CREDITON'S Queens Badminton Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Ward as their new Head Coach.

Helen's full title is Director of Badminton Exeter University and Head Coach Queens Badminton Club.

Queens Performance Centre and Exeter University have worked over the last two years to bring this new position into existence.

Funded partly by Badminton England and by Exeter University the role requires Helen to develop performance badminton at the university as well as at the Queens Performance Centre.

Helen has played for England from the age of 12 and made her way into the full England team while at the same time studying for her degree at Bath University.

Having secured a first class degree, Helen went on to to work under Peter Bush at the High Performance Centre, working with the national players based there.

Helen is currently also working toward her masters in coach education and will be aiming to take her Level III qualification.

Nick Masson, Chairman of Queens told the Courier: "Helen demonstrates that rare quality of having being able to focus on her love of badminton as well as achieve academic success.

"We are delighted to have secured Helen's services although there was a very strong list of applicants to take up the post ,we are now in a position to take the club further."

Helen's role is to develop the existing coaching team which continues to expand as well as develop talented players within the club.

Said Helen: "I am delighted to be part of such a progressive and forward thinking club and have already enjoyed working with players at all levels within the club."