournament though, so I wasn't to surprised

I was going to play the Oxford this weekend but when I saw it was a Friday start I changed my mind because I had a club match that night. Then after the closing date for Oxford the club match got cancelled

When tournaments start on Friday evenings, how much play is there?
just Round 1 ?

Hi guys - still waiting for my events diary from the BAofE :( - Any of you BUSA guys going to the individuals in November? any ideas what the accomdation is likely to be?
back to the subject of Satellite - my partner is an ex-scottish junior nationals champ. do you think the BAofE will stick their noses up? i'm not sure if he's affiliated either but i imagine he should be through our university club.

Any ideas?

Neil

Coops, as long as your mate is registered with a club in England he will have a number and there is no problem. Failing that, if he is registered with a Scottish club then there again he has no problem as the Open's accept everyone. If he is not with an English club and he wants to get on the ranking list he will have to join the BAofE directly. Dealing in any way with the BAofE is rarely rewarding or profitable. Probably won't play BUSA thuis year due to the commitments of my course. It clashes with the Hampshire Open anyway.

Neil, only the singles are played on Fridays. I don't play singles so have rarely been present but I understand that they attempt to play as many matches as they can within the given time frame. They are not allowed to ask to to play a game after 11pm. Most of the time they finish earlier than that. UKP or dlp might be able to tell you more.

does anybody know where i can get hold of an entry form for the yorkshire satellite? the yorkshire badminton association doesn't work?

Neil

If you mean the Yorkshire Open Challenger on 16/17 November
(if not, ignore me)
my diary lists the contact as

Mary Hargreaves
45 George Street
Cottingham
Hull
HU16 5QP
01482 849954

but it also says the closing date for entries is today 25-Oct so you'll have to get your skates on

whoops - challenger is a bit too hard for me - and i think it clashes with BUSA individuals as well - not to worry - cheers for checking tho

Neil

BUSA individuals are 2 weeks later at the end of November. I should be there.

matt, slanter

Where can I find all those dates and location for all the satellite and challenger tournaments in UK(i.e. Hertfordshire open, Essex Open etc)

I couldn't find any websites with the details of event calendar. the baofe.co.uk website has broken links and I couldn't find any details there either.

If you have list of events for 2002-2003 could you please share it with me.

thanks
sunny.

you could try

http://www.norfolkbadminton.co.uk/NationalCalendar.html

that'll give you which weekends things are on.
After I joined BAofE I got a diary with the exact dates in.
Some tournaments start on the Friday evening

I only have the diary on paper copy, but if there is anything specific you are interested in let me know.

Neil,

You mentioned in your reply you joined BAofE? What are the requirements to join with BAofE? What kind of membership is it?

Could you let me know?

thanks
sunny.

>>you could try

>>http://www.norfolkbadminton.co.uk/NationalCalendar.html

>>that'll give you which weekends things are on.
>>After I joined BAofE I got a diary with the exact dates in.
>>Some tournaments start on the Friday evening

>>I only have the diary on paper copy, but if there is anything specific you are >>interested in let me know.

I think the only requirement is that you give them some money.

If you are a member of a club check if you are already affiliated. Some clubs do, some dont.

My club only affiliates it's members to the County Association, so to be eligible to play in BAofE sanctioned tournaments (setellites etc) I joined BAofE with an OnCourt membership which I think was £13 per year.

best regards,
Neil

Yorkshire Open: played like a w****r in the doubles. Better in the mixed. Still two first round exits though. Hoping for better in Middlesex next weekend.

Talking to one of my friends who runs Thurrock badminton club near me, says that i'm a premier class player now, wonders why i havent been to these tournaments. But, he's been asking round for a lift for me more often, which hopefully should get some replies. If i get into the Essex squad (still aint been to the trials!), then i could be going to the ICC next april, so, maybe see some of you there!

Matt

Originally posted by Slanter
Yorkshire Open: played like a w****r in the doubles. Better in the mixed. Still two first round exits though. Hoping for better in Middlesex next weekend.

