SPORTS NEWS Badminton And so … we come to the end of our fantastic, successful badminton season, culminating in our girls’ teams gaining four 1st places, one 2nd, two 3rd, one 5th and a place in the National Finals. The results are as follows: Yr 7 ~ 3 rd place Borough League Yr 8 ~ 5 th place Borough League Yr 9 ~ 2nd place Borough Championships 1st place Borough League Yr 10 ~ 1st place Borough Championships 1st place Borough League Yr 11 ~ 3rd place Borough Championships 1st place Borough League Congratulations to all the squads and we look forward to building on all these successes. However, I must end the season relating news of the U16 squad who achieved a first for Hall Mead and in fact any school in the borough and that was to win their way through to the national finals, held at Center Parcs, Nottingham on 3rd April 2011. The standard was extremely high naturally, including our girls, but they certainly had mountains to climb that day. The squad included KATIE NICHOLLS (CAPT & NO 1), PAIGE BEAUMONT (NO 2), HANNAH SCAMMELL, (NO 3) HANNAH COLE (NO 4) and MOLI GENG – who was injured and unable to play – but, on the day, played a vital role, as well as getting the team to the finals. The first match was unfortunately against last year’s champions, and although the opposition, Robert Mays School, won, our girls gave nothing away. Captain Katie Nicholls played the English No 3 singles player and made her fight for every point. Our next match vs Talbot Heath School was equally difficult with our poor captain playing the English No 1!! However, in each of the singles and doubles matches all our girls made their opponents win every point, nothing was given away. Our remaining two matches were much closer, with Hall Mead winning one singles and two doubles. All credit and praise must be allocated to Katie as captain and No 1 singles player, who had the most difficult job of all. She and all the girls gained respect from the opponents, and teams, including some nationally rated players. At the end of the day the girls achieved a fantastic 9th place in the whole of England. The girls and I would like to thank all family and friends who supported them and I hope, expect and look forward to further success next season. Thank you all. Miss Gidley
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