FastStep Badminton Academy

FastStep players took home a haul of medals from the Kent U13 Bronze tournament in Gillingham today.

Top performers were Ben Smith and Dhanush Thiagaraj who battled their way to their first national circuit final. After a bad start in the final the boys fought back but finished runners up with well deserved silver medals.

In the girls’ doubles Isabelle Craig finished with a bronze medal with partner Emma Goddard after a closely fought round robin event. Isabelle, still U11, also reached the quarter finals of the singles.

Ben featured in two finals, also reaching the final of the boys’ singles plate competition where he picked up a silver medal taking the FastStep tally for the day to 4.

Well done guys and well done to the many other Sussex players at the event.

Congratulations to Adele Woodhams for a brilliant start to the new year which saw her reach the final of the Kent Senior Bronze.

Adele fought through her box and semi final in the women’s doubles at the tournament in Gillingham. In the final Adele and partner were beaten by the no.1 seeds but claimed a well deserved Silver medal. She also reached the quarter finals of the mixed event. Well done Adele!

Well done to FastStep Elite players Laura Brownlie and Daniel Hatton who both passed their UKCC Level 1 Badminton Coaching qualification last month. A fantastic achievement guys.

Well done FastStep Elite player Eva Craig for winning a silver medal today in the girls’ doubles at the Kent U15 Silver tournament.

Together with regular partner Chanumi Gamage from Cambridgeshire, the girls stormed through their box, winning all matches and knocking out the number 2 seeds in straight games.

The girls fought hard in the final with the first game going deep into setting, finishing 18-20 to the other finalists from Suffolk. Eva and Chanumi came close in the second game, losing 15-13, but taking home a well deserved silver medal.

Congratulations to our fledgling Year 9 team who won their first match of the season after some very close fought games.

FastStep emerged 5-1 winners over Felbridge in a fixture that saw 3 of the 6 games go to setting. Well done to Samuel, James, Isabelle and Luca.

Well done FastStep Elite player Laura Brownlie who got her first call up for Sussex seniors at the weekend.

Her reward was a trip to Devon where Sussex 4th team battled hard through some close games but ultimately lost 13-2. Well done Laura!

A huge well done to Amy Radford and Laura Hemsley who walked away with all the gold medals in the girls’ U16 event at the Tunbridge Wells Badminton League autumn tournament.

Amy scooped the singles title then the FastStep girls paired up to take the doubles title. A fantastic result girls, well done.

There was also a runners up place for Amber Cooper in the U18 girls doubles event.

Well done to three of our Stars group who helped the Sussex U13 team secure a well earned draw against Oxfordshire today.

Despite most of the Sussex U13 team being on their Shires League debut, two of them still U11, they played with confidence and determination to secure the 10-10 result.

There were wins for FastStep players Dhanush and Izzy in singles and doubles, and for Ben in the doubles. Well done guys!