SUSSEX SCHOOLS BADMINTON NEWSLETTER

Issue 2 - October 2002

WCS - What is it?

The World Class Start Programme is funded by the Lottery with the main purpose of nurturing talented young players between the ages of 9-15 to develop them into future World Class badminton players.  We currently have 3 players in Sussex on this programme, Luke Thomson, Bronwyn Powell and Kirsten Read.  We also have 2 players on the next stage WCP (World Class Potential) Dean George and Heather Olver.  The objective of World Class Potential is to assist in the development of talented performers with the potential to win medals in significant future senior tournaments competitions within the next ten years.  (WCS and WCP has not been dreamt up by the BAofE, it has been devised by the Sports Council. When the BAofE entered the scheme, badminton was just one of 5 sports and now there are over 20 sports that use WCS and WCP).   

These players attend training cells during the week, Luke and Bronwyn at Burgess Hill with Wendy Adams once a week, Heather and Kirsten at Littlehampton with Karen Chapman once a week and a further cell at Haywards Heath with Tanya Woodward.  Dean goes to Wimbledon twice a week with Jason who has his cell there.

How are these players picked?  There are talent scouts that attend various tournaments around the country and County matches, who are not necessary looking for players who are winning all their games but show the potential to be winners in the future.  These players are then selected for assessments days, Kimberley will attend the first assessment day at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes on the 6^th October and then another in November.  This is her second attempt; she did not get into WCS a year ago.

This system has in effect replaced England squads, when Dean first played for England we had to pay £30 a night for Internationals and £55 for the training weekends at Milton Keynes and no coaching sessions paid for, so hurray for the National Lottery although the grant from the Sports Council has been cut because sales have fallen.  I do not advocate gambling but this is a worthwhile cause, go and buy a Lottery ticket twice a week!  It does help to fund our top sportspeople. 

We have lively conversations in our household about WCS,  no system will please everybody.  I believe they are getting it right slowly, there will always be players who's parents and coaches think that they should be selected and there will always be players that are selected that other parents and coaches think shouldn't be on the programme.  However this is the way the system works at the moment until another system replaces it.

County Matches

There is a complete change in the way our County matches are played in that it will now actually matter who wins!  We have joined the Shires League and so have 21 other Counties.  In our league we have Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, and Avon.  At the end of the season the top two Counties will then go to a final.  There is a web site to look at www.shiresbadminton.co.uk.  There will still be Team Challenge for the Under 13's and 15's and the ICT for the Under 17's.

100 years ago……..

Sussex County Badminton Association was formed.  Other notable events that took place 100 years ago were,

1.     First outdoor telephone kiosk installed in High Holborn, London.

2.     Pepsi Cola Co. registered its trade name.

3.     Orville & Wilbur Wright made the first powdered flight in Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Whilst I was looking through the books for the above, it occurred to me it must have taken a long time on horse and cart to reach the tournaments.  And where we will be in 100 years time?  Venus, Mars or Pluto perhaps?!!!!

International News

Congratulations to Luke Thompson and Bronwyn Powell who have been selected for their first International next month in Denmark, they join Dean, Heather and Kirsten as England Internationals.  We currently now have five International players in Sussex across the three age groups.

Danish Cup - the second biggest European tournament of the season.  Heather represented England in the Under 17 event and got to the quarters of the singles and doubles in the individual event and was part of the winning under 17 team. Kirsten represented England in the Under 15 event and won the individual Mixed Doubles event with Chris Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

French Junior Under 19 Open - Dean has been selected for this event in France from the 31^st October to 3^rd November.

Tournament Results

7^th Sep. Under 17 ESBA.  Harlow.  Luke Jones, Matthew and David Askey represented Sussex in this tournament.

21^st - 22^nd Sep.  Under 15 JC Milton Keynes.  Kirsten won the mixed doubles with Chris Adcock and got to the semi's of the doubles and singles.  Josh Miles also represented Sussex.

21^st - 22^nd Sep. Wimbledon Under 19's.  Heather and David represented Sussex.  David arrived at the Centre at 9.45am and went onto court for his first game at 3.00pm!  This has got to be a record!  Unless you know any different?!!!!

27^th - 29^th Sep. Sussex Senior Restricted.  Dean, David, Luke, Matthew, Dennis Caleb and Josh represented Sussex Junior's in this event and did us proud!  Dean got to the finals of the singles, in the doubles Dean and David had the no1 seeds, Manny Tripp and Chris Spice in their box, lost in two games but the scores were a very respectable 9 & 12.  Well done to everyone.    

28^th Sep.  U'13 ESBA Kettering. Kimberley George, Luke Thomson, Bronwyn Powell represented Sussex.

5^th - 6^th Oct. U17 JC Grantham. Heather won the doubles with Charity Barnes (Norfolk) and got to the semi's of the singles.  Kirsten got to the 2^nd round of the mixed.  Kirsty Grieg, David and Matthew Askey, Luke Jones also represented Sussex.

