There were only three games played in the immediate run-up to the Christmas break in the Isle of Man Badminton Association leagues.

These included a fantastic response from St Ninian’s Mixed A who are now only four points adrift and obviously not prepared to accept it’s all over when it comes to the Mixed League One title challenge laid down by Vikings A.

Mixed League One

Hotchkiss Associates

Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s A 16

This was a much more closely-contested match than the overall score suggests.

Both second men’s and second women’s went reasonably comfortably to the away team, but it was not so straightforward for Jonny Callow and Kasper Kjeldsen who beat Ben Kneale and David Gardner 21/18, 21/19.

Sarah Gardner and Ali Craine also made life difficult for Nicola Wilkinson and Kayleigh Callow before losing 17/21, 21/23.

Kirk Michael suffered two more narrow losses as at fourth mixed, reserve Jess Corlett and Mike Brew were beaten 21/23, 16/21 by Cal Peat and Alex Domingo, and then Ryan and Leanne Brew 20/22, 8/21 by Simon Fletcher/Sue Domingo.

David Gardiner/Craine went down 13/21, 18/21 to Kjeldsen/Kayleigh Callow before first mixed saw Michael’s only win of the night as Kneale/Sarah Gardner were beaten 14/21, 21/19, 7/21 by Jonny Callow/Wilkinson to round off an impressive away win for St Ninian’s A.

Women’s League Two

SmartHR Selborne A 212 RL360 Vikings B 230

All involved really enjoyed this close match with plenty of good play, shared games and long hard-fought rallies.

Selborne’s Gill Young/Fe Gawne couldn’t be separated with Vikings’ Fiona Brew/Laura Parkinson as they ’drew’ 20/21, 21/20, while Sarah Davidson/reserve Anita Griffiths also shared games 21/15, 9/21 with Sam Spellman/reserve Deidre Hughes.

Young/Griffiths versus Brew/Hughes went 10/21, 21/20, whereas Davidson/Gawne undid some damage with a 21/12, 20/21 against Spellman/Parkinson.

This was followed by Gawne/Griffiths’ close win 21/16, 20/21 over Parkinson/Hughes.

Vikings sealed the 2-1 overall win in the final game to leave them unbeaten and put them top of the table, as Spellman/Brew overcame Davidson/Young 21/16, 21/12.

Women’s League Three

PwC Castletown Abbey A 187 Tynwald Celts A 239

A good win for Tynwald Celts puts them firmly in second place, but still some way off runaway leaders Kirk Michael A.

That’s all for 2017 - all the best for 2018!

RAY MCMULLEN