IN THE Yonex inter-county veteran's championships Chris Bird (Marine) and Theresa Ford (Paignton) put the finishing touches to a hard fought win for the County over 40 side when they beat Cornwall's Brian Hannibal and Sue Biscoe 21-14, 21-15.

Devon won 7-5 at the Acorn Centre, Torquay with Bird unbeaten throughout after winning two men's doubles with Ian Kirby (Queens BC). Theresa Ford's husband, Peter, got on the scoresheet after partnering John Carter (Sidmouth) to victory over Adam Widdowson and Brian Hannibal 21-11, 21-10.

Newly crowned Holyman Trophy champion Sarah Reynolds (Paignton) won a ladies' doubles with Suzanne Owens (Exeter, beating Lorna Riggs and Sue Biscoe in straight sets 21-14, 21-18.

But the Cornish Badminton Association restored some lost pride after emerging victorious 8-4. Paignton's Graham Starkie was in the Devon team, winning a men's doubles with Mike Skinner from Exeter.

An eye injury to Ann Bromage saw Eileen Sandford take her place for the second of the ladies doubles and the Adelphi Shuttles veteran enjoyed a win alongside Margaret Banyard when they defeated Duchy duo Pat Edwards and Pat Cass 21-18, 20-22, 21-16.

The Over 65 team were beaten by Wiltshire 7-2 at Melksham with the host county dominating all phases of the match.

Husband and wife Martin and Krys Webber (Marine) beat Rudi Hendow-John and Elaine Bricknell 21-19, 21-14 as the Devon over 45 team beat the Isle of Wight 7-5 at Freshwater.

Devon recovered from 5-3 down to sweep to victory in all four mixed doubles with Marine ladies' Sandra Lear and Julie Frost both winning alongside their respective partners. An excellent win by Lear and former Totnes number one Terry Parker over Richard Jones and Gill Bushell 21-15, 24-26, 21-15 was arguably the best doubles of the match.

The Over 65s also travelled to the Isle of Wight and were 'walking on water' to triumph 8-1 with Eileen Sandford unbeaten at ladies' doubles and mixed with John Selby.

The Over 55s beat Avon firsts 10-2 at Torquay with Roger Carpenter (Marine) and Jill McCord (Team Racquets) beating Glyn Davies and Anne Henfield 21-8, 21-9 and John Peterson (Marine) teaming up successfully with Marguerite Butt.

Devon had taken a 5-3 lead going into the mixed doubles thanks to an unbeaten performance in the men's doubles with John Peterson and Roger Carpenter both unbeaten alongside respective partners Barry Smethurst and Paul Samme.

The Over 65 second team were well beaten by Avon 9-0 at Torquay but were unlucky not to open their account in the final doubles when David Bromage and Angela Bolt went down to Piers Hutton and Muriel Gaynor 16-21, 22-20, 22-20.

PAINGTON ZOO'S Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment showed a safe pair of hands as Paignton White beat Totnes 22-5 at Cuthbert Mayne. In the final doubles of the match, Bemment and Devon junior Luke Bovey beat Andy Taylor and Jeff Lee 22-20, 21-15 to seal a good win for the Whites.

Totnes won two doubles in the deciding end including the win by Steve Faulkner and Jeff Lee over Peter Ford and Luke Bovey 21-12, 17-21, 21-8.

Three days later, Totnes tumbled to another defeat, this time at the hands of Marine A who ran out comfortable winners 25-4. Gareth Pearse and Jo Bojar were unbeaten for Marine after winning their opening doubles with victory over Jeff Lee and Helen Holden 22-20, 21-12.

At Kingskerswell Hall, Marine B just missed out on a maximum against Acorn 26-1. The only doubles that went to a third end saw Roger Carpenter and Jill McCord beat brother and sister Steve Humphries and Julie Constantinou (Acorn) 21-12, 16-21, 21-15.

In Division 1 of the men's league, Marine won the crucial showdown with fellow title contenders Paignton 11-7. Shaun Roberts (8) and Ross Coomber (5) were main contributors for Marine while top scorers for Paignton were Richard Lane (6) and John Elliot (4).

Paignton B cruised to victory at Christow when they beat hosts Chudleigh 15-3. But the visitors failed to win the first doubles of the night after Luke Bovey and John Lowe were ambushed by Keith Chapman and Adrian Hughes 21-19, 19-21, 21-19.

That proved to be the only doubles that Chudleigh won as Steven Ford and Daniel Elliott backed up team-mates Bovey and Lowe very well as Paignton won in style.

In Division 2, Kingsteignton's Paul Hinks, Roger Shepheard, Richard Goldsworthy and Andrew Peat beat Acorn B 11-7 at Torquay Boys' Grammar School. There was a consolation win for Mike Burlace and Joe Harrison (Acorn) who defeated Shepheard and Peat 21-12, 22-24, 21-17.

In Division 4, Ragi Chandra, Zoom Silapasamai and Vinod Joseph linked up with Dave Killoran to fly the flag for Circus Barton who beat a Sam Hodsoll-inspired Newton Abbot 11-9 at Coombeshead College.

FREE Badminton is on offer at the Acorn club. If you are looking to give the sport a try then you will be made welcome at Torquay Boys' Grammar School on Tuesday evening's 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

The message from Nina Haynes is: "Come and have fun, and get fit with the Acorn club - the first session is free." For more information phone 01803 312189 or go to www.15love.co.uk