It was a Challenger so pretty tought to get through 1st round. I know a few people that played yesterday. Shame I wasn't there otherwise I might have bumped into you. Too much work to do otherwise I would have gone :mad:

I don't suppose you know the results, UKP. I know that in the mixed Chris and Emma won. They beat Matthew Honey and Rachel ???? in the semi rather too easily for my taste seeing as it was them that did for me in the 1st round. In the mens I cannot see anyone other than Boxall and his partner winning, they were playing some of the best badminton I have seen outside the nationals for a long while.

Next outing will be this weekend at Middlesex followed by Wiltshire two weeks after that. Will only play mixed next week and both in Wiltshire. Hope I do better than Yorkshire. I know it was a Challenger but I have ruined my record of always getting through the 1st round in the mixed. Perhaps the curry and lager the night before was a little ill advised...

is anybody going to northumberland in a couple of weeks? anybody got an idea of the sort of people that might be going? its going to be mine and my partners first satellite tournament - just trying scope it out before we get there

Neil

I think that it happens at the same time as the Wiltshire, so I won't be there. I know a couple of good players who will be though. I have had enough of the M1 anyway. From what I hear the standard of the Northumberland is a little below that of the Wiltshire so you should be alright. This could change fast is the Yorkshire players decide to go, as the standard is very high there.

Still, if it is your first Satellite then just try your best, watch the games, talk to lots of people and get a feel for what it takes to do well. Often the players you notice early on as very technically gifted can lose to players who have the correct mental approach. Watch the latter type of player. Getting through rounds is more of a habit than anything else, if you have done it several times before you can go into the game and do the right things. At the moment you do not have that advantage but you can still learn a lot from watching.

Above all just enjoy yourself:) , it is a day out after all.

Slanter - you're not the only one who didn't play well at Yorkshire. I was absolutely shocking! The doubles was a marginal improvement but not much! I don't have the excuse of lager and curry the previous night!

Don't know who won on the Sunday. I know in the women's singles Jemma Foster beat Caroline Smith in the semi, but that's the only result I know. I was very impressed with the standard in some of the games, as I've only seen/played in the North East Challenger at Gateshead before and this was a higher standard. Best games for me were Panesar/Clarkson beating Vincent/Scholes and Frye/Tonks beating Roebuck/Higgins.

coops - I will be at Northumberland hoping for an improvement over Yorkshire. Well it can't get much worse. I can't train very much at the moment due to a bit of patellar tendonitis, but hopefully its on the mend.

hey andy - how old are you - my partner played for the scottish national team in his junior years - he's just about recoverd froma very serious injury and got fit again. he won the scottish U14 singles and level doubles win '95 /'96 . Check it out onthe scot badders website his name is Phil Burton.

also - do you know who ^shaz^ is me and phil don't recognise the name but we reckon phil probably knows him or know's of him

Neil

Slanter - cheers for the advice, i have to say i'm pretty nervous but i'll be okay on the day - my partner is my coach and he's a great guy, but he needs me to keep him on a leash, good thing one of us has a cool head

Neil

coops - I'm a little old to know your partner, as I would probably have been an U19 at that time (and not a very good one either). Its only in the last few years I've started to play a bit more seriously. Wish I had done so before!

I know what ^shaz^'s name is but I probably shouldn't say as I don't know him personally! You can find his name on the SBU site in the junior rankings section.

Are you just playing doubles at Northumberland or are you doing singles/mixed as well?

Northumberland last year wasn't a particulary high standard except for James Vincent/Graham Crow in the doubles. They won without breaking sweat!

fair enuf - you're probably right about giving out peoples names online. yeah i'm playing the singles too but only for the experience - singles ain't really my game as i ain't fit enough yet and i have a doubles head that is difficult to swop for a singles head.

Neil

Hi coops

I'm going to Northumberland, but only for the singles, so unless you're there Saturday I guess we'll miss each other

i'm there for the singles as well - my coach/partner is playing the singles as well

Neil

Well the Middlesex went along the usual lines. Got through a round then couldn't keep the errors out of our game when it got important. Only payed the mixed. Playing Wiltshire in two weeks but meanwhile giving the Hampshire a miss to get some rest.

