ShuttleBusters

NEWS & EVENTS

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LATEST NEWS

SHUTTLEBUSTERS - 8 PM WEDNESDAYS - PRESTON

The Beginners & Improvers group at Preston is now structured as a club, playing as Shuttlebusters (Wednesdays 8-10pm). The club constitution reflects the original objectives of the group: it will remain open to both beginners and improvers, and provide coaching so that players can learn the game and improve. Membership is £49 (£5 per night for visitors). The terms are 17 weeks approx, January-April, May-August and September-December.

The sports centre is at Preston School, in Monks Dale - the sports hall is around the back of the school, and there's parking at the back, alongside the outdoor pitch.

Note: During the summer Shuttlebusters is at Westlands instead of Preston.

EVENING CLASS - 7 PM MONDAYS - PRESTON

Somerset Adult Learning & Leisure is now offering an evening class 7pm Mondays at Preston Sports Centre with Helen Manfield as the coach. This is a really good idea, and a chance to work with a county level coach who wants to make sure you get a chance at learning the whole game and not just part of it - players who go to helen's classes often improve their badminton very quickly.

For current costs and dates contact Preston Sports Centre, Monks Dale, Yeovil (phone is 01935 412137).

OTHER EVENING CLASSES

There are suggestions that there will be other evening classes on offer soon but at the moment it's only talk in the vaguest terms. More news here if anything happens - but also keep an eye on the Somerset Badminton website to see if any useful sessions turn up there.

MEN'S DOUBLES (etc)

A new men's doubles affiliated league started in the 2006-2007 season, based on the Taunton league (it's actually unrestricted doubles, which is better still). In 2007-2008 the non-affiliated West Dorset League started a new competition as well, This has a balance of 4 men and 2 ladies, playing four mixed doubles, four men's doubles and one ladies doubles.

Together these should mean that everyone who wants to play competitively have something to aim for (previously only around half the men could play because the league formats all required the same number of women as men).

Taken together the expansion of men's doubles and the addition of evening classes are a huge step forward in providing a better balance and more opportunities to increase the pool of players. And badminton is back in the "official" Adult Leisure programme (in Somerset Adult Learning and Adult Leisure are actually separate organisations that aren't joined together in any meaningful way - so although the classes now exist the council does nothing whatever to promote them).

BADMINTON COACHING AT STRODE

The part-time prospectus for Strode College (in Street) has badminton evening classes (listed as Beginners & Improvers at 7.30-10 on Mondays, and Intermediate & Advanced at 7-8.30 on Thursdays). 12 weeks for £50. Phone is 01458 844400.
Adult Education in Street can do it, why can't we?

BADMINTON COACHING AT CREWKERNE

The new Crewkerne Sports Centre at Wadham School has coaching for adults, both beginners and improvers, Monday and Tuesday evenings and a club on Friday evenings. There's also coaching for juniors on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings Phone is 01460 271683.

JUNIOR BADMINTON COACHING

Preston has weekly one hour sessions on Saturdays for ages 8-17 years, and now there's Mondays as well. Times are 10-11 am for beginners and 11am-12noon for improvers on Saturdays, and 6-7 pm for improvers on Mondays. Saturdays are £18 for the nine-weeks, Mondays are £20 for ten weeks. There are usually some separate sessions organised in the summer as well.

Ring or call in at Preston Sports Centre to register (phone is 01935 412137, morning or evening is best).

Note: Prices are always likely to have changed since this webiste was last updated. Always take any time-sensitive information posted here as no more than a rough guide.