MARION SAUVEBOIS meets a small badminton club which has scooped a plethora of trophies over the years

HIGHWORTH Badminton Club never allowed a small detail like size to hamper its chances of victory.

Scooping trophy after trophy over the decades, its loyal players have proven that a reduced yet motivated team can equal any large club and, better yet, beat it.

“Competitively, the club plays in the Swindon and District League, having two men, one ladies and two mixed teams in action during the season,” said Simon French, Highworth Badminton Club chairman.

“League matches take us around the Swindon area and out to Tetbury, Cirencester and Marlborough.

“The club also enters some county events offering the chance to play clubs from Salisbury and Mid-Wilts districts. The district Bicknell Cup team knockout competition, which is played throughout the season, is a particular favourite for the club.

“We’ve won it on a few occasions over the years, but being, historically, one of the leagues smaller clubs, it’s quite an event when we win it.

“Above all, we like to have fun playing the game whether it be in a match or socially, win or lose.”

The club was founded in the 1960s as the Lechlade Badminton Club based at RAF Fairford gymnasium.

It remained in the Lechlade area until the mid-1980s when keen badminton player and headmaster at Warneford School in Highworth, Cyril Dunsby, invited the club to make the school its permanent base.

The group was soon renamed Warneford BC. The school was shared with the incumbent Highworth Badminton Club, which eventually folded in the late 1990s.

“In 2005, with the venues split between Highworth’s Rec Sports Centre and Warneford School, the club decided to take the town’s name for the clubs to raise its profile, as few in the badminton fraternity knew where Warneford was,” added Simon.

One of very few sports allowing both men and women to compete together, Badminton is rather unique. As such, the club is always looking to recruit female players.

“The club is actively trying to encourage more ladies to play and take part either socially, and/or in the league, and/or in mixed doubles. So if you’d like to give it a go, we would certainly welcome you along.

“Although we aren’t suited to take on absolute beginners, the club does encourage those who have played socially, to try and take it to the next level and we can ensure that time and practice with us will pay dividends in your play and skills.

“We have many players who are regular team players, who once used to just have a ‘knockabout’ socially and have made the step up successfully. “We have several players who have returned to the sport after time away – so no excuses about ‘I haven’t played for several years’. It’s like riding a bike: after a few weeks, you’ll be back in the swing of it. Your bones might ache a bit more than they used too, but that comes with the territory!”

The club plays on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8pm to 10pm at The Rec Sports Centre. First visit free and £3.50 thereafter. Full membership is £85 a season. Visit highworthbadmintonclub.btck.co.uk or email Simon at racketbag72@gmail.com.