Hi all, this it is! my first satellite tournament. i'm nervous as hell at the moment but i've got till 10.30 to lose my nerves. my coach has managed to blag some 1st class tickets from virgin so we're travelling in style from York up to Newcastle. If any of you are there text me on 07813 036302. i've got a blue inflight bag and my coach is the guy with the bionic leg (you'll see what i mean) i'm taking my digicam to get some footage of us playing singles. I'll have a tshirt with UMIST on the back when i'm on court at 10.30. hope to finally meet some of you.

Wish me luck

Neil

Well you must have finished by now so tell us how you did! I am not playing the Wiltshire but sitting at home nursing a bad knee courtesy of the shocking state of the courts at Middlesex :mad:

Next outing will be Berkshire Open in January. Just hope that everyone will eat and drink as much as I intend to over the next month. It should be a better tournament now that it has moved from Slough, the leisure centre their was appalling for badminton :mad:

I can't even do basic training with a knee injury :mad:

As you may have guessed I am not in the best of moods! But I would still like to hear how people did in their games this weekend.

Oh, and I would also appreciate it if the BAofE would update the rankings a bit more often :mad:

What's wrong with the courts at Middlesex ? Or do they not play at the 'Dome' anymore?

Hi guys, well i thought i played ok - well in the short space of time i was on court. i got drawn against the 1st seed, but i did get a bye to the second round tho. got pasted 0 and 0. he just forced me to make mistakes. not feeling to down tho. he was hte firstseed and all. but unfortunately my coach/partner pulled out of the doubles, we think his leg has finally had it. we'll know soon i'll keep you all posted. On a brighter note, congrats to Andy McG on winning his first round match, you'll have to tell us how you did in the doubles since you're partnering Ewen Clark!!

talk soon

Neil

The Middlesex was played at Houslow Badminton Centre. The roof was leaking which left them with only three courts. They had done a reasonable job of cleaning the actual courts but forgot the areas just outside the lines. I was taking a round the head smash in the left rear court, hit a half-smash, put down my left leg just outside the line and it just kept going. I tried to make a lot of noise so that the opposition might stop playing and give me a let. Instead of offering me any help the eighty year old official just came up to me with a broom, me still on the floor, calmly swept around me and went and sat down again, leaving a large sweat patch where I was sitting.:confused:

I ended up with bruises on the inside of both of my knees, so I may well have done the splits for the first time since primary school gymnastics club :eek: . I managed to get up and win the game and it felt OK, just a little bit tight when knocking up in the next match, but it became quickly evident that something more serious had happened. Feels like the soft tissue on the outside of the right knee was strained. Rest should help but all I want to do is hit shuttles.

That's harsh man :(

I got to the quarters of the singles and semis of the doubles. Lost to James Allinson in the singles, but didn't feel completely outclassed. If I could have kept the shuttle in the court I would have done a lot better, just too many unforced errors. But I haven't practiced for 2 months now due to a knee injury, so I can't really expect to be that consistent. Hopefully its starting to clear up now.

coops - tough draw. I played against Stephen Mumby at Northumberland last year, and I'd never been made to feel so unfit in my life! He just moved me all over the court on every point. He did go on to win this year, taking the final quite easily against Allinson, so you did lose to the best player there.

Lost to another Northumberland county pairing in the doubles. We played well in bits but managed to get stuck when we were 7-2 up in the second game. They did go on to win the final easily, so that made me feel a bit better though :)

Was very disappointed by the entry, it was even smaller than last year. Only 4 in the ladies singles, 3 pairs in the ladies doubles and 4 pairs in the mixed. Perhaps they need to move it to another date so it doesn't clash with any other satellites.

All in all, I'm quite happy with my results. I certainly did better than I thought would do. Next tournament is probably the North East challenger in January.

i wonder why mumby and allinson bother with the satellites - are they not better off playing the challengers and grand slams for the higher points rewards - this would surely also raise their game even further. i would want to play at the highest level i was elligible to. And speaking of low entries. I was speaking with Neil at the weekend about Staffs Satellite in January and apparently Dave eddy who is organising it is only allowing 32 entries. I know he has to allow for facillities and all that but surely this is a bit of a low figure. on top of that he is only allowing the top 32 ranked players to enter so i imagine that i won't be able toplay that one. I ain't too pleased about it as it is one of the more local ones for me too.

