AFTER winning promotion to the top flight last season, Dorset's top badminton team has made a creditable start in their campaign for the Premier Division title of the Inter County Championship.

During a weekend of competition at the National Badminton Centre, Milton Keynes, Dorset secured one win and one draw while suffering a single defeat.

Dorset first faced Nottingham and following the singles competition the score was 2-2.

Graham Hurrell put on a bravura performance to beat England number 12 Andy South in three tough sets and junior Nicky Cerfontyne showed maturity beyond her years as she recovered from losing the first game, against the experienced Ruth Coleman, to finally clinch the match 11-9 in the third.

After the men's doubles the honours remained even. Hurrell combined with Tom Dudley to take his second victory of the match but the second team of Mike Huxter and Sam Ellis could not get past former England international Dave Lindley and his teammate Sam Lindley who snatched victory 15-8 in the third game after a thrilling match.

The ladies provided Dorset with a winning lead when Kelly Toft with Lorraine Page and Jenny Matthews partnering Justine Breakwell won in straight sets.

In the mixed doubles Hurrell scored his third point for the county as he teamed up with Cerfontyne to beat David Lindley and Loraine Buck after surviving a scare in the first game, which they narrowly won 17-15.

On the adjoining court Ellis and Breakwell went down in three hard fought games to South and Rachel Ellis. The final scoreline was Dorset 6 Nottingham 4.

Dorset next faced the might of Worcester and Hurrell was matched against Simon Archer who is ranked three in England in mixed doubles. Hurrell put in another quality performance to take the match 15-1 in the third. The ladies number two, Jenny Matthews, won another three-set thriller when she overcame Rachel Collinson.

The Dorset team was only able to take one more point in the doubles when the redoubtable pairing of Matthews and Breakwell won the second ladies match.

The 7-3 defeat was Dorset's first in the Premiership.

The final match against Leicestershire stayed neck-and-neck throughout. Hurrell remained unbeaten in the singles with a comfortable win over Simon White and Cerfontyne put in another superb performance overcoming the England number seven in straight sets. The pair later teamed up to win their mixed doubles clash.

The Matthews/Breakwell team finished the weekend unbeaten as they took another valuable point and the ever-reliable Hurrell partnered Ellis to Dorset's fifth win to ensure a share of the points.

Dorset: Graham Hurrell, Mike Huxter, Tom Dudley, Matt Stones, Sam Ellis, Nicky Cerfontyne, Jenny Matthews, Kelly Toft, Lorraine Page, Justine Breakwell.

Dorset's over-65s team have started the season in fine form beating Avon, the reigning South West Region champions, 6-3.

In the ladies doubles, captain June Tiller and Doreen Pettingell recovered from losing the opening game to love, to take the next two, 15-9, 15-12. Tiller then teamed up with Jean Gerrard to win a second victory. The men matched the ladies with two wins out of three from Gary Robin and Dick Steven and then Steven with Neil Gormley.

Dorset clinched their first ever victory over Avon with two wins in the mixed doubles from Pettingell and Robin and the Tiller-Steven team.

Buoyed by such success, the team then faced Gloucester and took complete control. The Dorset players sliced through the opposition winning all nine matches and only dropping two games.

In the ladies doubles, Tiller and Pettingell showed tremendous grit and character. The duo lost the first game 13-15 but won the next by the same scoreline. In the decider, the two teams were locked together until Dorset forged ahead to take the glory 17-15.

Dorset: Gary Robbins, Dick Stevens, Neil Gormley, June Tiller, Doreen Pettingell, Jean Gerrard.

The Dorset Badminton Association's non-county tournament for under-13s, 15s and 17s takes place on Sunday, November 28. The closing date for entry forms, which can be obtained through Dorset's schools or from Brenda Fryer (tel 01202 887026), is Saturday November 20.