THE Shuttlebusters Youth Badminton Club held their annual tournament at Redlands Community Sports Hub, Weymouth.

The entrants comprised of 14 boys and six girls aged between 11 and 18.

The tournament was split into two groups of boys and one group of girls and was handicapped by ability.

The boys’ tournament was split into two boxes, seven players in each.

All games were 15 points, no setting and positions were determined by points in each box to result in a semi-final and a final.

Top seeds Nathan Stroud and Matthew Stevens were heavily handicapped with every game starting on minus five.

For both, it was not only a game of physical fitness but mental fitness as well. However, with sheer grit and determination, Stroud and Stevens won all their games to secure a place in the semi-final.

Louie James and Sam Vincent, also playing with heavy handicaps, played with precision and skill and fought hard throughout to also secure a place in the semi-final.

The first contest was Stevens versus Vincent. Both were unrelenting and eager to win and Vincent just overcame Stevens 21-13 to earn a place in the final.

James, swift and agile with his unforgiving smashes became another keen contender to reach the semi-final. His arduous battle was against Stroud with the latter just winning 21-13.

Vincent then took on Stroud in an exciting and exhilarating final. Both lads executed a variety of punishing shots to be met with punishing replies every time.

Vincent, vigorous and determined, did not relent for a second but Stroud managed to hold him back with his precise replies and claimed a 21-13 victory.

The girls formed a single group playing each other in handicapped games to 15 points with no setting. Positions were decided by the most points won throughout.

All six girls, oozing with enthusiasm, battled on court to try and secure the required points for victory.

Emma Osborne and Charlotte Strange executed brilliant smashes, drives and net kills, while most of Eleanor Woollard’s and Bethany Webb’s replies were mean pushes and crafty net drops.

Overall winner Katy Philips was calm and consistent and won all her games resulting in an unbeatable score of 75 points.

Runner-up Olivia Bailey was keen and focused throughout, finishing in a close second with 64 points.

All winners and second-placed players were presented with trophies at the end of play.

Coach Liz Osborne said: “It was exciting from start to finish, everyone played 100 per cent. A handicapped tournament is always difficult, it’s not only a game of physical fitness but mental fitness as well but all players fought hard to the end regardless of their handicaps and I was very proud of them all.”

Shuttlebusters was started by Osborne, a Level 2 qualified coach, in February 2006.

“Children, from the age of 10, play every Tuesday evening and Friday afternoons at Redlands Community Sports Hub and Saturday mornings at the Weymouth College Sports Centre.”

In-club tournaments, competitions and matches against other junior clubs are held regularly.

Osborne is passionate about badminton. She is serious in her method of coaching but does it in a fun way. Since the start of the club many of her members are now training, and playing, with Dorset County.

If your child is aged seven or over and would like to play badminton, give Liz a call on 837111 or 07970508790.