Isle of Man Badminton Association’s Open Championships took place at the NSC over the weekend.

Leah Masson of Fencibles, aged only 13 years old, became one of, if not the youngest player to win the women’s singles when she beat Pim Charoenchai of PwC Castletown Abbey in the final in three games 9-21, 21-8, 21-19.

Charoenchai had earlier beaten Katie Kewley of Fencibles in the semi-finals in three game 14-21, 21-19, 21-16.

In the men’s semi-finals Fingal Watterson (PwC Castletown Abbey) beat Benjy Li (Fencibles) 21-7, 21-13 and Tobey Cheng (Fencibles) got the better of Alex Buck (RL360 Vikings) 21-18, 21-17.

Watterson won the final 21-13, 23-21 to claim the title for the second year running for PwC Castletown Abbey, after his brother Baillie won it the previous year. Unfortunately Baillie did not enter the singles this year as he is currently struggling with injury.

In the women’s semi-finals Emma Nicholson and Charlotte Dougherty (RL360 Vikings) defeated Alison Craine and Sarah Gardner (Hodgkiss Associates Kirk Michael) 21-12, 11-21, 21-16, while Alex Bell and Jodie Green (Fencibles) beat Louise Mellor and Pim Charoenchai (PwC Castletown Abbey) 21-10, 21-10.

The final went to three games and was won by Nicholson and Dougherty 21-19, 18-21, 21-19, while the plate competition was won by Mellor and Charoenchai who beat Sam Spellman (RL360 Vikings) and Felicity Gawne (Tynwald Celts).

The men’s doubles semi-finals saw Jonny Callow and Neil Harding (Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s) oust Alex Buck and Tobey Cheng 21-19, 21-6, while Fingal Watterson and Matthew Nicholson (RL360 Vikings) beat Baillie Watterson (PwC Castletown Abbey) and Benjy Li 21-16, 21-17.

This final also went to three games with Callow and Harding winning 14-21, 21-15, 21-14. The plate competition was won by Brian Drew and Ryan Brew (Hodgkiss Associates Kirk Michael) who got the better of Colin Furner and Shaun Lewis in the final.

The final event of the day was the mixed doubles and the number one seeds Neil Harding and Alex Bell had a shock in their first match when they lost to Brian Drew and Alison Craine 21-19 but won the next two 21-18, 21-14.

In the semi-finals Harding and Bell then defeated Alex Buck and Laura Parkinson 21-7, 21-10 while in the other semi Fingal Watterson and Louise Mellor beat Matthew Nicholson and Emma Nicholson 12-21, 21-14, 21-18. Harding and Bell won the final 21-12, 21-14.

The Plate final was an all Hodgkiss Associates Kirk Michael affair with David and Sarah Gardner triumphing over Drew and Craine 21-16, 22-20.

The trophies and medals were presented at the conclusion by Frank Anderson, president of the Isle of Man Badminton Association. Thanks go to the NSC, all the umpires and tournament referee Lew Kelly.

DavY Craine