5^th - 6^th Oct. Under 15 ESBA Sudbury. Josh Miles got to the semi finals of the singles.  Felicity Porter also represented Sussex.

York Under 17 Open - David Askey was runner up in the mixed doubles with Catherine Goodall (Nottinghamshire), and runner up in the doubles with Neil Ryves (Nottinghamshire)

19^th - 20^th Oct Under 17 ESBA Gateshead.  David Askey is going for the longest wait for a first game and the furthest traveled this season and its only October!  He won the doubles with Alistair Hogg (Scotland) and the mixed with Naomi Bailey (Northumberland).

20^th Oct Under 13 ESBA Harrow.  Kimberley George won the singles and was runner up in the doubles with Phillipa Rogers (Cheshire).   Lucas Cottam, Thomas Dallway, Peter Dembrey, Tom Fenner, Andrew Hartridge, Robert Newnham, Claire Braccutti, Elizabeth Kingham, and Justine Thomson represented Sussex.  Justine got to the semi's of the singles in the standard event.  Under 11's ESBA Harrow.  Phillip Fenner, Matthew Shearing, Jack Thomson, Jack Thomson represented Sussex.

IF YOU ENTER A TOURNAMENT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT ON.   PLEASE TELEPHONE ME 01273 388876 OR E-MAIL ME AT george4t@hotmail.com

The World Outside Sussex by Jason Large

What do I have to do to achieve my goals in Badminton?

Do you want to play for England?

Do you have what it takes?  Who is there that can help?

If you want to know some of the answers, then read on……….

Firstly, I would like to share some thoughts on how to become a National standard young Badminton player in the current system that is place at National level. As National Age Group Coach for under U15's and having been Manager for the past six years, I have more knowledge than most people on what is required to be successful.

The first thing any young player needs is ambition. Young players need to see role models like David Beckham in football, Jo Goode in Badminton, and Tim Henman in tennis. If you don’t aspire to be the best, you are not going to "make it", and you will never know how good you might have been.

The second question of having what it takes could have hundreds of aspects to it. Some of the most important factors would have to be:- Parental support, natural ability, will to win, athletic ability, commitment/dedication to your sport, and regular quality Coaching/Competition.

As a member of Sussex Schools Badminton Association, you are already on the ladder to success. You are able to access twice-monthly squad training, County matches, and Local Tournaments, but what would it take to move up that ladder and in to "The Real World".

You will need to compete at a higher level in National Age Group Tournaments to get a National Grading and Ranking. You can then earn points to move up to Premier level and be entitled to enter Junior Challenger Tournaments. This would obviously involve travel to all parts of the Country, with overnight stays if you get through to semi finals. But what goes on closer to home is just as important.

You will need regular weekday practice with players of your ability. You will need a Personal Coach who can provide Technical Coaching and advise you on what you need to work on. This person will influence your development as far as their level of badminton knowledge allows. They should then pass you on to Coaches working for the Badminton Association of England on the "World Class Program". If you reach "World Class Start/Potential" levels, you will be provided with free coaching once or twice a week within one hours drive from your house. These Coaches are responsible for your further development, again moving you up the ladder to the next level, which is full time professional and England International.

You may be thinking that this is an unrealistic dream, but you would be wrong. Sussex now has five International Team members. Dean George, Kirsten Read, Heather Olver, Bronwyn Powell, and Luke Thompson. They are all on different rungs of the ladder with a view to a long-term career in Badminton.

We tend to spend far too much time worrying about whether Johnny beat Billy last week by two points, when we should be thinking about how Johnny can beat the best in Europe in the next five years!!!!!  I hope that by reading this article, you will think about how far you can climb up the ladder of success, and "GO FOR IT!!!!!!"

Jason Large. (National Age Group Coach, And New Sussex Resident)

Brighton Health and Racquets Club….

…..have offered a discount on their membership for all members of the Under 15 and Under 17 squads.  For £25.00 a month squad members can use all the facilities of the club.  Further details can be obtained by telephoning Nikki Holness on 01273 330334

A Post Vacancy

Sussex Schools Badminton Association will have a vacancy next season for a Secretary.  We meet approximately four or five times during the season.  For further details please telephone Chris Byerley on 01903 233330

East Sussex Under 10 squad from Bruce Peapell

The East Sussex Under 10 squad is now up and running.  It consists of 6 boys and 4 girls, with training taking place at Brighton University at Eastbourne.  Kevin Marquess, Gavin Lowe and myself are taking it in turns to run the sessions.

Oops!

There was an error in the last newsletter regarding the Sussex polo shirts, they are £10.50 and not £10 as printed.

In the Next Issue

A JC and an ESBA?, and Outsiders View, more tournament and International News, County results, going into schools and lots more.

And Finally……

After 14 months of stress and trauma, we are moving to our new home on the 8^th November, our new address will be 4, Jubilee Road, Portslade, Sussex, BN41 1SU.  Our telephone number will be the same (assuming BT can get it right!) 01273 388876.