Club Publicity Archive
and player achievements
The Squad
Back row: Ken Linforth (Manager),
Robert Woosey, Minh Ho, David Diep, Harry Wright, Liz MacPherson (Asst. Manager)
Front row:
Alex Hird, Lynsey Aston, Judy MacPherson, Jenna Hargreaves, Becky Howell, Helen Davies
ICT Inter Counties Championships
19-22 April 2001
Merseyside Secure 4th Place
Merseyside finished a tremendous 4th in the ICT. This event is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of junior badminton events, principally for players in the U17 age group, though there are often younger players. The Inter Counties Tournament is played at Nottingham University over a four day residential period and, on average, 35 teams of five girls, five boys, and two Team Managers, assemble for a period of great competition and enjoyment.
The report here is written by one of the Team Managers, Liz MacPherson ...
I was seriously concerned when, a few weeks before the event, I found myself looking forward to going. Just brief flashes, you understand, but enough for me to question my sanity.
Anyway, there we were again, outside the Deaf School at 8.30 on the Thursday morning. This year Judy was lucky enough to get prime position, in the front seat between Our Leader and me. She survived the journey, but it was touch and go on occasion. There was a slight disappointment when it emerged that one of the Merseyside tracksuits had gone missing mine, naturally. Consequently it took a while for me to bond with the rest of the team.
On the subject of sanity, we were a little worried when Lynsey produced a bowl of fruit salad and handed it round. FRUIT?? Its just not normal. I wonder whether theres any correlation between the consumption of fruit and a voice which would make the Mersey foghorn feel inadequate? We have a quaint tradition in Merseyside of giving all the team nicknames Lynsey ended up with a few, but Foghorn seemed like an entirely appropriate starting point. Becky was unfortunate enough to be christened Wallace, on account of her turning up in The Wrong Trousers. (Nothing escapes the Assistant Manager) Judys nickname? Well, Kevin of course.
Arriving in Nottingham, we set off for Derby Hall in fear and trepidation, but were delighted to find that the place had been completely refurbished its amazing how grateful you can be for a coat of paint and a washbasin - the plastic mattress didnt even seem to matter. After the usual team photograph (and a bit of a sulk from the Assistant Manager, whose outfit didnt match), off we went to Chilwell for our first match against Wiltshire, which we won. Phew, one down, nine to go. Derbyshire next and another win Robert was everywhere, leaping, smashing, lunging, performing a double lutz. made me feel tired watching.
Back to campus for our first meal and the heartwarming spectacle of Harry doubling his profiterole consumption of last year two profiteroles in at the same time. When he gets his brace off, nobody will be safe.
Our third match of the day, against Bedfordshire, was another success, so we retired well pleased with our performance. The first nights always a worry, but we were fortunate enough to be sharing our floor with Lincolnshire Sue Mumby was a woman after our own hearts. "Everyone in their rooms now please" wonderful Ken and I scuttled into our rooms as instructed and oh joy I actually slept.
Friday morning began badly, with two players injuring themselves. Unfortunately for us, Jennas injury proved serious enough for her to retire from the tournament; fortunately Alex recovered from his, but I think serious psychological damage may have been inflicted on him by the Hampshire coach, who asked whether I was Alexs mum he felt that Alex had my nose.. (I wondered where it had gone). Thankfully after hed stopped crying his game hadnt suffered and we chalked up another win, with Kevin forgetting to be awkward just long enough to win her singles game.
Our reward (weve been down this road before) was a trip to Beeston. I really felt that the place had gone up market since last year and not before time. There was even a bistro, although it seemed to be short of customers were the residents of Beeston making an inaccurate gravy powder connection? So, another Big Mac meal and the purchase of hair spray for Sunday (see later).
Gloucestershire were next and another victory, Harry having a tremendous singles game. We were in bad books in the evening when schedules were changed we turned up 30 minutes late for our match against Suffolk. A slow start, but we emerged triumphant, with David and Minh having a great game of doubles. On the strength of another win we sent out for pizzas (damnit, we know how to enjoy ourselves on Merseyside) and then retired for an early night.
Now things started to get tricky. Surrey was our next match and in anticipation the squad forewent their large breakfast. This one was going to be difficult. Quite how difficult we didnt know, but after nine games we were level pegging at 127 points each! Helen had a fantastic win, but now it was all down to the girls doubles. The tension was awful, but in the end Helen and Becky just clinched it for us we were through to the last four!
