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Press Release 13th February 2003
After overhauling YMCA Kitto in the second round of the Plymouth and District Badminton Knockout Beckly Cup, BAT’s Badminton Club came up against local rivals Callington in the semi-final. Even though BAT’s expected the handicap they still had to play well and take as many points in each game as possible.
With Alan Berry and Susie Povey taking their first games against the Callington Number 2 pair things were looking up almost from the start for BAT’s. Mike Ward and his daughter Frances then took a number of points off the Callington third pair. At the end of the first round of games BAT’s were well in touch with the Callington score. Over the next few games things got better for BAT’s when David Harrington and Tamsin Woodroff took more important points. The last three matches saw all three BAT’s pairs perform well against strong Callington pairs. At the end of the evening BAT’s took the match by 42 points and progressed through to the final.
The Beckly Cup final saw BAT’s take on Devonshire. Knowing that Devonshire were putting out a strong side, most of them playing in a division higher than the BAT’s pair, every point that BAT’s took would have to be earned with good play. David Harrington and Tamsin Woodroff got the side off to a good start when they took on the Devonshire number 1 pair and took vital points. Alan Berry and Elizabeth Rae then shocked the number 2 Devonshire pair when they beat them twice, the second game 15–4, when the Devonshire pair were put down to win. Mike Ward and Frances then spoilt the Devonshire party even more when took the Devonshire third pair close. The second round of matches then settled down but each time BAT’s pairs took all important points and games. With just two matches to go Devonshire had their last opportunity to take points when their number 1 pair took on Mike Ward and Frances Ward. The first game went predictably the way of Devonshire 15–5, but then Mike and Frances fought back to take 10 points in the second game. The final match saw Alan Berry and Elizabeth Rae win the first game 15–4 but then lose the second 4–15. All that remained was the finding out of the handicap.
At the end of the evening it was joy for BAT’s when they found out that they had won the Beckly Cup by 62 points. All credit should go to the five junior members of the team who performed far beyond their years when up against more experienced opposition.
Alan Berry
Published in the Tavistock Times Gazette on Thursday 27th March 2003