A sneak peek of the RHUL Bears Badminton team:
With our humble thanks to Bill Thisdell, creator, editor and director of this wonderful project.
With our humble thanks to Bill Thisdell, creator, editor and director of this wonderful project.
RHUL BEARS Badminton
Welcome to RHUL Badminton!
For all those who want to get involved with badminton at RHUL, we run drop-in sessions during the week, where anyone can turn up, pay per session or get the fabulous be.active subscription which grants you access to plenty of other amazing sporting opportunities, grab a racket and play!
Keep an eye on this page and the Facebookpage
for updates on dates and prices for next year's drop-in sessions!
Keep an eye on this page and the Facebookpage
for updates on dates and prices for next year's drop-in sessions!
Bear in mind that you do not have to be a member of the RHUL badminton club to play, but you must have SU insurance, available from the Student Union's website which entitles you to play for the year.
For those of you with a more competitive side wishing to join the team, trials will be announced sometime before the Welcoming Week in september where you can come and see us at the Sports Fayre!
Any more questions?
Please write on our wall or feel free to message any of us! Never be afraid to ask!
Our Facebookpage and website:
The current committee
President: Dan Thorne
Mens 1st Capt.: Murray Maynard
Mens 2nd Capt.: Mark Lodge
Womens Capt.: Harriet Mortimer
Mixed Capt.: JJ Herabutya
Treasurer: Tessa Tidman
Social Sec: Laura Robyn
Next year's committee:
President: Laura Robyn
President: Laura Robyn
Mens 1st Capt.: Murray Maynard
Mens 2nd Capt.: Alex Reilly
Womens Capt.: Harriet Mortimer
Mixed Capt.: Huw Vicary
Treasurer: Alex Reilly
Social Sec: Hannah Elizabeth McCarthy
Lots of badminton-love and we look forward to hearing from you all
and moreover: we will be meeting you on court!
Choose RHUL Badminton for 2013-2014!
Hello badminton friends!You have chosen Royal Holloway as your first choice for next year or Founder's building is already beckoning you with an unconditional offer?
GOOD CHOICE!
When you arrive at our stunning campus we understand all too well that the first days can be a bit disorienting -lonely even!- so what better to do than to find the things you love to do -other than exploring the uni boundaries or running up and down the hill with Tesco trollies- and find a place and people to hang out with that share your passion? Our badminton team offers exactly that. Each and every one of us loves the sport but we are more than just a team of players, we are a team of friends who will take any and every opportunity to get together and have a great time.
Our badminton season has sadly drawn to a close and with heavy hearts we are preparing for the loss of our amazing graduates. This, however, also means that we are greatly looking forward to meeting all the new badminton talent and welcoming back our existing members. RHUL badminton wants to get the next season off to a great start and we're hoping you can be a part of it!
Whether you have been smashing shuttles for years or only recently picked up a racket, we would love to see you and your skills at trials in September! We are open to players of all abilities for the social club and the team.
RHUL badminton club has something for everyone, whether it's competition you are after or just a bit of harmless shuttlefun, so get involved!
The key dates to remember are the trial dates if you wish to join our team. These dates will be announced before the Welcoming Week in September so do look out for those and come to have a chat with us during the Sports Fayre. We look forward to seeing you all then!
RHUL badminton club has something for everyone, whether it's competition you are after or just a bit of harmless shuttlefun, so get involved!
The key dates to remember are the trial dates if you wish to join our team. These dates will be announced before the Welcoming Week in September so do look out for those and come to have a chat with us during the Sports Fayre. We look forward to seeing you all then!
In the mean time make sure you are in the badminton know by liking our facebook page:
RHUL Badminton team
Alumni Match
While we are yet to have a training session this term (due to Alumni Sports Day last Saturday), we have had 2 matches.
The first Saturday of term pitted the strong Alumni Mixed team against our current mixed team. Since last year we were beaten rather heavily (in scientific terms, the word is "spanked") by the Alumni Mens team, we had high hopes that thus year things would be different. "Don't worry guys, none of us have played in a year, since the last game" the alumni captain, Lee Braganza, said to us beforehand. Unfortunately, for those who have had the pleasure of meeting Mr Braganza, he has a tendency to bend the truth. A lot.
The Alumni who played were: Lee Braganza, Martin Pink, Jon Sharpe, Imi Ingram (not technically alumni to RHUL, but alumni to the club), Shyamali Roy, and Jess Pitt. We fielded Kenneth, Anthony, Huw, Reimi, Harriet and Elaine.
Left to right: Jon, Lee, Imi, Shyamali, Martin and Jess.
