Viv’s title rivals are given real Tan-ning
THE annual Northumberland Championships, part of the Badminton England Senior Gold Circuit, featured 50 of the best players on the circuit at the Tyneside Badminton Centre.
For once the ladies’ singles draw was stronger than the men’s with eight of the top 20 in the domestic rankings competing.
It was further bolstered by the entry of Newcastle University student Shu En Lee from Malaysia, the winner of the Silver Tournament before Christmas.
The early rounds of the men’s singles produced wins for Rex Lee and Richard Eaton and narrow defeats for Ashraf Alam - 21-19 in the third - and fourth seed Philip Pahatouridis who went close against Neil Bhabuta, ranked No 17 - only going down 21-19, 21-19.
Garrylee McMullen was the leading light for the locals, though, comfortably gaining revenge for his defeat by Sid Pallakal in the Silver before defeating third seed Alex Cook from Oxfordshire in three sets to reach the semi-finals.
There he edged past Cheshire’s Cholan Kayan, who had beaten top seed Ben Hunt in the quarters, and took it in two tight sets 22-20, 23-21.
In the decider he came up against Sheunesu Kimbugwe from Middlesex, who had looked the pick of the field with his dynamic forecourt play.
Kimbugwe started the stronger to lead 11-7 at the interval before going on to take the opening set 21-17. The second followed a similar pattern, McMullen again 11-7 down at the interval before edging back to level at 15-15.
A run of four points from there proved decisive as he took it 21-16.
The decider again followed a similar pattern - but this time McMullen was unable to recover from an 11-5 deficit, going down 21-14.
Shu En Lee made the women’s final with the minimum of fuss, despite losing a set to England No 10 Emily Beach from Hampshire in the first round.
In the final she was up against England junior Amy Hayhoe from Norfolk and displaying her excellent touch, established an early 11-4 lead in both sets before taking the match comfortably 21-16, 21-13.
Two Northumberland pairs reached the men’s doubles semifinals - Pahatouridis and McMullen and Ryan Jelley and Eddie Burgess.
The latter overcame second seeds Lawrence and Wainwright from Warwickshire 21-15, 20-22, 21-19 before Kimbugwe and Cook took their semi 21-15, 21-19.
Pahatouridis and McMullen took on top seeds and former winners Josh Young and Martin Drabble and took the opening set 21-16.
Back came the Yorkshiremen to take the second by the same score but the locals kept their nerve and ran out worthy 21-13 winners.
The final was a different story and against the deceptiveness of Cook overhead in the rear court and the more dynamic forecourt play from Kimbugwe they could make little headway and went down in two sets.
Nevertheless, it was an an excellent effort as the pair were playing together for the first time in two years.
The women’s doubles led to more success for Newcastle University’s Malaysians, Shu En Lee and Vivian Tan up against Northumberland expat Vicky Brewis and Derbyshire’s Ellie Wheatley.
Lee and Tan took the opener 21-13 before seeing off a late comeback in the second to prevail 21-19.
In the mixed, Tan and second Josh Young’ proved too strong in two sets against top seeds Dominic Ashton from Cheshire and Scotland’s Basia Grodynska.