Swindon Badminton players dominated the Wiltshire Junior Restricted Championships, appearing in all the age group finals with only two trophies not appearing on a Swindon District mantelpiece.

The Annual Wiltshire Restricted U11, 15 and U19 spectacle at Melksham’s Christie Miller Sports Centre had an excellent entry in all age groups. Players from clubs and schools from all over Wiltshire, some in their first tournament and others in their last, took to all the available courts for several hours of competitive badminton.

The U11 Boys singles and doubles had a repeat performance of the previous year as Corsham’s Matthew Hughes won the singles, with Dorcan Junior’s Robert Hawkins playing, in his first tournament, as runner-up while the Mid-Wilts pair of Hughes and Lydon Scott-Humphris retained their doubles title for a second year.

In the U11 Girls, Dorcan Junior’s Rosie Postlewhite also did the double, with her first county honours in the Singles, beating Salisbury’s Katerine McKay in to second place, and taking the doubles with, last years winner, Izzy Prothero, against Katherine McKay and Pippa Liversage.

The U15 Boys Singles had 17 boys in competition for the title. The three groups of boys certainly had plenty of games to entertain them. There were a number of surprises on their way to the final. Swindon Badminton Club’s, Andrew Jones and Tom Hillier both claimed scalps of higher ranked players, for the right to play for the honours in the final. Jones took the title in straight sets. Charlie Dent and Henry Prothero exacted revenge on their singles defeats by Jones and Hillier - in an all Swindon BC final - by beating them in the U15 Doubles.

In the U15 Girls Singles Dorcan Junior’s Emma McDonald won her first title in the age group over her doubles partner Catherine Prothero. The two teamed up to take the doubles title in straight sets over Hazel Sutton and Ella Scott-Humphris.

The U19’s event saw Swindon BC’s Matt Illing on top form, by completing the treble. In the singles Illing, faced the top seed, Salisbury’s, Aidan Beardsley. Beardsley had dispatched Dorcan’s Jonathan McDonald in a close three set match to reach the final. Illing’s straight sets win gave him his first county singles victory.

For the girls, Yasmin Hallard retained her crown as U19 Singles champion, with an all County 3rds ladies final, with Trowbridge’s Amy Gamble coming off second best on this occasion.

Amy Gamble did have her revenge in the Doubles, partnering Swindon BC’s Harriet Ferris, they beat Hallard and Natalie Plummer in straight sets.

In the Boys U19 Doubles, it was a repeat of last year, as the County 3rds combination retained their title for one last year. Unlucky contenders Jonathan McDonald and Jack Gruar made for an exciting showpiece final.

The U19 Mixed Doubles saw enthusiastic entries from a number of U15’s pairing, trying their hand at taking on the more experienced senior county players. Although there were no major upsets, the younger pairings did themselves much credit by raising their game to a very competitive standard and really kept their piers on their toes. The final match of the day, between Patrick Hobbs & Yasmin Hallard and title holders, Matt Illing and Harriet Ferris, had the expected hard fought encounter between old adveraries, which saw the silverware remain with the holders and Illing completing his third win of the day. U11 Boys Singles – Matthew Hughes (Corsham BC) U11 Girls Singles – Rosie Postlewhite (Dorcan Juniors) U11 Boys Doubles – Matthew Hughes & Lyndon Scott-Humphris (Corsham BC) U11 Girls Doubles – Rosie Postlewhite/Izzy Prothero (Dorcan Juniors & Swindon BC) U15 Boys Singles – Andrew Jones (Swindon BC) U15 Girls Singles – Emma McDonald (Dorcan Juniors) U15 Boys Doubles – Charlie Dent & Henry Prothero (Swindon BC) U15 Girls Doubles – Emma McDonald & Katherine Prothero (Dorcan Juniors & Swindon BC) U19 Boys Singles – Matt Illing (Swindon BC) U19 Girls Singles – Yasmin Hallard (Swindon BC) U19 Boys Doubles – Matt Illing & Patrick Hobbs (Swindon BC) U19 Girls Doubles – Amy Gambles & Harriet Ferris (Phoenix BC & Swindon BC) U19 Mixed Doubles – Matt Illing & Harriet Ferris (Swindon BC) Based on information supplied by Simon French.