Houston Team Triumphs at Badminton Finals

Tuesday 24th April 2018

A badminton team from 1^st Houston company, Paisley & District battalion, has been crowned national champions at The Boys’ Brigade finals held in Largs, North Ayrshire, on Saturday 21st April.

BB Companies from Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland competed at the finals at sportscotland’s National Sports Training Centre in Largs on Saturday.  This annual competition sees two teams from each part of the British Isles compete for the honour of being crowned The Boys’ Brigade Badminton Champions.

The winning team comprised of Ewan Harvie, Justin Langan, Jonathan Paris and Christopher Torrance.

Team captain, Jonathan Paris, said:

“We were delighted to finally win the UK Boys’ Brigade Championship, having competed in previous years and not been quite strong enough to make the UK finals.

“We were proud to represent our company and country in the final, and enjoyed meeting and competing against the other teams.  Our thanks go to  all within The Boys’ Brigade at company, Scottish and UK levels who made it possible to achieve this.”

The team were presented with their medals and the championship trophy by Provost of North Ayrshire Council, Councillor Ian Clarkson.  The other finalists were: 1^st Crowborough and 32^nd Nottingham from England; 1^st Granshaw and 4^th Newtonabbey representing Northern Ireland; and 1^st Largs the other team from Scotland.

Jim Bonner, company captain of 1^st Houston, said:

“I am very proud of the boys’ achievement – they are a credit to themselves,  their parents and The Boys’  Brigade.

“Having worked with this group and having seen how they have committed themselves to the competition, it is an excellent example of how a group of young people can support each other and work as a team to achieve.  Being members of The Boys’ Brigade made this possible.”

The event was organised by North Ayrshire battalion, The Boys’ Brigade.

Tournament Director, John Kent, said:

“The Largs boys were so pleased to have qualified in reaching the finals, as it was on “home turf” and they all looked forward to meeting and playing the other companies.

“Each team played  a total of 66 matches, 130 games and scored 3159 points in 852 minutes of play – an incredible effort.

“The Finals certainly had the “trimmings” of a major badminton tournament. The tournament was opened with 1st Largs pipers then a prayer from the Rev Jonathan Fleming. Umpires and officials from BadmintonScotland, sponsorship from Yonex, parades of players and mementos for every company all made it a quality event.”

Final results:

1^st: 1^st Houston

2^nd: 4^th Newtownabbey         

3^rd:   32^nd Nottingham         

4^th:   1^st Largs

5^th :  1^st Crowborough  

6^th :  1 Granshaw  

Event photos

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