Anyway - speak to youall soon

Neil

I'm not sure if they are up to Grand Slam standards yet, but I think they are definitely some of the best players you are likely to play in a satellite.

I thought that satellite tournaments were open to everyone as they are the lowest level of ranking tournament. How on earth are you meant to improve your ranking if you can't get into the tournament? I have a form for the Staffs tournament and was interested, but I see that the tournament starts at 2pm on a Friday afternoon. How am I meant to get there for that time? Or is this time to try and dissuade non-Birmingham Uni people from entering? I bet it has a high entry of Birmingham students and they all get good seedings as well!

interesting thought, i've not recieved my entry form just yet, i work weekends tho and firday afternoons are quite convenient for me, buti imagine a lot of people will be at uni or working - how does mr eddy expect to get a reasonable entry - especially since it starts on friday afternoon. i think he may be very dissapponted in the turn out.

I agree tho that satellites are supposed to be open to all so that people can improve their standard, i have no idea what mr eddy hope to achieve by putting people off entering

Do some satellite tournaments get very large entries? or are they all like the northumberland one?

Neil

hehe, just looking at the results for the recent grand slam at Ribby Hall, Allinson entered.. got a bye to the last 16 and then lost to the 4th seed.

well at least he's human

:D

Neil

he was made to look very human in the final yesterday! :D

I think most of the satellites down in the south east of England can get quite large entries. It was quite a big entry in Suffolk earlier this year and they struggled to get through all the matches. Northumberland was poorly promoted, is a long way for a lot of people to travel and it clashes with Wiltshire I think.

yeah it did clash with wiltshire. Did anybody here go, if so how did you guys go on?

Neil

Also clashed with the Irish open which all the top under 23 players were at!

Been a while but it is soon to be back into the action at the Berkshire Open. Just playing mixed at this one, need to play well as I am protecting points and a bad performance or a crappy draw will cost me ranking points. I should be high enough by now but needless to say www.baofe.co.uk has not been usefully updated since the points were done at the end of October!

Well it was the staffordshire open today adn tomorrow - did anybody go - what was the standard like? Dave Eddy from Staffs was being very picky about who he was allowing to enter so i wondered if any of you guys made it. I didn't go as i've got uni exams next week (bloody final year)

Hope to hear from you guy soon

Cheers

Neil

I didn't bother entering.
I was going to go to watch but I'm househunting now and can't find the time.
I'd be interested to know what the field was like.

I was in the Devon next week but I've had to pull out because I can't get the day off work now (gotta go to Poland).

Staffs open mens doubles Corby/Roe beat Higgins/ Goode in final

Yep Chris is in form this season, especially in the mixed. He is bein a bit of a tart though, never the same partner twice. I can see him ending up with a brilliant individual record in the Challengers and Satellites and not getting into the finals! I am not even going to mention my own dismal performance in the Berkshire but the field was stronger than last year in the mens and mixed.

I am beginning to feel the end of season approaching even though it is way off. Too much pre-season training often has this effect on me. Will probably play the Guernsey and leave it at that this season. Want to play mixed in the Nationals in 2004 so will chill for a while and sort out technical aspects of my game before starting again at the Herts Open.

as per usual the new ranking points aren't onthe BAofE site yet

typical!!!

Neil

Yep it has got beyond pathetic now. No events after October have been added! I hope that the event organisers have access to an updated version of the rankings because otherwise they will be basing entry decisions on out of date positions. I have played 3 events since then and want to get a place in the Nottingham Open who can get a bit fussy at times. Does anyone know about this?

One of the reasons for the BAofE's crapness is cost. As I understand it they do not own their own webspace. This means that they have to pay each time they want to update anything other than the News section. But this is not to any extent a defence of the BAofE but, IMO, another example of their incompetence.

February is a quiet month for Satellites and Challengers so time to assess how well the season has gone so far (:mad: crap!:mad: ) analyse what could be improved (:( movement, attack, defence, tactics:( ) and train hard (:o er...of course):o .

