Cathy beats Euro & world champs to claim title

Cathy Bargh defeated national, continental and global champions to strike gold at a prestigious Badminton England competition.
By Simon Newstead
Published 1st Apr 2015, 08:09 BST
Cathy Bargh won the over-50 women's doubles and was runner-up in the singles in YorkCathy Bargh won the over-50 women's doubles and was runner-up in the singles in York
Cathy Bargh won the over-50 women's doubles and was runner-up in the singles in York

The Sedlescombe-based player and partner Kay Vickers overcame very strong opposition to clinch the over-50 women’s doubles at the Yorkshire Masters Gold tournament.

They started out by topping group A with three wins out of three, including an excellent 15-21, 22-20, 23-21 victory over Irish top seeds Sian Williams and Pam Peard, the European and world gold medallists. The other two successes came in straight sets.

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Bargh and Vickers then claimed another notable scalp in the final by edging out reigning English champions Viv Gillard and Sue Crompton 25-23, 7-21, 21-19, avenging a three-set defeat to the same pair at the national finals in December.

Bargh, a professional badminton coach at Summerfields Leisure Centre in Hastings, also performed well in the over-50 women’s singles at the York Railway Institute.

Seeded two, Bargh comfortably won all three of her group B matches, including a 21-11, 21-9 triumph over Peard. She was pipped 21-15, 12-21, 18-21 by top seed Williams in another closely-contested final.

Bargh is now gearing up for the 99th All England Open Seniors Championships in Hatfield from April 10-12 and she is hoping to be selected to represent England at the World Senior Championships in Sweden during September.

Entries are being accepted for the Freedom Feathers Fun Badminton Competition. The mixed doubles event with a random draw for partners will take place at Summerfields on Friday April 24.