Junior badminton season wraps

THE Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Association has wrapped up for the year, celebrating a less interrupted season than the previous twelve months with a junior awards night.

Throughout the season, players between five and 18 years old compete for points in three different sections, with section three for beginners, two for intermediate and one the top level.

Sixteen-year-old prodigy Samuel Graham claimed the overall best and fairest award for the association, as well as section one boys and 18-year-old star Jancia Schepisi was the overall winner for the section one girls.

The best clubman and clubwoman awards went to eight-year-old Mitchell Reid and 15-year-old Rebecca Boucher, respectively.

President Mitchell Graham said there are 35 junior players at the club, up from last year.

“We had a substantial increase from last year, we only got one term in last year so it was good to see an increase in numbers, but we’re always looking for new players to play,” he said.

The association plays at its 16-court stadium at Albert Roy Reserve in Eaglehawk with juniors competing on Friday nights and social nights for those over 18 held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Mr Graham said encouraged anyone young or old to give the sport a try.

“It’s a great sport,” he said. “You meet so many great people, the physical attributes of badminton are so much greater [than other sports], and the great thing about badminton is it’s so cheap for kids.

“Registrations are about $40 and $5 every time you come, it’s probably one of the cheaper sports in Bendigo.”