Boys' Brigade National Badminton Champions 2013

The University of Ulster Jordanstown was the venue for the 2013 Boys’ Brigade National Badminton Finals hosted by the Northern Ireland District. 

David, Michael, Paul and Jamie of 1^st Garvagh with
NI District President Professor Norman C. Nevin OBE

Those earning the right to contest for the title of BB National Champions were 1^st Barnet and 4^th Hartlepool from England, 16^th Newtownabbey and 1^st Garvagh from Northern Ireland with 1^st Largs and 65^th Edinburgh representing Scotland. These 4 man teams, playing 6 boys’ doubles games in each match, were drawn into two mini leagues playing round robin matches to establish the 4 teams that would go through to the semi-finals.

This was the 3^rd British Championship in a row that the 1st Garvagh Boys had contested, losing out in last year’s final to 1^st Largs in a play-off after an initial 3-3 draw.

The team of Paul Moore, David Moore, Michael Torrens and Jamie Cunningham were determined to go one step further this year and claim the British title for the first time. 1^st Garvagh started well with a convincing 6-0 win over 1^st Barnet and then won a hard fought victory 4-2 over last year’s winners 1^st Largs.

 

With 16^th Newtownabbey and 1^st Garvagh winning their  respective mini leagues, the semi-final pairing were 1^st Garvagh vs 65^th Edinburgh and 16^th Newtownabbey vs 1st Largs. 

 

Both semi-finals were very even matches with Garvagh falling behind 3-1 in their match with Edinburgh only to stage a last ditch recovery to even the match at 3-3, and then claim the final spot with a one set play-off victory. The second semi-final was every bit as close with Newtownabbey winning the play-off set 15-14 against Largs, after a 3-3 draw in the main match.

 

So the Final was to be between the Irish teams, 1^st Garvagh against 16^th Newtownabbey. In a hard fought match 1^st Garvagh’s experience from last year showed and they took a early lead 2-0 in the first round of matches, they maintained their hold on the match and eventually ran out deserved winners 5-1.

 

The trophy was presented to the 1^st Garvagh’s team captain Paul Moore by the Northern Ireland Brigade President Professor Norman C. Nevin OBE. Much to the delight of the Garvagh Officers, families and friends who had supported the Boys throughout the day, the Trophy and British Championship were Garvagh’s for the first time in their history.