Wellington hosted another electrifying weekend of county badminton on 27–28 September as Somerset’s best gathered for two days of fast feet, sharper smashes and plenty of court-craft. Saturday belonged to the doubles and U19s; Sunday saw the singles and the remaining junior categories take centre stage. The result was a neatly balanced programme — a raucous doubles day followed by a singles-focused Sunday — and a stack of memorable performances to savour.
Some Figures from the Weekend!
With 97 entries, 254 matches were played - totalling just over 76 hours of court time!
22 Tubes of shuttles were used - thats 264 shuttles!
A quick housekeeping note before we begin: Sharron Hutchings and Nichola Hutchings share a surname but are not related — an important detail for anyone writing captions.
The Open Singles lived up to the “open” billing, producing high-octane rallies and some impressive tactical play. Top seed Reuben Biggs navigated the groups and knockout rounds with his usual mixture of power and calm, ultimately claiming the title and underlining why he’s one to watch this season. Michael Brook pushed through to the final, providing stern opposition and plenty of entertainment for the centre-court crowd; his runner-up finish caps a very solid weekend. Strong showings from James Bright and Ka Him Fong, who finished joint third/fourth, rounded out a deep and competitive field.
If consistency wins championships, then Hebe Cheung had the recipe this weekend. Cheung topped the women’s standings with a polished, patient style that neutralised opponents’ attacks and let her control the tempo. Alice Gibbins took the runner-up spot after a gritty run that featured several tight, tactical matches. Rounding out the top four were Sharron Hutchings and Nichola Hutchings, both of whom served up spirited performances across the weekend.
Saturday’s doubles programme produced some of the weekend’s most tactical battles, and the Open Doubles was no exception. The pairing of Justin Andrews and Andrew Simpson combined crisp front-court play with powerful mid-court hitting; their balance and communication were the hallmark of a title-winning run. Michael Brook and Dean Martin battled to the final and pushed the winners all the way, while Bradley O’Connor & Dan Willcox and Ben Lipton & Mark Scott shared the joint third/fourth places after strong semi-final showings. The OD draw underlined how crucial synergy is in doubles: the best pairs read each other’s intentions and punish even the smallest positional errors.
The Women’s Doubles delivered a blend of tactical variety and sheer determination. Kelly Fairey and Helen Simpson took the weekend’s top honours, combining clever rotation and sharp interceptions to out manoeuver a host of tricky opponents. Runners-up Hebe Cheung and Helen O’Rourke were excellent throughout, generating plenty of attacking moments and keeping the final competitive. The joint third places went to Nichola Harriss & Sharron Hutchings and Launa Eyles & Claire Harrison — a tidy reminder of the depth of Somerset’s women’s pairs and the competitiveness across the draw.
The mixed discipline often produces the weekend’s most tactical tests, and this year was no different. Reuben Biggs teamed with Launa Eyles to lift the mixed crown, pairing Biggs’ explosive court coverage with Eyles’ intelligent placement and net presence. They defeated the experienced pairing of Andrew Simpson and Helen Simpson in the final; Dean Martin & Hebe Cheung and Justin Andrews & Kelly Fairey claimed the other joint third/fourth slots. The result capped a fine weekend for Biggs, who featured prominently across the senior events.
OS Senior (Open Singles)
WS Senior (Women's Singles)
OD Senior (Open Doubles)
WD Senior (Women's Doubles)
XD Senior (Mixed Doubles)
Although the spotlight sat largely on the senior finals, the juniors served up a pleasing crop of performances across U19, U17 and younger categories. Saturday’s U19s and other junior doubles saw several tight deciders, and Sunday’s junior singles produced competitive, committed displays. A number of young players forced their way through deep pools and are ones to watch as they transition toward senior ranks — a healthy sign for Somerset’s future.