Ist Garvagh Boys Brigade Badminton Team
Having won the Coleraine District Badminton shield, the Northern Ireland Championship and the Irish National trophy for the second year running, the 1st Garvagh Boys Brigade Badminton Team earned the right to travel to Scotland to take part in the BB National Championships, hosted by Perth & District Battalion at the Bells Sports Centre in April 2012. They applied to the Society for financial assistance towards team kits and sports equipment, which would not only be used at the National Championships but also in the Company in the months ahead. The Local Advisory Committee recommended a grant of £300, together with the offer of Irish Society sew-on badges.
Six teams from across the UK took part in the event. Each of the four-man teams, playing six boys’ doubles games in each match, were drawn into two mini-leagues playing round robin matches to establish who would go through to the semi-finals. Paul Moore and
Michael Torrens won their last game to draw level by the narrowest of margins (22–20, 24–22) to a standing ovation from the watching crowd. And the UK title was decided by a sudden death play-off. In a hugely competitive and entertaining match, Garvagh fought back to reduce an earlier deficit to only two points to trail 14–16. But their opponents, local side 1st Largs, held out to win 21–16 and become the UK National Badminton Champions for 2012, with 1st Garvagh very worthy Runners-up.
Company Captain, John McFadden wrote to express his appreciation for “... the support of the Irish Society. It has enabled us to compete in Boys Brigade Competitions at National level and our boys have benefitted greatly from the experience”. He also included a copy of the press report which had appeared in the Coleraine Chronicle charting the Team’s successful year and, again, giving special thanks to all those who had provided such valuable support the team financially - particularly enabling the boys to compete in the National Trials in Scotland.
Pictured above are (back row) John McFadden - Company Captain, Michael Torrens, David Moore, Kenneth Moore – Coach and
(front row) Paul Moore, Alan Moore.