Thames Valley
Youth Games

at Maidenhead
Saturday 9th July 2005

The games took place on Saturday 9th July at Windsor & Maidenhead again this year. It is very likely that this was the last TVYG to be organised. In the future an event may take place but it will be structured very differently. It will have a more individual sport focus that many of the sporting bodies prefer to support. I am sad to see it go.

We had the trials at the end of April. We had two girls and about five boys. I had to phone around a few clubs and go to see a few players… Some were invited to attend the 8 training sessions that started in May. The method we have developed over the last few years was established early. We concentrated on the serve for the first 6 weeks!!! We introduced exercises to loosen the wrists and gain more power. We developed their backhands. The last few weeks brought the introduction of tactics and movement around the court.

All of the squad applied themselves to everything that we did and improvements began to be seen, They began to move more confidently, attack the serve and hit into space. Their improvement especially in the last few weeks was considerable. Confidence was high. The old questions began to be asked. How well do you think we will do? Will we win a medal? The beauty of this competition is that you never can tell until the competition starts.

The day of the competition came, we picked everyone up at 07.30!!! Arriving at the venue around 09.10. Let the games begin… The girls started nervously but their courage saw them beginning to gain control of their first match and winning through. The boys came through their first match without upset. The boy’s second match was against Reading and this proved to be a tough match. Although they eventually won though winning all their games the score lines were all very close. They had to play some of their best badminton. The girls began to gain confidence in their second match also playing some of their best badminton. They won and had got through to the final play off against Bracknell Forest. The boys had one more match to play and they won. They were also in to the final play off against Bracknell Forest. This meant that we would go home with a silver medal at least because the format adds the boys and girls finishing position together to get an overall winner. While they were waiting the girls eyed up the opposition girls. Identifying the strongest players.

The matches started and the boys took command from the start winning their first 5 games convincingly and loosing 1. The girls were being pushed all the way. The first to games were shared. Tiny Rian went on against the biggest and strongest player. The only advice I gave her was “make sure your serves are deep and you can beat her, good luck”. The game was tough each player gaining a few points at a time. The Bracknell girl went into the lead. Rian stubbornly hung on and eventually succeed in winning the game! She had played superbly.

The matches had to finish at 15.30 because of time constraints. The boys had finished winners with their score of 5-1. The girls had finished on a level score of 3-3. They had to undertake a one point play off to determine the winners!!! No pressure!!! Our girls to serve. They served low, a low reply was hit high… it was going out, the opponents hit the shuttle and we made a winning kill!!! We had won the gold medal and the shield!!!

All the training had paid off. Well done to Rian, Pippa, Hanna and Harriet for the girls; Russell, Andrew, Mathew and Ed for the boys.

A mention should also go to the helpers who assisted variously during the 8 weeks of training sessions and on the day – Pam Norman, Mary Stevens, Karen Harrison, Andy Norman and Margaret Mason. A special mention for Graham at Aldermaston who has done a good job coaching the girls, it made my job a lot easier… Good fun was had by all.

Team Manager Tony Glinos

at Maidenhead
Saturday 10th July 2004

The games took place on Saturday 10th July at Windsor & Maidenhead this year. The badminton event was played in the Magnet Leisure Complex, Maidenhead. There were 10 teams of 8 players (4 boys & 4 girls). The format of the games awards points for the finishing positions of the boys and girls, then adds the points to come to a combined overall position for the team. Players who have attended county sessions are excluded.

The event followed on from 8 weeks of coaching prior to the day. The training days are an ideal opportunity to develop aspects of a players game and help them become more disciplined in their approach to competition play. We don’t forget to have some fun on the way, ask Russell.

The event started at 09.30 and finished about 16.30. Throughout the day the boys and girls worked really hard supported by some loyal parents. Their effort, team spirit and good sportsmanship were exemplary. The boys were supporting the girls and vice versa (one of the benefits of this type of format).

After the preliminary rounds West Berkshire were in the 3rd & 4th place play off positions for both the boys and the girls. The boys won 3rd place and the girls won 3rd place. When the overall positions were calculated there were 3 teams in first place on the same number of points!!! – West Berks, South Oxon, Reading so it had to go to a count back. The positions were finalised as South Oxon, first; Reading, second; West Berks, third.

With such a close finish I could not have asked for the team to have played better. They all, at some point during the day, played above their ability. A great tribute to their determination. So a big thank you and well done to Claire, Holly, Amy and Rebecca & James A, Rory, James H, Russell and Chris.

Besides the teams members there were the squad members who developed considerably and put in a lot of commitment and effort over the training period. Well done to Hayley, Alice, Jessica and Hanni.

A new trophy was introduced this year – good sportsmanship. West Berks came second in this for the badminton. Overall (i.e. across all sports on the day) West Berks won the good sportsmanship trophy. A huge cup was presented and should begin to make its way around some of the supporting clubs in celebration so look out for it in your area. Well done to West Berkshire Youth.

