Congratulations to Brightons badminton players Craig & Ryan Penman and Matthew Dick from 1st Polmont Boys' Brigade's badminton team for their success in the National BB Badminton finals held in Northern Ireland on 1st May 2010!

Billy Rankine (Captain - 1st Polmont Company) says:

The 1st Polmont BB badminton team travelled to Northern Ireland on Friday 30th April to take part in the final of the National BB badminton finals. They were up against 5 other teams who had successfully qualified from their district competitions. 9th East Sussex and 1st Barnet had travelled from the south of England, 1st Largs qualified from Scotland along with 1st Polmont and the Irish representatives were 1st Mountjoy and 4th Newtonabbey.

In the group stages, 1st Polmont were drawn against 1st Barnet and 4th Newtonabbey. They won these games 6-0 and 4-2 respectively although the match against Newtonabbey was very close. They then played 1st Largs in the semi-fnal which they again won 4-2 after a very tough match. In the final they were again up against 4th Newtonabbey who had defeated 1st Mountjoy in the other semi.

The final started off brilliantly with 1st Polmont winning the first 2 rubbers and then moving into a 3-1 lead in the second round of games although 1st Polmont had a chance to finish the match 4-0. The match then went to the deciding 2 rubbers and 1st Polmont's hopes seemed to take a knock when their number 1 player, Blair McLuckie, went down with cramp half way through the first set while he and Calum Rankine were trailing 8-13. After treatment, Blair was able to restart and in a great show of determination, he and Calum tied the set at 19 all before winning the set 22-20. In the second set the Irish Boys seemed to lose heart and it was a very happy Blair McLuckie who hit the decisive smash to win the match and retain the title for 1st Polmont.

While all of this was going on Ryan Penman and his younger brother Craig were coming back from a set down to win their match making the final score 5-1 for 1st Polmont. This meant that for the second successive year 1st Polmont won the title and Ryan Penman went through the entire competition undefeated.

The team was well supported throughout the tournament by travelling reserve Matthew Dick and a band of supporters; company Captain Billy Rankine, Anchor Boy helper, Eddie Penman, Company section officer Brian Garioch as well as Ken McLuckie, Liz Rankine, Shirley Garioch and Sarah Garioch.

The trophy and prizes were presented by Professor Norman C Nevin OBE, Northern Ireland Boys' Brigade District President and Alderman John Scott, Mayor of Newtonabbey who also presented all of the teams with a Belfast Crystal plaque in recognition of taking part in the national finals.
After a meal at BB HQ in Larne on Saturday evening, it was a very happy team of boys and supporters who made their way back to Brightons on Sunday afternoon.

The boys wish to acknowledge the support given by Mr Martin Abramon of Brennan Atkinson International Ltd, Brightons Parish Church and Falkirk & District Battalion BB. Their financial support meant the boys were able to travel in style and looked very smart in their new tracksuits and tee-shirts.

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