Page 42 - issue08.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 8, 2019 P34 Follow us @rafnewssport /sportrafnews

Sport

BADMINTON
Bumper event for stars

Halton hosts huge

turnout on courts

STAFF REPORTER
HQ Air Command

A BUMPER turnout at the
recent RAF Open Badminton
Championships 2019 at Halton
saw 215 matches played across a
field of 57 athletes.
The outcome of the clashes would
crown the best Service players in
Regular and Reserve badminton,
with the Service looking to regain
the Men’s Inter-Services crown
from the Army, and defend the
overall title in the upcoming Inter-
Service championships next month.
Sqn Ldr Rich Green, association
communications secretary, said: “A
strong turnout by new players to
the RAF Badminton community BATTLE STATIONS: Above and below,
alongside the old regulars provided action from the mixed doubles and doubles
an excellent tournament to watch. matches
Both the ladies’ and men’s novice PHOTOS: LUKA WAYCOTT/RAFHALTON
competitions were very well fought
and show the potential of our
future badminton players. We look Johnston and Myles Thorne, while the title with Cpl Dodds and LAC
forward to taking a strong team to in the Singles of this event Gaines Cheetham second.
the Inter-Services in March.” again took top spot over Sqn Ldr SAC(T)Witting took the ladies
The three-day event saw 10 Johnston. In the ladies doubles LAC singles over SAC(T) Bonser, while
separate competitive events played Jemima Cheetham and SAC(T) Cpl Dodds took the men’s title over
over the four courts and featured Katie Witting took top spot, with Flt Lt Garnham. LAC Cheetham
12562 individual rallies. SAC(T) Eleanor Bonser and SAC stormed to the ladies novice singles,
In the station pairs discipline Louise Cheung second. with SAC(T) Kate McGuinness,
FS Simon Gaines and Flt Lt Barry In the men’s doubles event second.
Garnham took the title, with Cpl Gaines again stood tallest this In the men’s Cpl Andy Atkins beat
Chris Parrott and SAC Andrew time with Flt Lt Garnham. Cpl SAC Rahul Pradhan.
Watson runners-up. Alex Dodds and Cpl Parrott came The Service will take part in the
In the master’s doubles Chf second. Inter-Services and UKAF Open
Tech David Colman and Gaines In the mixed doubles Garnham championships at RNAS Yeovilton
out-pointed Sqn Ldrs Andrew and SAC(T) Katie Witting took March 11-15.

MOTOR SPORT
Finish is oh so Swede

RAF man sees season get off to flyer

Continued from p35 Sunday, staying out of trouble for
the final sprint.
Hall’s vehicle then struggled He was delighted to cross the
when the ice was dispersed by the finish ramp in fourth place on the
leading cars, meaning the studs season opener.
would break free from the rubber The five-round series now
on the gravel. switches to asphalt and the Tour
He was well aware of the De Corse in France at the end of
consequences of a poor tyre choice March.
and, along with Williams, devised
a tyre strategy to try to minimise
time loss on the stages.
Thirteen crews lined up to tackle
the event and, after the first full
day in the stages, Hall had guided
Williams to sixth spot overnight.
Conditions would get no better
during the course of the second day,
but an adaptive approach saw Hall
push Williams through the 14km
Vargasen 2 test to take his maiden
top-three JWRC place. ICE DANCING: Above and right, Hall get
This ensured Hall climbed into airborne and then digs in for a tough corner
fourth spot by the end of the second in Sweden
leg, with just three stages to go on PHOTOS: M-Sport/JWRC