5 December, 2023
All results from the English National Masters Championships 2023 can be found here.
The finest domestic shuttlers flocked to Hatfield for a historic weekend of badminton at the 28th English National Masters Championships 2023.
At the pinnacle national tournament, 396 entries competed across more than 35 events in nine age group categories.
From 35+ to 75+, a range of experience was on show as National Masters champions were crowned over three days of match action.
35+
Four-time Commonwealth Games badminton ace and former Sri Lankan national champion Dinuka Karunaratne bagged two golds in the 35+ open doubles and men’s singles categories.
He partnered brother Diluka Karunaratne in the open doubles and the pair came through three rounds to make the final, where they beat Mark Law and Alex Marritt 21-11 21-12.
In the open singles, Karunaratne overcame Will Hilton-Jackson 21-11 21-7 in the final.
40+
In the 40+ category, Guernsey’s Paul Le Tocq was among the notable performers, earning open doubles success alongside Nick Ponting as they defeated James and Simon White 17-21 21-14 21-10 in the final.
Le Tocq also took silver in the open singles after losing out in an epic 57-minute final against Andrew Aspinal (23-21 22-24 15-21).
Paul Freeman teamed up with Kelly Fairey in the mixed doubles and they came from behind against Paul Andrew Mayfield and Claire Royall to win the final 11-21 21-9 21-17.
45+
Kenton Jones enjoyed a memorable day in Hatfield, topping the podium twice, once as a top seed open singles winner and another alongside Linzi Kernick in the mixed doubles.
Tracy Parker also had a strong showing, winning the 45+ women’s doubles alongside Jenny Adrian and bagging bronze with Phil Sunderland in the mixed doubles.
50+
Carl Jennings came out on top twice in the 50+ category, landing the mixed doubles with Paula Wilson and the open singles, beating Simon Gilhooly 21-8 21-19 in the final.
Gilhooly was also in opposition in the mixed doubles final, alongside Sara Foster, with Jennings and Paula Wilson prevailing 21-11 21-15.
55+
Ponting starred again, winning the 55+ mixed doubles with Julie Bradbury, who also teamed up with Debbie Miller in the women’s doubles to complete twin triumphs.
Caroline Hale was just shy of topping the podium in her partnership with Betty Blair as Bradbury and Miller pulled off a three-game 21-18 16-21 21-16 win.
But Hale was on top form to claim first place in the 55+ women’s singles.
Julie Bradbury and Debbie Miller
60+
Lancashire’s John Bowker powered through both the 60+ mixed doubles and open doubles to pick up two national titles across the weekend, partnered by Donald Burden in the latter.
It was a similar story for Viv Gillard, who partnered Bowker in the mixed doubles as they came from behind to beat Mike Nevett and Karen Thomas 15-21 21-18 21-14.
She also took a women’s doubles gold home alongside Sue Crompton after beating Chris Summers and Karen Thomas 21-17 21-19.
John Bowker and Viv Gillard
65+
Ursula Heale and Christine Bridge contested a hard-fought encounter in the 65+ women’s singles before Heale came out on top with a 21-11 14-21 21-16 win.
Elsewhere, Ian Purton revelled in double gold delight in the 65+ mixed and open doubles categories.
He partnered Christine Crossley as the top seeds stormed to a comprehensive victory and managed the same with Dean Humphreys in the open doubles category.
Christine Crossley and Ian Purton
70+
Crossley added to her medal tally with 70+ women’s singles win as the top seed in the category, winning all three matches in the round-robin format.
Betty Bartlett teamed up with Janet Williams in the women’s doubles for a final win while Graham Robinson earned gold in the open singles.
75+
In the English National Masters Championships’ most experienced category, Jim Garrett went home with a brace of golds in the 75+ mixed doubles and open singles categories.
He and Mary Jenner overcame Ken Tantum and Sue Awock in three games (21-18 15-21 21-19) in the mixed doubles final and Garrett also pipped Rodney Forrest in the open singles, though Forrest joined forces with Grahame Moscrop to land the open doubles crown.
With special thanks to Yonex, Official Sports Equipment Partner for the English National Championships Series
Jim Garrett and Rodney Forrest
