CHAMPIONS Barry Goldsborough and Christine Berry successfully defended their veterans crown in the Huddersfield Badminton League Tournament.

In a tense final against Mark Earnshaw and Carol Walshaw – who cancelled a trip to the pub when the found out they’d progressed from the round robin section! – the champions pressed home the advantage when Earnshaw suffered a slight injury and chalked a 21-7 21-9 victory.

After bad weather forced the postponement of the men’s, women’s and junior events, the veterans provided plenty of tough competition.

The round robin was highly competitive with only 12 points separating the top four pairs.

Top seeds Mick Pearson and Janet Michell took on fellow Division I pair Earnshaw and Walshaw in the first semi-final and it proved a close battle, the latter pairing winning through 21-17 21-19.

The other semi was between 2006 veterans champions, Peter Goldthorpe and Philippa Wood-roffe, and the holders Goldsborough and Berry.

This time the battle was even more closely fought, going all the way, with Goldsborough and Berry using all their experience to come from behind to win 20-21, 21-16, 21-18.