JERSEY’S top junior badminton players may well have claimed only four titles in the annual Credit Suisse Junior Open at the New Gilson Hall last weekend but they featured prominently in finals and semi-finals certainly gave a good account of themselves.
There was an excellent entry from the UK and Guernsey, with nine English counties being represented. In excess of 250 matches were played in four age groups, under 13, 15, 17 and 19. Without exception all of the visiting players from the UK are seasoned competitors with the majority being highly ranked on the English junior circuit.
Jersey’s titles came from Marilisa Garnier who claimed two in the U19 age group, winning the girls singles final in three sets against fellow Islander Jade Coombs-Goodfellow, 21-17, 17-21, 21-12. The finalists then combined to win the doubles on Friday evening, adding to the Guernsey Open title secured in November.
Brett Coombs-Goodfellow was victorious in the U15 mixed doubles where he partnered Becci Crawshaw from Warwarkshire to a 21-19,21-19 win in the final over Hampshire’s Andrew and Melissa Stride. The fourth title for a Jersey player came in the U17 boys doubles where Matthew Bignall partnered Cheshire’s Michael Johnston to register a 22-20, 21-11 victory in the final over Guernsey’s Glen Le Tissier and Harry Southwell.
• Picture: Jersey’s Ben Watson (00615242)
