Category Archives: News

Massive Congratulations

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Congratulations to PC players at the Nationals…………..!

Players from the West Midlands Performance Centre receive congratulations as they step up to collect their medals from Nathan Robertson. This weeks Under 15 England Nationals Championships 2016 at Redbridge Leisure Centre saw players from the PC collect silver and gold medals. Well done. Check out the full results HERE.

Kiara Henry (WMPC player) and Abbygael Harris win silver medals in the level doubles. (Photos supplied by Kiara’s dad).

Asmita Chaudari (WMPC player) and her level doubles partner Hope Warner win the gold. (Photos upplied by Asmita’s mom).

Asmita Chaudari (WMPC player) and her mixed doubles partner Harry Huang win the gold. (Photos upplied by Asmita’s mom).

National Medals

Kiara and Abbygael

 

National Medals

Asmita and Hope

National Medals

Asmita and Harry

An amazing season!

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As the main badminton season nears an end the WMPC has real cause to celebrate.

Top amongst the many achievements of our players were: England representative honours for Nicola Gresty, Asmita Chaudhari and Kiara Henry, with others knocking on the door, Ryan Quek playing in qualifying at the All England Badminton Championships (badminton’s version of Wimbledon), Joe Ball winning the Silver medal in Boys Doubles at the Under 13 National Championships (we are hoping for more medals in the nationals shortly).

Amazing seasonOur medal count for the season is now approaching 50 (wow!) and we have recently been recognised by Badminton England as one of the leading Performance Centres nationally. Special congratulations to our medallists: Asmita, Chris M, Chris W, Joe B, Joe E, Elizabeth, Joshmyn, Kiara, Khushi, Lorenzo, Matthew, Megan, Rob, Selena, Simran, Victoria. This only comes will lots of hard work and lots of training hours each week.

Many of our players have represented their counties this season, including taking part in the prestigious Inter-County Under 17 Tournament (ICT) over 4-days recently at Nottingham University. those not already mentioned who have played for their county are Katie, Rhea, Sam, Toby and Zak.

Now we wish for our success to continue as we aim to become the leading performance centre in the country. Please spread the word that the West Midlands PC really is an amazing place to train, with world class coaching right on the doorstep.

You can always check out the details over the summer season the PC are running a couple of BE tournaments and there will also be the notorious Summer Camp on August. Keep checking the website for details.

NEW Sports Hall

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New sports hall badminton facilities at University of Birmingham.

New Sports HallWest Midlands Performance Centre have held Raw and Pre-Raw sessions in the Sports Hall at the Munrow Centre, Uni of Birmingham for years. The UoB are in the process of having a new Sports Hall built and the PC will be in there the start of the new academic term in September.

In the meantime, some of you are aware that the PC runs a Summer Camp during August. This year will be a little different as it will be hosted in the new Sports Hall on the corner of Edgbaston Park Road and the Bristol Road, Edgbaston.

More details about the new Sports Hall at the UoB can be found HERE. The UoB are also looking for a name for the Sports Centre can you help them decide see HERE for more details.

During the Summer the new PC timetable at the Sports Hall will be published on our website. So keep checking the Calendar for session details.

Performance Centre win 19 Medals

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Medals keep coming to the Performance Centre. This season has seen a grand total (that we know to) to date, of 19 medals.  It is fantastic when you think that some of the players are playing in some tournaments that are the age group above them and they still come back with a medal. Now to ‘name and shame’ thoses medal winners read on.
Medals wonJoe Ball
– Leicestershire U15 Bronze – Bronze medal in Boys Doubles
Elizabeth Hambling
– Leicestershire U15 Silver – Silver medal in Girls Doubles
– Worcestershire U17 Bronze – Silver medal in Girls Singles
– Warwickshire U17 Bronze – Silver medal in Girls Singles, Bronze in Girls Doubles
– WMPC U15 Bronze – Silver in Girls Doubles
Victoria Liang 
– Worcestershire U17 Bronze – Gold medal in Girls Singles
– Warwickshire U17 Bronze – Gold medal in Girls Singles, Silver in Girls Doubles
Selina Liang – Warwickshire U17 Bronze – Bronze medal in Girls doubles
Asmita Chaudhari – Warwickshire U17 Silver – Gold in Mixed, Silver in Singles
Kiara Henry – Leicestershire U15 Silver – Gold in Girls Doubles
Ryan Quek – Milton Keynes U19 Gold – Bronze medal in Boys Doubles and Mixed Doubles
Chris Maneffa
– WMPC U15 Bronze – Bronze in Boys Singles, Silver in Boys Doubles
– Herefordshire U15 Bronze – Bronze in Boys Singles
Matthew Bickerton – WMPC U15 Bronze – Silver in Boys Doubles
Apologies for any names missed off the above list. If you have won a medal and it is not on the list then please send me the details and I will make amends.
19 medals in total!   Absolutely amazing – well done to all the PC players. WE have still got the second half of the season to go, will there be more medals won?
Send details to Stephanie Cartwright-Randle stefcr@live.co.uk

Developing Team 2 – Manchester Inter PC

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Did the Developing Team 1 and/or Team 2 follow in the Raw Teams footstep from yesterday?

