The new badminton season kicked off with the Isle of Man Open Championships at the NSC over the weekend.

In the women’s singles semi-finals, Kayleigh Callow (Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s) beat Kitty Thomas (Fencibles) 21/23, 21/14, 21/19 while Charlotte Watson (RL360 Vikings) beat Leah Brennan (Fencibles) 21/18, 21/16.

The final was a tight game with Callow eventually winning 20/22, 21/10, 21/17.

In the last four of the men’s singles, Tobey Cheng (Fencibles) overcame Nick Thornley (Castletown/Abbey) 21/6, 21/10 and Baillie Watterson (Castletown/Abbey) beat Matthew Gawne.

Cheng scooped the title by beating Watterson in the final 21-9, 21-12, as the latter marked his return from long-term injury.

In the women’s doubles semi-finals Nicola Wilkinson (Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s) teamed up with women’s singles winner Callow to beat Brennan/ Thomas 21/9, 21/13.

Emma Nicholson (RL360 Vikings) paired up with Watson to beat Sarah Gardner (Hodgkiss Associates Kirk Michael) and Alison Craine (Hodgkiss Associates Kirk Michael) 21-14, 21-19.

In the final Wilkinson and Callow won 21/9, 21/13.

Island Games team-mates Steven Quayle and Matthew Nicholson (RL360 Vikings) beat Juan Corrin/Joe Burrows (Fencibles) 21-13, 21-17 in the men’s doubles semi-finals.

Matthew Wilkinson and Kasper Kjeldsen (Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s) triumphed over Tobey Cheng and Benjy Li (Fencibles) in three tight games 16/21, 21/16, 21/19 in the other semi.

The final was also a tight game with Quayle and Nicholson winning 21/17, 21/15.

The plate was won by Matthew Gawne and Sam Callow.

The mixed doubles was the last event to be played and the semi-finals saw Quayle and Nicola Wilkinson defeating Ben Kneale and Sarah Gardner (Hodgkiss Associatees Kirk Michael) 21/7, 21/12.

Matthew Nicholson and Kayleigh Callow teamed up to beat Joe Burrows and Emma Nicholson 21/10, 21/14 in the other last-four match.

The final was a close game with Matthew and Kayleigh winning the first game 21/16 before Steven and Nicola hit back to win the second game 21/14.

The third game was 19/17 to Steven and Nicola when Matthew Nicholson fell and injured himself and was unable to continue.

Hopefully his injury is not too serious and he will be fit and well for the start of the league season.

The plate was won by Juan Corrin and Alex Bell (Fencibles).

The medals and trophies were presented at the end by badminton association president Frank Anderson.

Thanks were given to umpires Caroline Whitehead and David Craig and also to the National Sports Centre for the excellent venue.