Cornwall Badmin-ton's second team made the long trip to Guernsey for the third meeting in their Victor Sports Inter-County Championship Division Five encounter, but ended up losing 10-5.

As usual, the Duchy team consisted of a mixture of youth and experience, while the Islanders also had some new faces and, from the outset, it was clear that this was a much stronger side that went down to Cornwall at Newquay back in October.

Dave Harrington continued his 100 per cent success rate in the singles, but the women struggled as the hosts managed to win both ties and secure six out of the eight rubbers on offer.

Kernow's three pairing battled hard in the mixed doubles, but the team managed just one victory, from the partnership of Harrington and player-manager Lorna Riggs.

The defeat will surely make Cornwall more determined to make amends in the next match – at home to Devon III on Sunday at Polkyth Leisure Centre in St Austell (1.00 pm).

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The Cornwall County Veterans' Handicapped Badminton Champion-ships are being held at Polkyth Leisure Centre, St Austell, on Sunday, January 11, from 12 noon to 5.00 pm.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.cornwallbadminton.co.uk">www.cornwallbadminton.co.uk

The closing date is next Monday, and further information can be obtained from Jenny Marchant on Liskeard (01579) 346 582.

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Schools from Fowey and Bodmin were among the teams taking part in the Center Parcs National Schools Badminton Championships, organised by the Poltair Schools' Sports Partnership.

Pupils from Fowey, Penrice and Poltair (St Austell), Newquay Tretherras, Newquay Treviglas, Bodmin and Brannel (near St Austell) played at one of two venues. The Years Seven, Eight and Nine events, held at Tregorrick Parc, saw Newquay Tretherras girls come out on top, while Poltair just pipped near-neighbours Penrice 3-2 in an exciting boys' final.

In the Years Ten and 11 meeting, at Brannel School, Newquay Tretherras again triumphed in the girls' event, while Penrice boys claimed victory. All four winning teams will now travel to Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Pool, for the County Final on Thursday, February 5.