Open brings talent to Castle Park

LAST Friday night Fermanagh Badminton held their Open tournament for the second successive year in Castle Park Centre Lisnaskea.

This year’s Open marked an increase on number with 25 men’s pairings, 10 mixed pairings and five ladies’ pairings.

The tournament was well supported from outside of Fermanagh with many players coming from Banbridge, Dungannon, Sligo, Newcastle, and Monaghan.

The tournament was set up in three rounds with one game to 21 in each round meaning every player would get at least three games.

The players with the highest number of points would go through to the knockout stages.

In the ladies’ section Katie Dunne and Daphne Scott managed to take the title after defeating Nicola Hamilton and Jennifer Williamson in a very entertaining watch, 21-11 and 21-13.

In the mixed Philip Elliott and Nicola Hamilton, Daniel Williamson and Clodagh Wilson, David Johnston and Hollie Mcwilliams and Katie and Adam Dunne all went through to the knockout stages.

The Dunne pairing defeated Williamson and Wilson in the first semi-final while Elliott and Hamilton managed to edge past Johnston and

Mcwilliams in the other.

In a very entertaining final Philip and Nicola managed to come out on top in two games against Adam and Katie, winning 21-14 and 21-11.

Finally, the in the Men’s doubles eight pairs went through.

In what was a fantastic knockout stage it was Noel Ebbitt and Michael O’reilly who managed to progress to the final against Luke Simpson and James Raab.

In an extremely good final, it was last year’s runner up, Simpson, who managed to take the edge and defeat a strong Cavan pair.

Fermanagh Badminton would like to thank all those who travelled to Lisnaskea for this year’s tournament and help to create a fantastic atmosphere and an incredibly high standard of play. Also, a thank you must go to the staff of the Castle Park Centre Lisnaskea for their hard work and support.