To say the BAofE site is crap is an understatement - i bet they are being ripped off. The site i run for Blackpool and District badminton is a lot better, i understand it is smaller but the content on the BAofE site isn't massive, They just need to set up their own webserver(not really difficult) and then it would be dirt cheap(free if they already have a connection)

Anyway - back to the right topic - just checked the next one (not including Suffolf since thats this weekend coming up) The next one is Lancashire at the beginning of March - typical my home turf and i'm injured - i very much doubt i'll be fit for that. AAAAAArrrrgh.

Neil

Hi guys, baofe finally updated their site - and i've got my first ranking points - as you can imagine i'm dead chuffed to have ranking - equal 213 in the country :D

wonder if they'll keep it up to date now that it's all a new look

See ya

Neil

Went to the Suffolk Open last weekend and played very badly! Lost in first round of both singles and doubles. The singles was of a higher standard than most satellites I've been at, but the doubles wasn't too great. In the MS Daniel Plant beat a guy from Belgium in 3 ends in the final - both finalists from last year lost in the second round! That might be my last tournament of the year, as I can't play in Lancashire. I might still play at the Hull one though.

Wonder how UKP is doing in the midst of this.

well I'm still lurking from time to time but I seem to have rather a hectic life at the moment. Thanks for asking. Might be going to Hull, but the probem is I'm having difficulty getting quality badminton up here. Am having to do other things instead, like go out and party a lot (!) :D My fitness and badminton is umm... slipping somewhat. Erm, but on the plus side my social life has somewhat improved.;)

You mean Yorkshire scene is not high enough standard for you?

Or the badminton social life isn't what it could be.................?:D

Glad to hear you are still around UKP. Is there no county practise in Yorkshire? Most counties are crying out for singles players and have more than enough doubles players so you should be sorted. I have a friend at York Uni who has just been asked to play for the 4ths. The club standard is pretty much as good as it gets, but as you say so is the club scene ;) .

Having had a bad patch I think, or hope, that my game is on the way back. Mens is not great but the mixed is much improved over recent weeks. We shall see as I have found a good, perhaps too good, new partner. We are doing some training and will play Nottingham and Leicester. Was going to come up to Hull and play with my old partner, but might play the rankings game and get spanked at the Grand Slam instead. It is right on my doorstep and you get lots of points just for losing. Would pretty much have to reach the final of the Hull just to get similar points. Before you say it DLP, I know, but going to Hull costs a lot of money.

I want to play mixed in the Nationals next year so have to get my ranking up higher. I am closing in on the top 50 but really need to be inside the top 30. I am thinking I will play Nottingham, Leicester, Sussex and Guernsey this year and concentrate on the Challengers early next year, namely Wimbledon and Essex, then I wont be too far away. It would be good to have played the Nationals once. If the rankings system is there to be exploited, which looking at the players ranked in the top 100 it plainly is, then I dont feel too bad about doing just for one season.

BAofE website is a definite improvement. There are a few bugs in the navigation but it is a lot more pleasing to the eye. It still looks as if it is hosted by Datamex though, so I wonder if they will still have to pay for every update. Anyway it was good to have a look at the latest rankings. My prediction of a fast rise up the positions by our young Sussex star Dean George looks to be coming true. Pleased to say that my average is better than his at the moment but that will change within the year I have no doubt.

If any of you are playing any of the same tournaments as me then let me know, especially if you are a doubles player looking for a partner, even if only for that event. I am not the greatest at doubles but it is better to play than to sit at home.

hiya slanter - i'm going to th hull open - got no mens partner tho. i only started on the satellite at Northumbria late last november. adn got pasted my stephen mumby in the first round. if ur going i'm up for the doubles with ya

Seeya

Neil

hey Slanter - check your PM ;)
UKP

Anybody make it to the lancashire open today? what was the standard?

i would have gone - it being my home Satellite and all but my ankles are still giving e trouble and the doctor won't refer me to a physio.

ROll onearning enough cash to go private grrrr

Neil

Hi all,
I am hoping on my new website i have just put up to be able to provide results to all the tournaments going on around the uk. Please go and have a look.
Cheers Neil
Badminton-Zone.co.uk (http://www.badminton-zone.co.uk)

nice site neil, (that makes three neil's on this board from the UK)

Keep ur eye on this board as you'll find a vast amount of info on results, vids, training techniques and such like.

