The Isle of Man Badminton Association held its Handicap Tournament at the NSC on the 3rd & 10th March 2024 and attracted another good entry. The Mixed Doubles was played first and was split into three Groups, playing in a Round Robin format.
Group A was won by Juan Domingo & Louise Mellor (Athol Park Guest House Castletown) – playing off Scratch, with Matthew Nicholson (Apollo Blinds Vikings) and Annelise Mellor (Athol Park Guest House Castletown) the backmarkers on -10 finishing just 2 points behind.
Group B was won by Lok Yien Cheung (Fencibles) & Abigayil Mellor (Athol Park Guest House Castletown) +11 with Jamie Everitt (Kirk Michael) and Emma Nicholson (Apollo Blinds Vikings) +6 finishing second.
Group C was won by Baillie Watterson (Athol Park Guest house Castletown) & Jackie Bracken (Tynwald Celts) +4, with Ben Kneale (Athol Park Guest House Castletown) & Sofie Thornton (Fencibles) second. Unfortunately, Shibu Augustian who was partnering Fe Gawne (Zeal Ltd Selborne) was injured in his first game. Hopefully Shibu is fine and will be back on Court very shortly!
The winners of each group were then placed in Group 1, second placed were placed in Group 2 etc. Watterson & Bracken won with 82 points, Cheung & Abigayil Mellor were second with 77 points and Domingo & Louise Mellor third on 74 points.
The Women’s Doubles was split into two groups with Sarah Corlett & Joyce Hall (Sulby) +5 winning Group A with 119 points and Molly Bell (Fencibles) & Jessica Thornton (Fencibles) -3 with 116 points finishing second. Group B was won by Kelly Cheung & Sophie Clague (Fencibles ) +14) with Jess Lloyd & Michelle Garrity (Marown) second. The first semi-final saw Cheung & Clague beating Bell & Thornton 21-8, 21-6 and Lloyd & Garrity beating Corlett & Hall 21-14, 21-16. The final was a tight match with Lloyd & Garrity coming through to win 21-18, 21-19.
The Men’s Doubles was split into 3 groups with Matt Riley (Vikings) & Andrew Ronan (Rushen) +4 winning Group A, James O’Meara & Kasper Kjeldsen -5 (Athol Park Guest House Castletown) winning Group B and Mark Cheung (Tynwald Celts) & Martin Cheung +4 ()Fencibles) winning Group C. The three pairs then went into a further Group and played off, with Cheung & Cheung winning with 84 points, O’Meara & Kjeldsen second on 76 points and Riley & Ronan third on 59 points.
The Trophies were presented at the end by David Craig. Many thanks go to the NSC for the excellent venue and Also the Umpires Caroline Whitehead & David Craig.
