Badminton, Squash, Tennis 09

The popularity of this sport in St. Nicholas this season was the greatest it has been since this option was first introduced in the school, and the standard of badminton was reflected by the fact that, despite losing two of our best players last season, no less than eight players were good enough to play in the team this year. For the second consecutive season the team won the West London League, losing this time one game in forty five, a feat I suspect will never be repeated.

In the more important Middlesex School League the school qualified easily into the quarter finals, but they seemed doomed to follow the tracks of the team last year by losing in this round. However, owing to the greater overall strength of the side, the third pair won their game, and gave us the match five games to four over Isleworth.

The semi-finals and finals were played at the Alexandra Palace and despite fighting all the way the team was beaten quite soundly seven games to two by the eventual winners, Rutherford. This defeat should not be too disheartening, however, since Rutherford were a strong, well-prepared side, having the Middlesex Badminton Coach at that school, and were well equipped to play in the huge hall which overawed our team quite alarmingly.

So, wrapping up what has been a very successful badminton season for the school this year, I wish to thank Neil Ransley and Chris Szelewski, who will be leaving school this year with me, for playing so consistently all season, and "Henry" Wrighton, Grahame Hardinges, Nicky Veal and Dave Beaumont who turned out for each match, even if they were not playing, and played their best, showing that the school team will remain a force to be reckoned with next season.

T. Smith M6.