Now we were in with the big players and Essex were next Lynsey earned her second nickname, being put in at No. 1 singles as the sacrificial lamb. When Lambsy walked on court, it was to the sound of "Baaaa" from the rest of the team (were also easily amused on Merseyside.) She may have looked sheepish, but nevertheless she did extremely well, as did all the team, but sadly we experienced our first defeat, with the score at 2-8. Alex had a great game against tremendous opposition and which resulted in his only loss of the tournament.
This time McDonalds was the consolation (the words "contradiction" and "terms" spring to mind), whilst Our Leader and I did the bistro. Coffee beans flown in specially from Milan Ill believe anything, but it was very civilised.
Yorkshire next. Despite my threat to put their minibus up on bricks if we lost, we did, but not before wed taken three games. Working on the assumption that if the fleece fits, wear it, Lambsy was put in again in the singles. Maybe we were all just distracted by the prospect of strutting our funky stuff at the disco, or maybe the rolling up of ones trouser legs la Foster is some kind of lucky omen, but anyway we were pleased with taking three games.
DISCO TIME! The team was dragged, kicking and screaming, to the Disco. Our Leader was dragged in similar fashion to the Managers meeting. After a pint in the very nicely refurbished bar, it was round-up time. Thankfully we had no problems and I believe they may have just enjoyed it. But only a bit, obviously.
Oh, the joy of waking up on Sunday and waving a metaphorical goodbye to the plastic mattress. We had the whole morning to concentrate on getting the hair colour JUST right, although in my case something seemed to go badly wrong. Shes very artistic, is my daughter, and the various team members sported green/gold stripes, zig zags, spots. Sadly, spraying her mothers hair brought out a desperate need for revenge and the result was somewhat garish and indiscriminate (and VERY green), but at least we all matched.
Our final game against Hertfordshire was really exciting for us and we were delighted to take three games, with the final result of fourth place for Merseyside. We were absolutely thrilled, but the best was yet to come. It was bronze medals all round EVEN ONE FOR KEN AND ME (well, its not easy writing down the scores, adding up the points and being nice to 10 teenagers for four whole days).
Well done Merseyside squad 2001 - a great ICT. And guess what? Im not going next year!
19-22 April 2001
Merseyside Secure 4th Place
Merseyside finished a tremendous 4th in the ICT. This event is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of junior badminton events, principally for players in the U17 age group, though there are often younger players. The Inter Counties Tournament is played at Nottingham University over a four day residential period and, on average, 35 teams of five girls, five boys, and two Team Managers, assemble for a period of great competition and enjoyment.
The report here is written by one of the Team Managers, Liz MacPherson ...
I was seriously concerned when, a few weeks before the event, I found myself looking forward to going. Just brief flashes, you understand, but enough for me to question my sanity.
Anyway, there we were again, outside the Deaf School at 8.30 on the Thursday morning. This year Judy was lucky enough to get prime position, in the front seat between Our Leader and me. She survived the journey, but it was touch and go on occasion. There was a slight disappointment when it emerged that one of the Merseyside tracksuits had gone missing mine, naturally. Consequently it took a while for me to bond with the rest of the team.
On the subject of sanity, we were a little worried when Lynsey produced a bowl of fruit salad and handed it round. FRUIT?? Its just not normal. I wonder whether theres any correlation between the consumption of fruit and a voice which would make the Mersey foghorn feel inadequate? We have a quaint tradition in Merseyside of giving all the team nicknames Lynsey ended up with a few, but Foghorn seemed like an entirely appropriate starting point. Becky was unfortunate enough to be christened Wallace, on account of her turning up in The Wrong Trousers. (Nothing escapes the Assistant Manager) Judys nickname? Well, Kevin of course.
Arriving in Nottingham, we set off for Derby Hall in fear and trepidation, but were delighted to find that the place had been completely refurbished its amazing how grateful you can be for a coat of paint and a washbasin - the plastic mattress didnt even seem to matter. After the usual team photograph (and a bit of a sulk from the Assistant Manager, whose outfit didnt match), off we went to Chilwell for our first match against Wiltshire, which we won. Phew, one down, nine to go. Derbyshire next and another win Robert was everywhere, leaping, smashing, lunging, performing a double lutz. made me feel tired watching.
