The annual Len knight Cheshire leagues badminton event took place yesterday Sunday 1st December at Christleton LC.

This is an competition for over 40, over 48 and over 56 Masters and is contested by a series of level and mixed events. This year saw a new format which meant all teams were playing each other at concurrently to avoid long delays for players in between matches and to help to ensure teams were competing from start to finish. It seemed to go down well and will be reviewed to see if it may continue like this again next year. Karl Berg from Cheshire badminton was in attendance and also played on the day.

The Chester, Crewe and Wirral leagues fielded teams. As usual Wirral had a very strong team with many county players, whereas Crewe and Chester were slightly more closely matched, but also with plenty of quality players included within their respective age groups.

The Crewe team was assembled and managed by Jay Moran of Northwich and there was plenty of work to do on the day to ensure all the players and matches were directed to the courts in good order. Jay wishes to thank all the players who kindly gave up their afternoon to represent the Crewe league, some being at fairly short notice. We had a blend of players from a wide variety of the Crewe league's clubs and many of our players were actually rolling back the years to play in younger age categories where we had difficulties in making up the teams. However, regardless, we put up a good show and had some fierce battles on court. The whole event is well attended and although the players give it their all, the day is still filled with fun and a great spirit throughout.

The whole event was a great success and all our players did their best and played some great badminton. Even for one couple who brought their baby and were each attending to maternal/paternal duties whilst the other one was on court. The event is a chance to meet other players from our league and beyond and play badminton in a competitive but fun environment with players and partnerships new and old. One of our partnerships in the mixed were reforming after a 30 year gap in playing together! Others played great badminton with either new or loosely established former partnerships.

Wirral as expected were run-away winners on the day. However, although coming third this year behind the Chester league, a reversal from last year, we were only 1 point behind them, which shows how just how close we were. Hopefully if we can get together interest in this event with a little more notice for our members next year, we can maybe get an even stronger line up assembled. We may even be able to oust Wirral from their top spot. Jay feels it is well within our reach. Watch out for reminders next season. Players this year who many of you will know were:

Captain. Jay Moran.
040 Phil Wall - Canute, Matt Booth - Malbank, Warren Simpson - Welsh Row.
040 Sylvia Ellis-Jones and Mie Wall - Canute, Claire Hodgkinson - Goostrey

O48 Steve Aylott and Jez Touch - Welsh Row, Carl McGregor-Ogden - Canute
048 Alison Bowker and Claire Griffin - Welsh Row, Christine Rotherham - Canute.

O56 Graham Kirkham - Welsh Row, John Freeman and Mike Challenor - Northwich
O56 Sarah Lawton - Congleton, Sue Mills - Holmes Chapel, Glynis McLachlan - Northwich

Well done to all, thank you for representing Crewe league. Photos are in the gallery.