Angela is Ireland’s new badminton ace
SHE WON HER FIRST MAJOR TITLE AT UNDER 12 WITH DOUBLES PARTNER LELIA DOOLAN March 1982
A 13-year-old schoolgirl from Meadow View is fast becoming Drogheda’s top female badminton player.
And Angela Carr, a first year student at the Sacred Heart School, Sunnyside was last weekend chosen to play for the Leinster under 15 team in the inter-provincial championships at Limerick.
Because she is still a juvenile Angela, can’t take her place on the St. Mary’s senior ladies team but already this season she won the ladies singles title at the club open defeating a host of other senior players.
Angela is the daughter of Michael and Theresa Carr, and is one of the many juveniles who receive top class coaching and training at the popular St. Mary s Club.
She has been playing badminton seriously for over a year now although she does admit knocking a shuttle cock around a court a few times before that.
How did she feel about playing for Leinster. “I’m delighted. I didn’t think I had a chance of making the team when we went for the trials about a month ago. Its a major breakthrough for me and indeed everyone at the club”.
Angela’s coach is Mrs. Sue Peard. a former Irish international but Angela stresses that her mum and dad, along with Michael O’Brien, who looks after the juveniles, were also a great help.
She won her first major tournament last season when she partnered clubmate Lelia Doolan, to win the Leinster girls under 12 doubles championship. Since then she has been beaten in the final of the under 12 singles, the Irish open, the under 15 singles this season.
Angela is currently a member of the Louth under 18 team. In the inter-provincial championships at Limerick, Angela won her single matches against Connacht and Munster but was beaten in her tie against Ulster. Not bad for a youngster.
Angela’s ambition is to make the Irish team and everyone at St. Mary’s is hopeful she’ll be capped.
Apart from Angela, St. Mary’s have had a number of other success stories this season with Jean Clarke and Joan Reilly winning the Leinster under 12 doubles, and Sonia Carr, Angela’s sister, taking the Leinster under 10 singles.
Badminton is one of the fastest growing sports in the Drogheda area and at the St. Mary’s Club alone there are nearly 90 juvenile members.