Super silvers for badminton ace Owen

The 11-year-old Claverham Community College pupil picked up two superb silver medals at the Badminton England U13 Silver Xtra Oxfordshire Tournament.

In the boys’ singles, Owen advanced from his qualifying box after beating the number two seed Thomas Allen (Kent), as well as Kit Clement Dawson (Buckinghamshire) and Daniel Morris (Oxfordshire).

Owen then played number three seed Leon Griffiths (Surrey) in a tightly-contested semi-final which he eventually came through 12-15, 15-13, 16-14.

Progressing to his first national level singles final, Owen was up against Kent number one Rory Easton. Despite playing well, he lost the match and had to make do with a still very impressive silver medal.

Owen teamed up with his regular partner Jeremy Lu (Oxfordshire) in the boys’ doubles. The pair won their qualifying box, beating Oxfordshire pairing Ben Evans and Samuel Heath 21-11, Michael Farnood (Scotland) and Matthew McGough (Gloucestershire) 21-14, and Clement Dawson and Morris 21-6.

They then comfortably beat the Hertfordshire pairing of Max Ansell and Max Titterton 21-8 in the semi-finals before being defeated by the Kent partnership of Allen and Luke Bailey in the final.

See today’s Hastings and Rye & Battle Observers for the full article.