A mention should also go to the helpers who assisted during the training sessions and on the day – Pam Norman, Suzanne Allen and Margaret Mason and Andy Norman. Good fun was had by all.

Team Manager - Tony Glinos

at Windsor & Maidenhead
Saturday 12th July, 2003

The games took place on Saturday 12th July at Windsor & Maidenhead this year. The badminton event was played in the Magnet Leisure Complex, Maidenhead. There were 12 teams of 8 children (four boys & four girls). The format of the games awards points for the finishing positions of the boys and girls, then adds the points to come to a combined overall position for the team.

Throughout the day the boys and girls worked really hard. On occasions they made a slow start but came back strongly to win games or gain lots of points… This was to be important in the boys first match where the number of games won were identical and in the end, positions determined by a points count back; West Berks won by 2 points!!!. The boys had been down 0-8 in the first game. They came back to lose it 6-9. Those extra points were crucial. This was a good lesson learned by both boys and girls for the rest of the day. Their effort, team spirit and good sportsmanship were exemplary. The boys were supporting the girls and vice versa.

After the preliminary rounds West Berkshire were in the 3rd & 4th place play off positions for both the boys and the girls. The boys won 3rd place and the girls won 4th place. When the overall positions were calculated West Berks had won the silver medal position!!! With only 2 points separating 2nd and 4th places overall, the team’s consistency had proved to be vital in gaining the silver medal.

So a big thank you and well done to Laura, Fran, Amy and Rebecca for the girls; Tom, Rory, Mark and Chris for the boys. In addition to the team members, there were a further 7 squad members who developed considerable and who put in a lot of commitment and effort over the training period. Well done to Calli, Genevieve, Emma L, Holly, Clare, Emma M and Tom.

Finally, last but not least, a big thank-you must go to the helpers who helped coach the squad over a ten week period and helped out on the day itself – Pam Norman, Mary Stevens, Keith Parsons and Gary Brooke. Good fun was had by all.

Team Manager & Coach - Tony Glinos

Youth Games Winners Competition
Milton Keynes
15th March 2003

Following on from West Berkshire's success in the Thames Valley Youth Games competition last year, the winners of various youth games around the country were invited to take part in a winners competition.

It is hoped that this new competition will develop into a National Competition in the future. The grand final was played at the National Badminton Centre, Milton Keynes on 15th March with 6 teams from various counties involved (Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Milton Keynes and West Berkshire).

The competition format was 2 singles, and 5 level doubles with players playing with each member of the squad. A boys team and a girls team was required from each area and the combined score would decide the winner. Our team could only get together for one training session but the team spirit was very high. On the day, the entire squad played superbly. They supported each other, they made positive calls to each other and they hit the shuttle into space!!!

Both the West Berkshire girls and the boys teams made it to the final play off. Due to time constraints (and because the scores were even), both finals required a single game to decide the outcome. The tension for all competitors was high.

Our boys were behind for the first part of their game but true to form,
they came back to win the game against Milton Keynes. The girls game
was a singles match - a little one sided and unfortunately we lost. However, because we had both the boys and the girls teams in the final, the combined score secured a win for West Berkshire and were presented with the
“Ellerman International Badminton Trophy”!!!

A great day out was had by the competitors and the parents who made time to come and support them. So WELL DONE to Laura, Lucy, Fran and Jo for the girls and Scott, Martin, Stuart and Peter for the boys.

A fantastic achievement in a fantastic sport!!!

A very happy coach
Tony Glinos

Vale of the White Horse, Abingdon
1st July 2002

The Thames Valley Youth Games started about 6 years ago with the intention of fostering the enjoyment of sport amongst young people from 9 county locations. The event is for competitors who have not reached county standard in any of the participating sports. In all, over 3,000 youngsters took part. It is a fantastic event to be involved with - the effort, commitment and sheer enjoyment of everyone who took part was wonderful (including some of the team managers!). Whether they won or lost one thing was certain that their standard of play had improved over the training period, so everyone was a winner.

The actual event takes place at different venues each year. This year’s event took place on the 1st July in Abingdon. Having reached a silver medal place last year the girls were eager to go one step further. The games were very well contested and all the West Berkshire team showed great sportsmanship and will to win. (They are not always incompatible contrary to some thinking). At times during all of the matches one or more of the players played above their ability to achieve a great result. This year the medals were awarded for overall position in both the boys and girls matches. West Berkshire achieved the GOLD medal winning position.

So a big WELL DONE to Emma, Joanna, Laura and Lucy for the girls, and Martin, Peter, Scott and Stuart for the boys.

I shouldn’t forget the team of coaches during the sessions – Audrey Jackson, Pam Norman and Mary Stevens all of whom donated their time free of charge. Great fun was had by all and we are really looking forward to next year!

By the way, some of these young players are now attending club nights at St Mary’s Badminton Club. Does your club have any junior members … if not, why not ask your club what it is doing to attract young people into the club. They are the future of the game after all…

Anthony Glinos - Coach

Click here to go to the official Thames Valley Games Web Site

This page was last updated: July 27, 2005

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