The Warrnambool Junior Badminton Tournament was held on September 21 at the Arc with more than 40 juniors taking part. 

Warrnambool Badminton Association secretary Kylie Divall said the main aim of the tournament was to have fun. 

“It’s about giving the juniors a taste of what to expect when they go to tournaments in Melbourne,” she said.

“We really wanted them to have fun. We had age groups from beginners, who have only just started playing this season, through to under 19s.

“There were players from Ballarat, the western suburbs of Melbourne as well as locals.” 

Included in the under 19 category was 13-year-old Temeika Gay from Macarthur, who has previously represented Victoria. Temeika won the under 19 singles and doubles with partner Rhianna McLeod. 

“Laura and Kiara Billington were also impressive winning the under 16 doubles and Kiara winning the singles with Laura runner-up,” Divall said. 

Other singles winners were Kaitlin Parfrey and Charlie Pattison (beginners), Tess Dumesny (under 11), Fiona Le and Brody Hocking (under 12), Thomas Crothers (under 16) and Mick Taylor (under 19). 

Doubles winners were Fiona Le and Preshena Uthayakumar, and Dylan Hocking and Brody Hocking (beginners), Daniel Hocking and Thomas Crothers (under 16) and Mick Taylor and Nathan Crothers (under 19).

Mixed doubles were won by Fiona Le and Brody Hocking (under 13), Thomas Crothers and Drusilla Stevens (under 16) and Nathan Crothers, Mick Taylor and Kiara Billington taking out the under 19 title with Mick and Nathan tied on points. 

jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au