Exeter’s Badminton players shine on home soil
It was a good weekend for Exeter’s Badminton Performance Centre (EPC), with players out in full force for the Devon Bronze tournament held at the University of Exeter’s Sports Park on 14-15 December.
Under 11s girls Charlotte Freer and Learna Herkes both performed well; Freer finishing second in her group, before an ankle injury ended Herkes’ blistering form just one match short of the final.
Meanwhile Exeter’s Lloyd Skinner, Alex Moir, Callum Cheung all took their rightful place in the semi-finals of the U15 boys singles event, alongside Welsh National player Oliver Stansfield. A 21:17 score line saw Moir overcome old rival skinner for his place in the final, before a Stansfield and Cheung traded point for point in a fiercely contested second semi which saw Stansfield run out a 42:22 winner.
In a final of mixed styles, Moir’s tactical guile overcame the pace of Stansfield, taking the title 21:15. EPC Head Coach Kelvin Edwards praised the “extremely well deserved victory”.
He said: “Alex has worked very hard in applying the tactile element of his game and today he out-thought his opponent for the victory. It’s great to see him perform so well in front of a large crowd; this win will put his name fully on the badminton map.”
EPC’s U15s enjoyed further success in the doubles, Lloyd Skinner partnering Bournemouth’s David Higbee to clinch the title from Welsh National duo Oliver Stansfield and James Morris Lloyds.
Kelvin added: “Without a doubt, Lloyd was a brilliant play maker today and the best doubles player on the court, engineering the rallies and taking control.”
The second day of competition saw the Under 17s step up to the plate, and again three Exeter players, Callum Cheung, Callum Owens and Will Fryer, making the boys’ semi-finals. A convincing performance from Fryer saw him through to the final, just losing out to Avon’s Aidan Gibbons 21:17.
In the girls singles, EPC were saw Mae-Sing Lim-Cooke also perform well, narrowly lost out to Cornwall’s Kellen Moore 22:20.
Boy’s doubles brought more success for the EPC U17s. A hard hitting semi-final saw Callum Cheung and Callum Owens face fellow players Lloyd Skinner and Will Fryer, the two Callums won through to the finals against Avon’s Aidan Gibbons and Harry Miles. It was the Avon’s pairs day, however, as they ran out the winners 21:19.
Meanwhile, Exeter’s girls Lauren Theedom and Mae-Sing Lim Cooke celebrated gold after seeing off a strong field to complete EPC’s medal tally for the weekend.
Head coach Edwards lauded the performance of the whole squad throughout the competition. He said:” It has been a great weekend for the EPC, it is clear that the facilities of our home base the University of Exeter matched with the professionalism of the staff are key factors in producing successful players.
“The players have a support network arguably unrivalled in the Southwest. Strength and Conditioning coaches, Nutritionists, and experienced coaches are all on hand to programme and support the players. In addition the EPC physio, Ben Watkins, himself a former county singles finalist, offers functional, fundamental and remedial treatments. It is the ingredients of success and I look forward to the New Year and the rest of this season.”