Neil

Early exits in Notts and Leics :mad:

unlucky m8, it seems the standard has bounced up in the second half of the season.

spose i'm lucky i'm still injured - not thrashings to endure

Neil

PS - do you know where the results are posted for Notts and Leics?

Nottingham results are on the Notts county website
http://www.nottsba.co.uk/

Interesting results at Notts, good link Neil. Had a shocking draw at Notts. Just played pants at Leics. I agree about the standard though, I don't feel as if I am getting any worse but have lost 1st round in two Satellites since Christmas and I have never done that before. Might be down to the draw I suppose but I think Leics was a strong field.

Back to the usual moans. Predictably the ranking have not been updated for well over a month now. Perhaps the BAofE will get around to it next time they bring out a new website? Or maybe when they just change the layout of their existing one, anyway.:o

Anybody going?
wish i was :(

if anybody does could they post the results here

cheers

Neil

Bit too far out for me mate. Nothig left to do this season now except let the injuries heal up ready for summer training. Thought you were going to play?

unfortunately i'm still injured - looks like i'm going to be out will at least the end of june

:(

Neil

I'm going to Hull (MS) - there's been a low turnout in general apparently


New BAofE rankings are out !

I suppose the low turnout is exlpained by the Grand Slam being on at Burgess Hill... grrrr, hull would have been ideal to get some points before the end of the season - bloody doctors - ah well it's not all bad - finally got referred to the physio - shouldn't be long now :D

Neil

PS good luck Neil

PPS, it looks like the Grand Slam is pretty quiet as well - lots of bye's some names missing there as well - Colin and Aamir are both playing tho - wonder where Andy SMith, Mark Burgess and the rest are?

Is it still your ankle from when you sprained it?

yes and no - it's now both ankles and my back, i went back on court 6 weeks after spraining the left one - and i've been having minor back pain and pains in my left leg all season. the doc said just to take anti-inflammatory's for my back and rest. Anyway after going back on court a couple of weekends on the trot - just knocknig about with the juniors - nothing too strenuous i began getting pains in the right ankle and the last time i was court - about 4 weeks ago i felt something in the bottom of my back pull, followed by excrutiating pain and an inability to bend forward or backwards a lot. Needless to say i've not been back on court since and i've even resorted to going on crutches for my right ankle which i was unable to walk on properly for two weeks - it's getting better now - but this is the longest time i've been out with a recurrence.

My doc in manchester was useless and difficult to get to so now that i've moved back home to preston i've changed doctors to my previous one. he sorted my back out last time and after some carefully chosen words and goading i convinced him to send me to physio - he's more bothered about my ankles than my back tho. so with any luck i might finally get full movement back in my right ankle after being unable to do full rotations with it since i sprained it in 96.

I'm planning to stay off court until late june, and i will resume fitness and strength training as soon as the physio says i'm okay for it.

I'm hoping this is a new beginning for me since i'm well positioned now to play in division 1 or two in the local district league, and with any luck get into Blackpool Town team, and maybe if i train hard enough squeeze a lancashire squad place

Neil

Coops hope you recover quickly.

Grand slam draw on bae site, quite a lot of the top players are absent due to far east tour.

Just to let you know..

I'll be on the satellite scene come the new season, hope to see some of you...

I understand that the Korean was moved which ruled out about 8 top players from the GS but why was the GS date also clashing with the euro juniors, not to mention the Hull. The standard of a lot of the first round matches was as low as open, the womens draws were only half full with byes to qtr or even semi in the doubles.

Hopefully the replacement for the grand slams next year will work better.

I've made the latest baofe events calender available on my site for you UK players since the baofe often doesn't update until the season has started

www.devonbadminton.co.uk/cal2003.htm (http://www.devonbadminton.co.uk/cal2003.htm)

It lists the elite series which replaces the grand slams next year.

Thanks dlp

Has the handbook been printed already or do you have inside information?

