PREPARATIONS are already being put in place for the Huddersfield Badminton Summer League.

It has been run successfully for the past few years and entries are now being taken for 2009.

Clubs who take part in the winter league are urged to enter, the closing date being Friday, April 17.

Teams need only two men and two ladies and matches consist of two level games followed by two mixed.

It is just £6 per team to enter and those interested should contact Pippa Woodroffe on 07714 945550 or email philippa@hdbl.org.uk

Details are also on the league website.

In Division V of the winter league, Fartown C scored a handsome 7-2 victory over St Cuthberts Racqueteers B but both are likely to still be relegated.

Fartown C had Dave Crowther, Martin Reynolds and Gerry Peltier playing up from their Division VI team while St Cuthberts were without some key players and had Nick Martinek, Lynda Fielding and newcomer Bob Garside deputising.

Graham White and Martinek won the first men’s for home side St Cuthberts while Fartown won the first ladies, again in three close games, although Barbara Horsman and Sera Griffiths had to work very hard against Angela Hall and Margaret Horbury.

Fartown took the second and third men’s and ladies, going into the mixed 5-1 ahead, but St Cuthberts hit back to take the first mixed through White and Hall. Fartown won the final two.

St Cuthberts B 2

Fartown C 7

Men – (St Cuthberts names first): Graham White and Nick Martinek beat Steve Bell and Dave Crowther 21-16 19-21 21-17, White and Bob Garside lost to Bell and Martin Reynolds 13-21 14-21, Martinek and Garside lost to Crowther and Reynolds 16-21 22-20 14-21.

Ladies – Angela Hall and Margaret Horbury lost to Barbara Horsman and Sera Griffiths 4-21 24-22 16-21, Hall and Lynda Fielding lost to Horsman and Gerry Peltier 21-23 18-21, Horbury and Fielding lost to Griffiths and Peltier 20-22 16-21.

Mixed – White and Hall beat Bell and Horsman 21-17 7-21 21-10, Amir Zeb and Horbury lost to Crowther and Griffiths 16-21 22-20 15-21, Martinek and Fielding lost to Reynolds and Peltier 19-21 13-21.

In Division IV, Valley St James F scored a 5-4 home win over Holmfirth E, although Denise Nudds had to concede her final ladies game and her mixed for the visitors.

All the ladies games were close, with some excellent rallies, and Sabirah Shefta stood out for Valley St James winning both her matches.

New junior member Alex Booth did well for the home side, helping Colin Sladden take the third men’s to three.

Valley St James F 5

Holmfirth E 4

Men’s (Valley names first) – John Ellis and Colin Sladden lost to Dave Haymen and Kevin Pearson 16-21 19-21, Ellis and Alex Booth lost to Dave Haymen and Derek Thompson 20-22 17-21, Sladden and Booth lost to Pearson and Thompson 16-21 21-15 13-21.

Ladies – Liz Kenny and Rachel Fay beat Cath Alsop and Denise Nudds 21-17 24-22, Kenny and Sabirah Shefta beat Alsop and Janet Winn 16-21 21-18 21-19, Fay and Shefta beat Nduds and Winn 21-15 19-21 21-0 (conceded).

Mixed – Ellis and Kenny beat Pearson and Alsop 15-21 21-15 21-15, Sladded and Fay beat Haymen and Nudds (conceded), Booth and Shefta beat Thompson and Winn (conceded).

In Division V, Diane Horton made a welcome return for Royds Hall D but was unable to help them prevent a 7-2 defeat at St Cuthberts Rac A.

She broke a hand in December and has been unable to compete since, but her return coincided with the return of her son, Harry, from university, and they teamed up in the mixed. It was a special occasion for Harry, who played for the opposition last season!

They did well, too, coming back from 19-12 down to beat Amir Zeb and Jane Holmes 23-21 21-17.

St Cuthberts Rac A 7

Royds Hall D 2

Men (St Cuthberts names first) – Malcolm Holmes and Nabeel Bhatti beat Jonathan Holland and Harry Horton 21-23 21-13 21-15, Holmes and Amir Zeb beat Holland and John Rousell 21-15 21-10, Bhatti and Amir beat Horton and Rousell 21-11 21-14.

Ladies – Jane Holmes and Carolyn Walker lost to Diane Horton and Sue Oldfield 22-24 19-21, Holmes and Jenny Hemsworth beat Horton and Jean Gledhill 21-15 21-10, Hemsworth and Walker beat Gledhill and Holdfield 21-16 21-10.

Mixed – Holmes and Walker beat Holland and Oldfield 17-21 21-13 22-20, Amir and Holmes lost to Diane and Harry Horton 21-23 17-21, Bhatti and Hemsworth beat Rousell and Gledhill 21-18 21-8.