A NUMBER of Queens’ Badminton Club players proved their mettle at the Devon Junior Bronze tournament, held in Paignton, on December 5.

Chris Millen and Alex Moir were runners-up in the Under 17 Boys Doubles.

Nick Jones won the Under 13 Boys Doubles (with Kieran Tsang) and came third in the Under 13 Boys Singles – building on his success in the Kerrier Tournament in November where he won both Singles and Doubles, and the Cornwall Under 13 Bronze Tournament winning both Singles and Doubles.

Ben Hussey was runner-up in the Under 13 Boys Doubles (with Edwin Choi); Hayden Herkes came third in the Under 13 Boys Singles and teaming up with Queens’ player Toby Brookes also gained bronze in the Under 13 Boys Doubles.

Hayden’s sister, Learna, came third in the Under 15 Girls Singles (a category above her age group) and won the Under 13 Girls Doubles (with Charlotte Freer).

Learna has also recently travelled to tournaments in Hampshire, to play in the Under 15 Girls Singles and Doubles, and the Home Counties Gold and Silver Tournaments playing in the Under 13 doubles and mixed respectively.

Lauren Horsnell and Amy Housley had a great weekend too at the Devon Bronze Tournament. Both girls got through to the quarter finals in the Under 13 Girls Singles and Amy went on to win Silver. The pair faced strong opposition in the doubles and their hard work was rewarded with Bronze.

Toby Brookes has seen some unexpected success in his first autumn of Badminton England Tournaments. October saw him come third at the Cornwall Under 13 Boys Singles and Doubles (playing with Jonty Wright from Visions Club).

Then the Warwick Under 11 Tournament saw him team up with Hayden Herkes to make a “formidable pairing” in the Boys Doubles and Toby came away with a bronze in the Boys Singles Plate against stiff competition.

Toby’s mother, Belinda Brookes, commented: “It is great to see their training and skills in action, including controlling that ‘chimp’!”