English Nationals

[Mauipoweruk]

OK this is my first new thread so go easy on me!

Last year I recall running up to the Nationals there was a lot of banter regarding who was going to win, in particular the Men's singles. Once again I think it should be a very open tournament and a good opportunity to see our finest fighting it out against each other.

The mixed is probably the easiest to predict with Nathan and Gail clear favourites, but Blair and Munt are always strong, Archer may be playing with Tripp, Roebuck and Wallwork are getting stronger all the time and Lindley and Rayapann looked good in Birmingham.

Ladies doubles is likely to be between Gail/Donna and Ella/Jo, but I wouldn't want to call it.

In the Men's doubles, I'd say Clark and Blair must be favourites, but Archer/Lindley looked good in Birmingham and there are likely to be a few pairs that could give either pair a run for their money on route.

Ladies singles should be a repeat of last years final with Cann and Halam too close to call. However I suspect Pittard and Mann will be hot on their heels and look out for young Michelle Chung.

However, again I suspect it is the Men's singles that will be the most open. Last year Ghaffer looked unstoppable and for that reason and since he has been there before I put him favourite. However Michael Edge has taken everyone by storm this season 'playing for fun'. Nick Kidd can be formidable if he can get his game together, Rajiv Ouseph the young contender - looked very good in Birmingham. Nathan Rice and Toby Honey seem to have had mixed fortunes this season but are both capable of causing an upset. I haven't seen Smith since the last Nationals but he always seems to be up there in the rankings so cannot be ruled out. However, there are also potential pitfalls in the draw if the likes of Constable and Burgess enter, and there are also the likes of Andrew Ellis and Carl Baxter on their day capable of an upset?

But that's just what I think!

I apologise to anyone I may have missed!

Thoughts?

[Luncheon]

Would agree with most....mixed is obvious. Ladies Singles will be interesting to see if Hallum can avenge her previous defeats to Cann..but my money would be on the latter.
Emms and Kellogg are the better pair so I would reckon on them.
Mens doubles is likely to go the way of Clark and Blair, but then there are:
Archer and Lindley and Jeffrey and Hurrell (if playing) to upset the apple cart....but seeing Clark and blair beat the latter at Wimbledon last year....sensible money must be on the top boys.

Mens singles - well coming from Hampshire it would be great to Andy Smith win it, but Edge seems to be the wildcard......if I was betting it would be on him....unless Haughton decided to turn out. Otherwise its likely to be a Ghaffar/Kidd final.

[badmintoncoach]

singles Mike Edge,

[Markymark]

Who do people think will win? Any surprises?

I'm going to be very boring and say that all No.1 seeds are going to win. I can't see Gail & Nathan or Donna & Gail losing and Tracey Hallam is likely to beat Elizabeth Cann, who has not been in the form she was last year.

Aamir always seems to play well at the Nationals and I can't see Simon Archer pulling a fairtytale ending to his career.

But then again....I'll probably be wrong. It's nice to see a big entry for the Nationals - the Scottish Nationals were so poorly supported it's nice to see one of the Home Nations doing things well.

[Mauipoweruk]

Is it 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc... If so we have a possible 1/4 final Edge vs Ghaffer which would be interesting. Also Kidd vs Constable would be quite physical!

[badmintoncoach]

I hope mike egde wins the mens singles after that im not sure what are your views??

[bingobango]

I would like to see some strong results from Andrew Smith to back up his world ranking!
I thought he struggled and lost at the All England against a player he really should have beaten in two sets!

[Mauipoweruk]

Well it will be interesting to see how he fares this year against Raj. Last years encounter was certainly interesting (and a contrast to Honey vs Kidd on the next court which lasted 109 mins). I think the pick of the first round matches will be Rice vs Ellis.

[player1990]

Nick kidd all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alansd]

Assuming that they get through the first round I think the trueman/foster v langridge tonks could be an interesting one. Although the latter pair have been playing more this season I wouldnt be that surprised if trueman foster pulled that one off. Any opinions?