As with the Raw yesterday we were hoping that this year the DEV groups would yield success for the WMPC. This year we entered two DEVELOPING teams on Sunday 12th July.

Team 1 – Amy Gravett, Kiara Henry, Selina Liang and Ed Groves.
Team 2 Sam White, Chris Maneffa, Joe Ball and Matt Bickerton.

Same Rules as yesterday players ranked in singles ability (see Raw Teams HERE) etc. The start was scheduled for the same time as Saturday, but with less teams, start of play was a little more laid back. Most of the players being a little older meant the early start was not so much of a shock to the system and players were keen to get on with it.
Team 1 with 4 in the group saw opponents Potteries, Cumbria 1 and Bolton. Match results saw 3-2, 1-4 and 0-5. Team 1 was first up whilst Team 2 spectated and supported big style. It was commented on my other teams how good the support and encouragement from the side line was.The first two games we’re hard fought. Evey point was worked hard for and won. They went in to the last game needing to win to stand a chance. However, one of the team members fell ill and was unable to play. With a team member down it was impossible. We changed the team round and other team members played knowing that their scores would not count but still they played and played well. Doing themselves proud. At the end of the match it was time to go home and they could travel home knowing they had played some great games.
Team 2, their draw saw Cheshire 2 (an all girls team), Bolton 1 and Merseyside. Match results 5-0, 5-0 and 3-2. First up Cheshire, the girls played well and pushed the lads hard. The lads kept their cool, stayed focused and although the girls battled for every point the strength of the boys prevailed for the win. Bolton saw some closer scores with one game going to 23-21, well done Sam and Matt. All on the last game as Merseyside had also won two matches. If we won this one it was though to the play offs. Everything to play for. Joe was up first and wow what a singles game. Two points one way, two points the other way, 20 all. Every point counts Joe was just pipped 23-25 a well played game from both sides long rallies, waiting for the right moment and the right shot to win the point. Chris and Sam up next they stayed focused to win 21-15. Matt up next for the second singles, a whippet springs to mind running from side to side to get each shot back. Worth every step to deservedly take the win at 21-19. Joe and Sam up next a good game but the opponents experience partnership shine through to win 15-21. This left the match at 2 games all. Everything was on the last end. Chris and Matt stepped on to court, everything to play for. The first half saw the lads 6-11 down, but a quick pep talk and they went out all guns blazing. Long rallies with Matt on the floor diving for the shuttle to get it back. What team work and determination fighting for every point to triumph with a fabulous 21-17 win. Team managers shock hands with the comment of ‘that match could have been the final’. Everything that you wanted to see.

Team 2 Deserved Broze

Team 2 Deserved Broze

So through to the play-offs, if nothing else we are guaranteed a Bronze, first up the lads meet Cumbria. Very close games put us 2-1 up. It was all on the doubles we just needed one game. Two very close games, losing both to 19 and 16. Overall 2-3 to Cumbria. Now to redeem ourselves taking on Manchester. Although after two games we were 0-2 down both games lost to 19. So not a lot in it really. I think the early start and long hard matches were starting to take its toll. Lost the next two games but Matt and Chris fought back in the last game to make it 1-4. So Bronze it was, well deserved I thought. Well done lads and thank you for making my job easy. So proud of all of the teams. Both of the Raw teams and both of the Developing teams. Heres to next year.

Raw Team 1 – At the Inter Performance Centre Tournament – Manchester

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Could either Team 1 OR Team 2 prove successful?

The Inter-PC in Manchester last year saw some success for West Midlands PC players. We were hoping that this year would yield similar results. This year we entered two RAW teams on Saturday 11th. (See also Sunday 12th Developing Teams HERE).

Team 1, Beth Hambling, Joe Kamara, Liam Heneghan and Rohit Kale.
Team 2, Andrew Jiang, Rhea Sibal, Dileep Dhanda and Daniel Vazey.

