AFTER more than 75 games of badminton three pairs, Colette David and Megan Harmsworth (ladies' doubles); Abdul Kobir and Jashim Ahmed (men's doubles) and Andy Hall and Colette David (mixed doubles) came out as the winners of the three categories in the inaugural Tavistock Festival of Badminton.

The festival was held at the Tavistock Community Sports Centre

All three events were hard fought with a round robin of games deciding on the seedings for the double-elimination tournament in each category.

In the men's doubles Abdul Kobir and Jashim Ahmed won only two of the five games played in the round robin. However they came into their own in the double-elimination knock-out to win a place in the final. There they came up against Richard Angle and Andrew Hall, who had been unbeaten before losing to Abdul and Jashim 15-10, 15-11.

The ladies doubles final saw Megan Harmsworth and Colette David take on Jane Morton and Cath Brown. Megan and Colette took the lead with a 21-12 first end but Jane and Cath levelled the match 21-19 in the second before Megan and Cath ran out the winners with a 21-13 win in the third end.

In the mixed doubles event many of the round robin games were only won or lost by a few points. No one went through from the round robin games to the double-elimination knock-out section having won all their games! Andy Hall and Colette David, played James David and Megan Harmsworth in the final with Andy and Colette taking the title 15-12, 10-15, 15-12.

Alan Berry, secretary of BAT's Badminton Club, thanked the players and the two assistant referee's on the day, Celine Conley and Tess Ashen.

The festival of badminton was organised by Tavistock Community Sports Centre in association with the West Devon Community Badminton Network and BAT's Badminton Club.

The sports centre runs a number of badminton sessions during the week on Thursday between 5pm-6pm, which is for all ages and led by a Badminton England qualified coach; Sunday, 10am-noon a 'No-strings badminton session. For more information, contact Tavistock Community Sports Centre on 01822 813238 or visit the BAT's Badminton Club website http://www.batsbadminton.co.uk">www.batsbadminton.co.uk