Things started off promisingly. First up were Harriet and Anthony playing against Lee and Imi, while Huw and Reimi took on Martin and Shyamali. The games here were very close. It was quickly apparent that the alumni definitely still played, and at a high level. Martin returned pretty much anything that anyone threw at him, sometimes without even looking at the shuttle. Lee's drop shots were bang on the money, and the girls killed at the net with precision. RHUL kept up to the letter, with Reimi and Harriet especially relishing the challenge but towards the end of the sets, experience just took it. After these two games, alumni led 2-0. A strong start to the day.
The next games up were Jon and Jess versus Kenneth and Elaine, with the alumni players comfortably winning. 3-0 alumni. Comeback needed, and Harriet and Anthony stepped up to the mark, with a great victory over Martin and Shyamali in 3 sets. Lee and Imi beat Kenneth and Elaine (4-1 alumni), while Huw and Reimi saw off Jon and Jess in 2 sets.
With alumni needing just one more win, Martin and Shyamali stepped on court and beat Kenneth and Elaine in 2 sets. Huw and Reimi beat Lee and Imi in 3 great sets, while Harriet and Ant beat Jon and Jess to bring the final score up to 5-4 to the Alumni.
It was a great match, one that on another day, maybe we could have won, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be. The Alumni have so much depth, and quality in their players. Maybe next year (when I will be alumni).
The scores were:
Lee/Imi: pair 1
Martin/ Shyamali: pair 2
Jon/Jess: pair 3
Harriet/ Ant: RHUL 1
Huw/ Reimi: RHUL 2
Kenneth/Elaine: RHUL 3
Pair 1 v RHUL 1: 21-15, 17-21, 21-11
Pair 2 v RHUL 2: 22-24, 20-22, 21-17
Pair 3 v RHUL 3: 21-15, 21-11
Pair 2 v RHUL 1: 21-15, 14-21, 14-21
Pair 1 v RHUL 3: 21-10, 21-17
Pair 3 v RHUL 2: 14-21, 20-22
Pair 2 v RHUL 3: 21-14, 21-18
Pair 1 v RHUL 2: 21-18, 19-21, 17-21
Pair 3 v RHUL 1: 21-17, 21-16
Some terrific badminton in there. Afterwards, a sensible night out was had. Ask someone else though, I remember nothing.
New Sponsor
Sponsor
The club are proud to have as their sponsors....
the Forester's Arms!
Details for the local in Egham can be found here:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/14/14839/Foresters_Arms/Egham
or alternatively, they are on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Foresters-Arms/264374226920810
the Forester's Arms!
Details for the local in Egham can be found here:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/14/14839/Foresters_Arms/Egham
or alternatively, they are on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Foresters-Arms/264374226920810
We have also affiliated with Sportscene in Beaconsfield.
Their website is here: http://www.sport-scene.biz/
Their website is here: http://www.sport-scene.biz/
Photos!
With all the matches that have been going on, and socials that we've held, I've accumulated a lot of photos and videos. Here are a selection:
Kavi at Come In Your Kit. Enjoying yourself is too mainstream for him.
El Presidente. The Kim Jong-il of the badminton world.
Harriet, Bill (ex-President and master of deception) and Phil living the dream.
Harriet, Laura, Tess and Elaine. Taken before CIYK in Elaine's flat.
Anthony showing Elaine just how effective his deodorant is.
Kenneth's collection of tank tops rivals that of Ricky Martin.
Tess getting some badders ink.
This is the club for this year. Taken in front of the clocktower in Founders Quad.
The mens squad. Note Dan B's face bottom left.
Anthony accepting the President's Award.
Harriet getting Players' Choice Award. Huw is on her right.
The Christmas meal.
Bruno Mars enjoying Best Fresher. Tess, Rui, Anthony, and some non-badminton person in the background.
JJ is probably doing his Mario Balotelli impression.
Laura with her monkey trophy for Committee's Choice.
Anthony celebrating being given President's Award.
Aidan in Sportscene. No, he's not wearing that jacket for a bet.
Dan B smiles for no man. From our team photo.
Anthony and Woody playing against Sussex.
One of the drop in sessions on a Sunday evening.
For more photos, check out our facebook page, and for videos, our youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/user/RHULBEARSBadminton).
New Affiliation
RHUL Bears Badminton has just affiliated with Sportscene!
Sportscene are a racket sports specialist store in Beaconsfield
www.sport-scene.biz
With this affiliation, badminton-playing members of RHUL can enjoy:
Sportscene are a racket sports specialist store in Beaconsfield
www.sport-scene.biz
With this affiliation, badminton-playing members of RHUL can enjoy:
15% discount on prices
the store matching internet prices where possible
great deals on shuttlecocks and rackets, as well as all the other stock Sportscene sell
demo days from Yonex reps on rackets (keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details)
a dedicated restringing service
For any of these benefits, pop into the shop with your college card, and mention you're from RHUL badminton club
Many thanks to Barry and all the others from Sportscene!
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