Unst players commended for sportsmanship
The Unst Junior Badminton Championships 2009 were held at the Unst Leisure Centre on Tuesday evening. This year the primary five to seven age group played a half court singles competition. The 14 entrants played a round robin format, which enabled everyone to play as many games as possible.
Points were awarded for a win, loss or draw to decide the eventual winners and points scored throughout the tournament were used to decide when a tie-break occurred. Prizes were awarded to best boy and girl in each age group and overall tournament champions.
After playing non-stop competitive badminton for over an hour everybody looked justifiably very red-faced and tired (even the lasses keeping the games and score sheets in order).
All-round smiles were soon evident as the prize presentation commenced with all participants receiving Easter eggs and certificates before medals were awarded.
Primary five winners: Joe Niven, second overall boy, and Sula Brookes. Primary six winner: Adam Parkin. Primary seven winners and overall champions were Mark Ferguson and Emma Niven. Susy Hickey won second over-all girl.
The secondary badminton championships followed on directly after the primary tournament.
In the girls singles final Chelsea Jamieson and Karis Burns battled it out in a close three setter, which Chelsea eventually won 17-21, 21-17, 21-14. Lauren Johnson won the plate event.
The boys singles saw Alan Jamieson beat Stuart Ferguson 21-18, 21-15 in another hard fought final. Colin Peterson won the plate event.
Chelsea and Karis won the first game in the girls doubles final against their younger opponents Lauren Johnson and Lauren Brewster 15-6. The two Laurens then dug deep to take the second game 15-13 but then seemed to run out of steam, eventually losing 15-6 in the third.
Colin and Robert Gray put in a determined effort in the boys doubles final but Stuart and Alan proved too strong and took the title in straight sets 15-10, 15-5.
In the mixed doubles Stuart and Lauren Johnson started well with some excellent attacking play, winning the first game 15-11, but then the older pairing of Alan and Karis found their form and won the next game 15-7. Lauren and Stuart then fought all the way to only narrowly to lose 15-13 in the deciding game. An exciting point for point final to conclude another excellent tournament. Chelsea Jamieson and Alan Jamieson received the overall secondary boys and girls champions awards for 2009.
Kathleen Johnson commended the players on their sportsmanship throughout the tournament and said she hoped to see everyone back playing just as enthusiastically next season. She then thanked Linda Thomson and Caroline Massie for keeping the game and score sheets running so smoothly and to Netta Forrest, Andrew Hunter and the secondary pupils for assistance with umpiring.
