QUEENS Badminton Club are thrilled to announce that on Friday, November 28, Sarah Preece, the club’s Head Coach went to Hatfield to compete for the first time in a masters competition and came away winning the Over 35 Women’s Singles event.

By winning this event, Sarah has also been invited by Badminton England to attend and represent England in the seasonal McCoig England vs Scotland fixture.

This will be the first time a Queens player has achieved this fantastic milestone of English Masters National Champion and been invited to represent England.

Sarah started playing badminton at the age of 14 when she attended a free trial session at Queens Badminton Club.

Since then she has worked hard to fit her training around her studies through school and university and then around her job as a Maths Teacher.

The majority of this training has been with her coach, Nick Masson. She has spent many weekends travelling to compete in tournaments around the country and has been Devon Ladies Singles champion nine times.

She currently also enjoys coaching badminton to young people each week at Queens Badminton Club and Exeter Performance Centre.

Queens Badminton Club Chairman Nick Masson said: “We are all thrilled and delighted for Sarah as she has committed hours and hours of dedicated training to her sport.

“Sarah, as well as being Devon County 1st Team captain, now has the chance to represent England as a player which is an opportunity she has said she is ‘really looking forward to after playing and enjoying this sport for so many years’.

“The whole club recognise Sarah as a very special person who continues to give back to the club, the players and badminton and inspires the whole club. We all wish her well as she now prepares to represent her country.”