Back to campus for our first meal and the heartwarming spectacle of Harry doubling his profiterole consumption of last year two profiteroles in at the same time. When he gets his brace off, nobody will be safe.
Our third match of the day, against Bedfordshire, was another success, so we retired well pleased with our performance. The first nights always a worry, but we were fortunate enough to be sharing our floor with Lincolnshire Sue Mumby was a woman after our own hearts. "Everyone in their rooms now please" wonderful Ken and I scuttled into our rooms as instructed and oh joy I actually slept.
Friday morning began badly, with two players injuring themselves. Unfortunately for us, Jennas injury proved serious enough for her to retire from the tournament; fortunately Alex recovered from his, but I think serious psychological damage may have been inflicted on him by the Hampshire coach, who asked whether I was Alexs mum he felt that Alex had my nose.. (I wondered where it had gone). Thankfully after hed stopped crying his game hadnt suffered and we chalked up another win, with Kevin forgetting to be awkward just long enough to win her singles game.
Our reward (weve been down this road before) was a trip to Beeston. I really felt that the place had gone up market since last year and not before time. There was even a bistro, although it seemed to be short of customers were the residents of Beeston making an inaccurate gravy powder connection? So, another Big Mac meal and the purchase of hair spray for Sunday (see later).
Gloucestershire were next and another victory, Harry having a tremendous singles game. We were in bad books in the evening when schedules were changed we turned up 30 minutes late for our match against Suffolk. A slow start, but we emerged triumphant, with David and Minh having a great game of doubles. On the strength of another win we sent out for pizzas (damnit, we know how to enjoy ourselves on Merseyside) and then retired for an early night.
Now things started to get tricky. Surrey was our next match and in anticipation the squad forewent their large breakfast. This one was going to be difficult. Quite how difficult we didnt know, but after nine games we were level pegging at 127 points each! Helen had a fantastic win, but now it was all down to the girls doubles. The tension was awful, but in the end Helen and Becky just clinched it for us we were through to the last four!
Now we were in with the big players and Essex were next Lynsey earned her second nickname, being put in at No. 1 singles as the sacrificial lamb. When Lambsy walked on court, it was to the sound of "Baaaa" from the rest of the team (were also easily amused on Merseyside.) She may have looked sheepish, but nevertheless she did extremely well, as did all the team, but sadly we experienced our first defeat, with the score at 2-8. Alex had a great game against tremendous opposition and which resulted in his only loss of the tournament.
This time McDonalds was the consolation (the words "contradiction" and "terms" spring to mind), whilst Our Leader and I did the bistro. Coffee beans flown in specially from Milan Ill believe anything, but it was very civilised.
Yorkshire next. Despite my threat to put their minibus up on bricks if we lost, we did, but not before wed taken three games. Working on the assumption that if the fleece fits, wear it, Lambsy was put in again in the singles. Maybe we were all just distracted by the prospect of strutting our funky stuff at the disco, or maybe the rolling up of ones trouser legs la Foster is some kind of lucky omen, but anyway we were pleased with taking three games.
DISCO TIME! The team was dragged, kicking and screaming, to the Disco. Our Leader was dragged in similar fashion to the Managers meeting. After a pint in the very nicely refurbished bar, it was round-up time. Thankfully we had no problems and I believe they may have just enjoyed it. But only a bit, obviously.
Oh, the joy of waking up on Sunday and waving a metaphorical goodbye to the plastic mattress. We had the whole morning to concentrate on getting the hair colour JUST right, although in my case something seemed to go badly wrong. Shes very artistic, is my daughter, and the various team members sported green/gold stripes, zig zags, spots. Sadly, spraying her mothers hair brought out a desperate need for revenge and the result was somewhat garish and indiscriminate (and VERY green), but at least we all matched.
Our final game against Hertfordshire was really exciting for us and we were delighted to take three games, with the final result of fourth place for Merseyside. We were absolutely thrilled, but the best was yet to come. It was bronze medals all round EVEN ONE FOR KEN AND ME (well, its not easy writing down the scores, adding up the points and being nice to 10 teenagers for four whole days).
Well done Merseyside squad 2001 - a great ICT. And guess what? Im not going next year!
