Cumbria Badminton Association 
MATCH REPORTS - CUMBRIA 1ST TEAM
MATCH REPORTS - CUMBRIA 2ND TEAM Thanks to Rae Larmour and Laura Woodburn again the match score was 2 all after the singles. The ladies pairings of Michelle Lovatt, Laura Woodburn and Rae Larmour, Laura Westgarth proved too strong for their Northumberland opponents and won all their four doubles. A win at second men’s doubles from the pairing of Graeme Lowrey and Jonny Moseley (Good to see Jonny back playing after the injury he sustained to his cruciate knee ligament at the tail end of last season)making the match score 7 – 5 in Cumbria’s favour and all to play for in the remaining three mixed. The men were under real pressure from the ladies to maintain their unbeaten record for the day but all we could muster was a win at top mixed from Malcolm Grayson partnered by Rae Larmour and apologies from the other two men giving Cumbria a 8 – 7 victory and 2 points
Promoted to top ladies singles in the absence of Rae Larmour, Laura Woodburn produced another fine performance, winning in two ends. Standing in at second singles, Laura Westgarth was not to be out done and also produced a fine performance, winning in two ends, making the match score 2 all after the singles. The first round of the level doubles produced victories for Michelle Lovatt partnered by Laura Woodburn, Debbie Lovatt partnered by Laura Westgarth and Malcolm Grayson partnered by Greg Reynolds. The cross over doubles produced victories for Michelle and Laura, Malcolm and Greg making the match score 7 – 5 to Cumbria and all to play for in the mixed. At top mixed the senior pair of Malcolm and Debbie led the way with a victory and this was backed up with a win at third mixed by John Armitstead partnered with Laura Westgarth giving Cumbria a 9 – 6 victory and 2 points. Cumbria 2 hosted Durham 3 at Appleby Grammar School on Sunday 17th January. It was the young team of Cumbria (with an average age of 18) who went all out in the singles, by winning all 4. Kieren Parrinder playing his debut for Cumbria 2 at only 13, playing very well to win second singles in 3 ends, 17-21, 21-10, 21-10. Rae Larmour also coming out on top in a very close 3 ender, winning 23-21, 18-21, 26-24. There was also comfortable wins for both Greg Reynolds and Laura Woodburn both winning their games in 2 ends. Moving onto the doubles, and Cumbria once again come out on top winning 5 out of the 8 games. Men pairings of Graeme Lowrey and Graham Robinson, and Greg and Tom Davis both going down in 3 close games to the top men's pairing of Durham. The ladies couple of Michelle Lovatt and Laura proving too strong for the Durham ladies winning both their games. Rae and Laura Westgarth won one and lost the other in 3 ends. Going into the Mixed doubles, Cumbria were 9-3 up and already won the tie, but only needing 1 more game to take all 3 points. The mixed couples of Graeme with Laura Westgarth and Tom playing with Michelle come out on top by both winning in two ends, with the pairing of Graham and Rae going down in 3 very close ends, losing 21-15, 18-21, 24-26. This meant that Cumbria 2 won the match 11-4 and take all 3 points. Rae ended up playing 11 ends out of a possible 12, talk about wanting to get her moneys worth. Michelle and Laura Woodburn wanted to mention that they both played superbly (their own opinion!!) and won all of their games, although I think it was down to the influence and youth of the stand in captain Graeme on the day that brought home the victory for the young but talented Cumbria 2 side.
Our only success in the four singles was a victory for Laura Woodburn at second ladies. We did not fare any better in the first round of the doubles with only Rae Lamour partnered by Laura Westgarth successful at second ladies. The cross over doubles could also only produce one victory, this from Michelle Lovatt partnered by Laura Woodburn, leaving the match score 9 – 3 to Derbyshire 3. Derbyshire 3 then went on to win all three mixed thus taking all 3 points with a 12 – 3 victory and leave us with a long empty journey back to Cumbria. Cheshire 3 v Cumbria 2 Match 3 saw the second team away to Cheshire 3. Once again we trailed 3 – 1 after the singles, our only victory came yet again from Laura Woodburn at second ladies. Losing all 8 doubles games left us trailing 11 – 1 and no hope of any points. An excellent win for Tom Davis (making his senior county debut) partnered by Michelle Lovatt at second mixed made the final result a very disappointing 13 – 2 defeat.Cumbria 2 v Northumberland 3 The 2009 – 10 season began with the second team at home (University of Cumbria) against Northumberland 3. In the top mens singles the Northumberland player suffered a serious injury in the third game of his match against me (Malcolm Grayson). Consequently he had to concede and with victories from Greg Reynolds at second mens and Rae Lamour at top ladies, Cumbria had a 3 – 1 lead after the singles. With no reserve Northumberland had to concede two mens doubles and with victory from Lionel Dobson and myself in one of the two remaining mens doubles matches and with both ladies doubles pairings of Michelle Lovatt partnered by Laura Woodburn and Rae Lamour partnered by Laura Westgarth halving their matches we had a winning lead of 8 – 4 with the 3 mixed to play. Victories at top mixed from myself partnered by Rae Lamour and 3rd mixed from Graeme Lowrey partnered by Laura Westgarth gave us a 10 – 5 victory and all 3 points. |