Havant Hornets thrilled by tournament buzz

Havant Hornets are buzzing after another fantastic junior tournament at the Horizon Leisure Centre.
Finn Carter, from Havant, in action. Picture: Mick Young (160490-04)Finn Carter, from Havant, in action. Picture: Mick Young (160490-04)
Finn Carter, from Havant, in action. Picture: Mick Young (160490-04)

The club welcomed nearly 100 players of all ages and abilities from across the region to their annual competition.

It was a brilliant turn out for the Hornets as beginners competed alongside club and county talents in a raft of friendly battles.

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Georgia Crockett, from the Isle of Wight, won the coveted player-of-the-day trophy.

Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)
Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)

Meanwhile, there was home success for Amy Claydon in the girls’ singles.

She teamed up with Samantha Vivash for a second spot in the doubles, while Joe Bailey and Finn Carter also took a silver.

Callum King and Dan Claydon were runners-up in the boys’ singles as organiser Maggie Phillips hailed another triumphant day for the Hornets.

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She said: ‘It was extremely successful. Obviously it is quite stressful in the lead up but on the day, it went really, really well.

Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)
Action from a doubles fixture. Picture: Mick Young (160490-12)

‘We had so many parents come up to us and thank us.

‘It was very friendly and the children were all enjoying it.

‘There are not many tournaments where you get beginners, club and county players all in together.

‘And one of the emails I had from a parent said even the county players were turning up regularly for their lessons and sessions because they were so keen to come to the event.

‘It was so nice to hear such positive feedback.’

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Phillips and her team of volunteers handed out a huge number of prizes on the day, with Crockett a worthy winner of the top gong.

Now the Hornets chief is weighing up whether she will spearhead it all again next year.

Phillips added: ‘I always try to buy the biggest cup possible for that one.

‘In all, we gave out 19 trophies and medals in the singles and another 17 of each in the doubles.

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‘I always say I am going to have a break from it but I don’t know.

‘We will probably do it all again. It is about the children after all and we get such good feedback.

‘Everyone who turns up to help is a volunteer.

‘If they didn’t come along and score the games and things, we wouldn’t be able to do it.

‘It is a real team effort and we are very proud of how it went.’

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The tournament was backed by Specsavers Havant, Southern Co-operative, Rackets Plus and Goode Sports (Ashaway).

The Hornets are on the lookout for new players.

Visit havant-junior-badminton-club.com, email [email protected] or call 07748 570560 for more details.

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