Team 1 and Team 2 players had to be ranked in singles ability. Fortunately the Teams were in different Groups and both teams had to play a number of Matches. Games order :- first singles, doubles (not singles players), second singles, doubles with first singles player, last doubles with second singles player. Each player took part in two games per match.
Play was due to commence at 9.15, meaning an early rise, a long drive with players walking throughout the sports hall door still with a bed head on. This needed to be shaken off quickly as the start was prompt.
Team 2 with 4 in the group saw opponents Cumbria 2, Manchester and Colne 2. Match results saw 4-1, 5-0 and 0-5. Although we had two wins the teams where reasonably even in strength, with several game scores of 17 and 19. The last game was totally different. It was visually obvious what we lacked in this game was physically strength, petite players against young adults. Although well fought games the shear size of the opposition mean very little got past them. Sadly it meant mid-afternoon, tracks for home were started for Team 2.

Team 1 medals in hand

Team 1 medals in hand

Team 1 with 5 in the group saw opponents Bolton 2, Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside. Match results saw 5-0, 3-2, 4-1 and 3-2. Team spirit was good and each player went on court determined to give their all. The score line show this with the last group game need to be won so they they could go through to the play-offs.
The play-offs saw three teams all guaranteed at least a Bronze medal. Two matches left these were expected to be harder games. Having fought hard in the first round the next two games proved a little to much for Team 1. Although mentally up for it, physically the body language was telling a different story. Score lines of 15s, 17s and 19s unfortunately don’t show in the 5-0,5-0 defeats. Presented with their Bronze medals it mean the journey home would be more enjoyable. 

Badminton players book your summer Camp?

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Summer camp details are now released so players book your place quick!

Long awaited dates for the West Midlands Performance Centre summer camp are HERE.

The WMPC summer 2015 camp aims to provide value training for a full month to prepare  players for the season ahead. Details HERE.

The camp will provide players with quality training and knowledge for the player’s relevant level and above. It is also devised to build up levels of the players fitness. Sessions not only develop their fitness but also their strength, efficiency and power.

Players will cultivate their movement around court, refine their shot techniques and learn and increase their tactical knowledge of singles and doubles.
Some sessions will be in the dance studio to develop their flow of movement to music. These are fun sessions but, also very physical. Skills are practised and incorporated into routines. Obviously players will participate in some match play to re-enforce any new tactics.

Finally player have lots of fun.

For badminton players who complete their bookings (including payments) qualify for a FREE Forza shirt. So book your place by email, pay by BACS and secure both your place and your Forza shirt. Booking forms HERE.

Have you got your Finals Day tickets for the NBL

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NBL- Finals Day Sunday 7 June 2015

After the first season of the National Badminton League the Finals day is around the corner. The day boosts play-offs and a final, as the UK’s first ever professional team league comes to thrilling finale. The finals day makes first class live badminton a little more available than before.

Book your tickets on line HERE – Childs start at £7.00 and Adults at £12.00

Finals Day is at K2 in Crawley (directions HERE).

Are you ready for badminton training in Summer 2015

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Summer 2015Summer 2015 badminton training by West Midlands Performance Centre.

Details for the coveted Summer 2015 badminton training camp are almost here. Keep watching THIS space as numbers will be limited. These that attended last year will have first refusal and then on a first come first served basis. Summer 2015 training camp overs a FREE FORZA t-shirt for players who book and confirm a place before the deadline of Friday 17 July 2015. Coaches are writing the programme ready to build up levels of fitness, develop movement, technique and tactics of singles and doubles. Players will improve the skills, strengths, efficiency and power with a view to sharpening up during the summer 2015.

There will be footwork to music, shot skills incorporated into routines and of course match play to develop tactics. Under 11, Raw, Under 13, County, Developing, Emerging, University a and B squad players will be worked hard but fun sessions will mean theyl all enjoy the summer 2015 camp. Most of the benefits will be seen and felt most at the start of the new badminton season.

Summer 2015 training NOT to be missed details HERE.

Awards Evening 2015

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Sunday 28th June 2015 – Annual Awards Evening

AwardsThis awards evening is where players from all the PC groups get together. This years event will be help at the University of Birmingham in ‘Raising the Bar’ cafe at the Munrow Centre.

The evening is where players for each group have opportunity to receive awards in the following categories, Best Attender (Male and Female), Hardest Worker and Most Improved player.

Last Year saw Ryan Quek receive the Player of the Year award but this year, one deserving player will receive an award for Outstanding Achievements. Coaches select the appropriate players from each group to receive both a trophy and a certificate for each category.

Parents and players also get together as teams and participate in a Quiz for fun, suitable for all ages. A raffle will be held, along with a few planned surprises.

Tickets are priced are £2 for entry only and £5 for entry and food. A bar will also be available.

 

Contact Paul by email by Sunday 7th June advising him of how many tickets you want and any food requirements.
Paul White – Liaison Office
stpwhite19@gmail.com OR Text 07583 757016