ICT2004 37 teams but no Scots

[JohnEllis]

The draw for ICT 2004 has been made. thirty seven teams are entered. Sadly no Scottish teams included which is a surprise after all the hype on other threads stating how keen they were to beat the best England under 17's.
What are the reasons?

Watch out for Hampshire this year!

[Grover]

why hampshire john. what have they done?

[MrChips]

I dont think Hants have done anything this year - well nothing that I know of.
I don't really know much about the Scots either.

Are the Scots just up themselves John??? Wouldn't surprise me :o)

Interestingly enough it appears to me that the seedings may have gone askew since many of the top players have fallen out with county managers etc. as i understand it. I'm not going to point the finger at anyone, but surely this is rather selfish of both parties.

I'm 18 now and not once in the last goodness knows how many years of playing junior county badminton would I not turn out for my county, even if i did have a problem with managers. It's not only the managers responsibiltity to turn out his stongest team, but the players as well, and it seems petty to me that players will drop out and not put their county first.

Perhaps it's time for some to get priorities right.What do we think?

[mazzy]

i think you should be more gutted that jersey hasnt entered a team this year!!

[nora]

What are your veiws about Lincolsnshire

[nora]

I cannot get spelling correct sorry Lincolnshire

[englandsopinion]

Just like football! What's more important county or country? answer is simple!

[JohnEllis]

Richard
Lincolnshire are seeded to reach top eight. I think this is within their reach. To make top four you would have to beat Hertfordshire.
Sean
Which country are you putting first and what is the clash with ICT?
David
Hampshire have a strong line up. Two years ago they won under 15 team challenge. This is enough in my book.
Maza
Jersey will be missed. But you can use time to prepare for 6 Nations when you can make your presence felt (on court please).
Scotland
Any comments

[jtboy]

I think my county Hampshire will do well, but I am expecting Hertfordshire to surprise a few people.
However, I am expecting Yorkshire and Notts to meet in the final.

[biggy]

Yeah I think Yorkshire and Notts could meet in the final again but herts are a strong team with very strong girls, all their girls are in younger age groups so could become a better team in years to come,i expect them in the top 4, not sure bout hants.

[justme]

bucks may suprise a few !

[biggy]

who do bucks have? they karen and robert hird and michelle cheung.who else?

[justme]

lookin at ther performance last year they did very well with a young team ! obvious that they will all have improved within the year

[BadmintonsBest]

anyone got the draw???

[JohnEllis]

Bucks and Herts are seeded in top four so i do not expect any surprises from them. They both have very strong teams.
The draw is available to team managers and i have got a copy but i do not think it is on the web.
A lot will depend on teams keeping injury free and rising to the challenges as and when they are set.
There are some notable absentees that will weaken some teams.

[coops]

and Lancashire finally entered a team after years away!

[biggy]

who is not going, i know dean george isn't going but who else isn't going that would of made a significance with their team?

[MrChips]

Ruth coleman isn't playing in the Notts side this year as I've been told, nor Erika Whittingham in the Staffs side.

We almost got you at RIO John!!! Unfortunately this time you'll run away from us as we can't really match you man for man. I've got every faith that Herts can beat Notts and claim second place though.

I was the eldest in the side last year and it is virtually unchanged - the guys know what they're up against and having led them from the front I know what they're capable of. I even train with them still!!

I stick by my guns - Yorks to win definitely, then Herts, Notts and Bucks.

I'm not writing off Hants because they are certainly strong, it's just that I don't think the draw will play in their favour.

[MrChips]

[duno]

what players are in the herts team?

[biggy]

i would guess:
boys:-
william westwood
anthony moye
nigel tao
kameron haq
(someone else)
i dont know the girls apart from laura cousins

[JohnEllis]

Hertfordshire girls are from ( rapidly fading memory) Laura Cousins, Katie Comras, Frankie Edelmann, Emma Stokes and Nicola Farr. Good strength in depth.
David may be biased as indeed am i but i have to agree that they could finish second.
But again injuries have got to be the worry as there are two tough weekends for some of the youngsters with the Team Challenge and Aros.
I hope everybody gets to ICT with their named squad fit and ready to go.
I can not wait to get there and i will only be watching (i might do a little bit of clapping too!!!!)

[JohnEllis]

Hertfordshire girls are from ( rapidly fading memory) Laura Cousins, Katie Comras, Frankie Edelmann, Emma Stokes and Nicola Farr. Good strength in depth.
David may be biased as indeed am i but i have to agree that they could finish second.
But again injuries have got to be the worry as there are two tough weekends for some of the youngsters with the Team Challenge and Aros.
I hope everybody gets to ICT with their named squad fit and ready to go.
I can not wait to get there and i will only be watching (i might do a little bit of clapping too!!!!)

[nora]

What do you think about Avon and Essex

[JohnEllis]

Avon finished third in Shires League under 17 group behind Bucks and Warwicks and so will not be a pushover.
Essex finished sixth at under 17 and fourth at under 15 but i doubt there leading lady would have played much part in those fixtures.
If i read the draw correctly Lincolnshire are favorites to win this group and should be too strong for both these sides.

[northantsgirl]

any1 no anythin bout Ulster? any good? xx

[ADZ1]

oi oi people, david you are my hero for what you said in that first page, u hit the button by saying that about falling out with managers etc.i have nothing against the other lad but i know and other people have backed me up that decisions on our seedings have been a result of favouritsm.Im happy that everyone is expecting us to do well but i agree with some people in saying hampshire will be a big task, there boys are very strong and they have some pretty good top girls, it will be hard thats for sure.

[Graeme]

I know the two Irish teams Ulster and Leinster have two strong top U.17 boys maybe as good as anything England have just haven't been played much here. Both world ranked seniors I think?

Scott Evans the top Leinster boy made the boys singles final in the Aros junior tournament in Denmark last week and played in the doubles with our own Mark James, Alex Sim the top Ulster boy is a very good player and I watched him make Sune Gavnholt one of the top Danish seniors work very hard in the Irish Open. I think these guys may be as good as they have but I also understand that in Ireland they are an exception and both are trained intensively in Denmark. I can say for sure that they are technically as good as anything I have seen in England...haven't really seen the rest of their teams but both these guys can hold their own at senior European level. That's my intelligence all done...more to the point who is playing for Lancs?

[coops]

wish i could remember all the names, but the few lancs juniors i know - not sure of ages or if they're going to ICT.. Darren Hosegood, James Mullarkey, Amy Ashrafi, Tom Dunlop(i would guess), Alasdair McCorkingdale, Thomas Monk, Amanda barret, Laura Walsh, Steph Taylor, Jenny Hayhurst anyone care to remind me of the rest - or point me in the right direction..?

[PeteG]

I'd think Nick Hodgson as well, if he's the right age group, but can't remember, other than that I reckon you've got most of the major players there Neil.

[JohnEllis]

Nick Hodgson is under 18 now. Maddie Harrison is going too.

[coops]

some fairly strong players from lancs then - with the top U17 boy in the singles. maybe an upset is on the cards...?

[MrChips]

In my few years of playing I've found that a team's strength is nearly always placed on the girls.

Generally a team with good girls and a few good boys will do well compared to a team with just the one or two strong boy/s

[arf]

To be honest bucks will do alright this year. They still have quite a strong team, but some of their players might perform not as good because some has only come back from the aros cup.

[JohnEllis]

Lancashire are in Nottinghamshire's group assuming they finish second to them they go up against Bucks and Hants. Tom Dunlop is ace but he can only secure two rubbers. I do not expect any upsets from them.