ST BEDE’S High School proved that they are real all-rounders when it comes to badminton.

For the Blackburn school won three of the four titles up for grabs at the annual Blackburn with Darwen Schools badminton championships. In the under 16s competition, the standard was high and most of the matches were evenly contested – St Bede’s, Pleckgate and QEGS being particular strong. The outcome went down to the final match with St Bede’s up against Pleckgate who, at that stage, were both unbeaten. Despite Pleckgate’s impressive No. 1 player winning his singles match, St Bede’s ran out relatively comfortable winners by a score of 4-1. It was great result overall for St Bede’s meaning they won three of the four competitions and finished second in the other.

The winning teams will go forward to the regional finals in Thorton Cleveleys on January 16 (Under 14s) and January 23 (Under 16s). The schools who are victorious in Thornton Cleveleys will progress to the national finals to be held at Center Parcs later in the year.

“This is the 5th year I have organised this competition in Blackburn and Darwen and it is pleasing to note that an increased number of schools have taken part each year,” said Andrew Mercer, school games organiser. “So much so that we took the decision to split the competitions over more evenings to allow those involved as much game time as possible.” He added: “I would like to say thank you to Westholme and Pleckgate for hosting the competitions and congratulate those involved not only for the impressive standards of Badminton on display but the sportsmanship shown throughout all of the competitions. “Players were asked to call their own lines and score their own games and over the two evenings I didn’t observe one disputed line call or argument over the correct score.”