In the Newmarket Badminton Federation leagues all
last year’s champions are doing a good job of defending their titles so far. Abbeygate are unbeaten and looking pretty unassailable
at the top of Ladies Division One, Con Club top the Mixed Division One despite
an unusual defeat (away to Ely) and St Edmunds are leading Men’s Division One,
although this is a very competitive division with all teams taking scalps and
Ely Victoria, currently in second place, are looking strong challengers.
The good news for
Newmarket and St Phillips, who both play club and matches at Scaltback Middle
School, is that they have been able to move back into this venue after a short
closure and it is hoped that there will be a long-term future for this valuable
community facility.
After relegations last season Newmarket are making every
effort to rectify the situation that, for the first season ever, they have no
teams in any of the first divisions and are currently challenging in second
place in Ladies’, Men’s and Mixed Second Divisions, although Crossways head
those Ladies’ and Men’s divisions and have ambitions themselves as do Impington
at the top of Mixed Division Two.
Impington also head a very tight Men’s Division Three so anybody’s guess
who will win that battle.
Rushworth
The Rushworth cup is at semi-final stage with
Abbeygate at home to Ely Victoria and Linton at home to Crossways.
International
Newmarket
Badminton Federation’s Twentieth Anniversary International Team Tournament was
held over the weekend of 23rd and 24th February 2013 with local league players
competing with others from around the country and a large contingent of friends
from Belgium – see separate report.