Watershed, Kilkenny Complex 25^th February.

The A section saw favourites from Kilkenny College come out on top of a round robin group with 5 teams.

Emma Duncan, Andrea Parr, Keri Willis and Tiffany Roberts proved too strong for Loreto Kilkenny, and Johnstown. The match against the College B team was a tough encounter but the 2^nd years had the edge over the first years. The toughest challenge came from Scoil Aireagail but the college held on to take top spot with the Ballyhale team coming in  second with the 1^st year College team coming in third.

The boys of Douggie Power, Ian Atkinson, Andrew Levie and Stephen Agar won out their section and then met the College B team in the semi-finals. In the finals they met the team from Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown who had looked strong in qualification. The college put up a gallant fight but were outplayed and earned a well deserved runner up spot.

There was a Beginners’ group for girls for the first time; here 8 teams battled it out with great fun to eventually reach the final stage. The College C and D teams met with the C team of Heather Donohue, Lauren Minion and Lauren Thomas and Caoimhe Moriarty having the edge over Aoife Moriarty, Sharon Eager, Anna Daly and Jessica Burton Restrick.  The E team narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot by a single point.

All the A group who practice on Mondays got to play matches, a great experience for them all.

The u14 girls were very unlucky in the Leinster competition on 2nd March. Having won their two first round matches they lost out by the narrowest of margins in the semifinal against the eventual winners Loreto Balbriggan.

For more action at the Watershed click here for the Picture Gallery.

Boys Under 19 win Leinster Badminton title.

Following their win in the Kilkenny schools last week, the boys took part in the Leinster schools' competition played in Baldoyle on 25th January. The team of Leon Coe, Roy Connor, Trevor Watchorn, Daryl James and Robert Bennett won the final, beating Ard Scoil Ris winner of the Dublin Leagues. On the way to the final they beat Wilson's Hospital, De La Salle Dundalk and Gormanstown College.

They now go on to the All Ireland finals representing Leinster on Wednesday 24^th March in Gormanstown College, this is the first time a boys' team from the College has reached the All Ireland Finals, with a girls' team once reaching it a few years ago.

Good luck to the U16 boys and the girls who go to the Leinster finals on Thursday 4^th February. Trials are now taking place for Under 14 squads within the school for their competition later in February.

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Kilkenny Boys take the honours in County Finals on 21st January 2010.

The first badminton tournament held in the new Watershed complex in Kilkenny proved a good day for the U16 and U19 teams from Kilkenny College.

Under 16 and Under 19 teams

The A team of Roy Connor, Leon Coe, Trevor Watchorn and Daryl James retained their U19 crown coming out of a tough section beating Castlecomer in the final.

The B team did exceptionally well on reaching the semi finals where unfortunately they met the A team.

B team: Robert Bennett, Philip Thompson, Michael Brennan and Charlie Hogg,

The A team will now travel to Leinster in Division 2.

The Girls Under 19 team of Ruth Fennell, Michelle Fennell, Karen Bennett and Rebecca Case were defeated in the semi-finals by Ballyhale.

The U16 Boys team won the title winning some very hard fought games, beating off the challenge of Mooncoin for the top spot. Representing the college were Scott Fennell, Mark James, Ben Ridgeway, Stuart Smith with sub Stephen Heffernan.

They also head to Dublin for the Leinster Schools' Division 2.

Under 16 winning boys' team

The U16 girls performed very well to take the runner up spot against Johnstown, which entitles them to travel to Leinster Division 3. This team was Lisa Fennell, Hannah Booth, Laura Seale and Holly Baker.

Under 16 girls team

All players did very well and with all the dates changed due to the snowy start to the year, the girls teams did very well as several players had to withdraw due to other commitments and those that stood in performed very well and enjoyed the experience playing in the new facilities of the Watershed.

The U14s tournament takes place on 25th February.

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Badminton players make good use of the 5 court hall in the school which is open for play 3 days a week.

Mondays: 1^st Year girls all start with a beginners course where they learn the fundamental rules and shots of the game. In the New Year teams will be selected for the Kilkenny Inter schools competition at U14 from these girls.

Limited court space is also available on Mondays for boys who are not involved in other sports.

Tuesdays: Badminton is part of the rota of various activities for 1^st yr girls.

Court space is also available for those wishing to play.

Wednesdays: The full hall is available for play and players can also avail of coaching.

All age groups will be well represented in the Kilkenny County Inter Schools competitions, the winners of which go on to represent the County at the Leinster schools competitions.

In the 2008/09 season Kilkenny College won several competitions at local and Leinster level so it hoped that the 2009/10 season will be just as successful.

Beginners and players of all standards are all welcome to come along to the sports hall on the above days.