[Frodo]

If Langridge Tonks can hold it together on the pressure points, then I would favour them.

In Singles I think its going to be an interesting tournament. Kidd has something to prove against Edge, Constable and Ghaffar ... does he have the quality ...

Ghaffar is not fasting this time so he should be fitter and determined to retain his title ...

However I would favour Constable and Edge to be the eventual winners, they seem to be a step or two ahead in quality ... but have they got the stamina to last the day - stamina the weakness of Andrew Smith :rolleyes:

As for Ouseph ... his shortcomings have been debated before :cool:

It should be interesting to see how the upcoming juniors ...

[BigWhopper]

personally i think that in terms of class edge and constable are well ahead of everyone at the nationals and would not be surprised one or the other in the final. Constable showed at last seasons middlesex open how good is really was (and still is) by beating ghaffar in the final, while edge according to badminton england is 'playing for fun' has outclassed everyone so far on the elite circuit.

The only problem really for either of those two is how well their fitness holds up during the course of the tournament as they will undoubtably not be training anywhere near as hard as ppl like kidd or ghaffar.

[FutureChamp]

I don't see Edge, or infact anyone troubling Ghaffer. Looking at the All England results, Edge failed to qualify and would have played Ghaffer in round 1 if he had qualified, and Ghaffer won 5&1 against the bloke who beat him.

[player1990]

even if constable and edge outclass the rest over a match, i doubt they will have the fitness for the latter matches of the tournament, wich will likely be against kidd and ghaffer. I think a repeat of last years final!!!!

[yonexgirl]

Ghaffer v Kidd - who's everyone's money on?

What happened in the Pittard/Cann match, the scores were 5 adn 0. I thought the game would be much closer than that. Did anybody see it?

[badmintoncoach]

but great result for Nick Kidd congratulations on your great achievment.

[DaddyCoach]

My personal thoughts on finals day was that it was rather disappointing.

Things kicked off with the men's doubles in which Simon Archer was injured. That left Anthony Clark and Rob Blair easy winners (7 & 4) over Simon and Dave Lindley. I think Anthony and Rob would have won relatively easily anyway. So what is often the best final was rather disappointing. Congrats to Anthony as it was his 5th straight national men's doubles title. Simon's injury(s) may cast doubt on his ability to go to the Commonwealth's.

The Ladies dobles was then cancelled due to illness to Ella Tripp.

The men's singles followed with Nick Kidd beating Aamir Ghaffar in 3 sets but Nick winning easily in 2nd and 3rd sets. I personally thought Nick was much the better player on the day - sharper, fitter and with a gretaer variety of shots.

Tracy Hallam then beat Jill Pittard in another strange game. Having lost the first set and trailing 4 - 0 in the 2nd, Tracey reeled off 22 points without reply from Jill.

Finally, the mixed which looked like being the best final of the night as Anthony and Donna Kellogg had demoilshed Rob Blair and Natalie Munt in the semis. Not to be as Nathan and Gail played unbelievable badminton not allowing Anthony and Donna to get a look in - score was 3 & 2.

So overall, pretty disappointing finals, particularly the doubles and even the singles finals, despite going to 3 sets never really captured the crowd.

Anyone else go to Manchester and have a similar view?

[stealth]

Please find at the following link, images taken at the English Nationals 2006.

I have only completed working / selecting images from the final day but I think it fits in nicely with the theme of this thread. It was a dissappointment that injury / illness had force the change of schedule.

The Friday and Saturday links will become available over the next week as I sort through the images taken.

sportpictures.co.uk images from English National Badminton Championships 2006 - Sunday (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportpictures/sets/72057594062363352/)

[Martin Dew-Hattens]

It must be a bit off puttnig for Kidd not making the CG team after making National Champion.

I realise there must have been a cutoff date but surely that date could have been moved forward to include the nationals. This only helps to de-value the event.

[Luncheon]

He's also been overlooked for the England vs Denmark game. Ghaffar has been picked to face Kaldau.

Begs the question - Whats the point in being England No.1 and National Champion.