It hasn't got to me yet but I do have the latest provisional calender , anything else you want to know about slanter I'll try and find out;)

Hi all,

How many of you are firstly, going to play in some of the satellites and secondly, whose going to play Herts open? I hope to see some of you there for a little chin wag :)

Matt

I will be there. Have to improve on the pants mens result from last season. Hope to do better in the mixed too, had to play the losing finalists in the second round last season. Wear something obvious and then I can make up my mind if I like the look of you and want to talk to you!:D

Slanter,

I'll be the one with the blue top with 'ESSEX' written on the black with white writing, wearing red shorts. I'll prob change throughout the day to my Karakal stuff, but that will be the main top i wear. I'll talk to ya whether u like it or not! :P :)

Matt

If you two have to play each other I'll settle any disputes lol;)

( I hope to be there in a coaching capacity!) Also UK players get to the Cornwall open, theres a plate event which is rare !

Details fo the three elite series events which replace the grand slam are on beofe site under events/elite. Basically looks exactly same as grand slam, just a different name!!!!!!!!!!

You sound surprised, dlp?

I guess I'm not really surprised. I just didn't see the point in announcing that the grand slams would be replaced and apparantly its just the same thing as we had couple years ago, 3 events and a circuit final. :confused:

Only about 8 weeks to the season now guys ;) hope you're all training!

Entry forms for Herts, Bournmouth and Cornwall are on baofe site, unfortunately they still haven't got the calender up!!!!

Also dont forget that the WBU are currently organising a Welsh Senior Series. It would be great to see some players from England/Scotland entering some of the legs.

If you are interested in the series then contact Lyndon Williams at the WBU.

Don't forget that you can get a tournament diary by sending an A5 SAE to the BAofE. Admitedly they haven't sent mine through yet but I have no reason to doubt they will. The events management have been particularly efficient so far this season, they have sent through a provisional timetable for both the Satellite and the Challenger series and have included entry forms into both the Wimbledon Challenger and the Elite tournament.

I am actually quite impressed, and those of you who have followed my musings on the competency of the BAofE staff in the past know how much admitting that costs me. Even though it is only somethig as simple as creating a mailing list from their ranking list and their member details it probably involved more than one person who knew what they are doing. Things have definately improved. The real test will be for them to publish the details of future tournaments on the websie before the entry date has elapsed and keeping the rankings list nominally up-to-date. They wil probably have to initiate a five year plan to accomplish that!

So how did you all go in the above tournament ?

Lost in the second round. Good game, should have won, but didn't. Things will have to get a great deal better before Wimbledon. Anyone else out there play Herts?

well the lancashire open was this weekend, and with it being my local satellite i thought i'd give it a shot...

got a bad draw - drawn against the 1st seed Matthew Shuker - who is red hot at the moment - lost to 0 and 1. was an experience playing against somebody of that level tho.. From what i saw Matt would have gone on to win the final against Alan Clarkson - both of these players being far better than the rest of the entries. Altho i didn't enter the doubles it looked a lot more interesting with Phil Freeman and Martin Tullit taking out 2nd seeds Alex marrit and Joel Parsons, but as a result of this marathon losing to Gert Kunka and Lewis Halsey. On the other side of draw Julian Priestley and Phil Price looked to be making easy work of their side of the draw until they bumed into first seeds Alan Clarkson and Alex Hird. My guess is that the final would be clarkson and hird vs Kunka / Halsey, depending on how Kunka's ankle holds after picking up an injury in the singles. Providing Kunka is fit i think they will take the semi against Davenport and Simon Taylor...

anybody care to fill the rest of the results in...

cheers,
Neil

heh....i guess i'm just too lazy to look it up in the BAoE website. What's a satellite competition, an open and what kind of people enter. Are they senior county players, former national/internationals, age ranges?

i don't really understand the structure of UK badmiton competitions:)

The mighty Zimbie72 and I are hoping to partake in some satellite tournies next season. We're no spring chickens with visions of playing at national level, just very enthusiastic about our badders and committed to being as good as we can be.

Similarly it would be beneficial to know how good the competition is at this level of tournament. At least then we can decide whether we are in a realisitic position to enter come the new season. We don't mind getting beaten at all, but if we are going to be ridiculously outclassed it would seem a little pointless.

Any info gratefully appreciated.

Who . . . . . me? ;)