News

The AGM will take place at 19:30 on Tuesday 16th July
The meeting will be held on zoom.
Please use the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84479129743 to join.

Penny Shears, a long-standing member and junior coach for Beaufort, was victorious in the English National Masters Championships 2021 back in November, and was crowned O70 Women’s Doubles National Champions 2021, alongside her partner Cathy Alexander.

Now, in March 2022, they will be representing England on the International level, playing against Scotland in the McCoig Trophy Tournament on 4-6th March in York.

This is an incredible achievement, both becoming National Champions and also getting called to play for England, and we wish you all the best in the tournament!

Hi everyone,

If you aren’t currently aware, the Council are looking to close Kingsdown Sports Centre in 2023 when they contract out to a new provider.

Please see http://www.beaufortbadminton.club/help-us-save-kingsdown-sports-centre-from-closure/

Given the significant impact the closure of the facility would have on the badminton community, Badminton England have given their response to the consultation; attached below.

Badminton England’s Interim CEO, Pete Fitzboydon has also personally written to the Council to reiterate Badminton England’s stance.

There is a Council discussion meeting regarding this closure on the 14th December so please show your support!

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We have recently found out that Bristol council are looking at closing Kingsdown Sport Centre, when they contract out for a new provider in March 2023. This will be a massive loss to the local community and also the future of our club.

This decision was made by Bristol’s Mayor Marvin Rees at a Council cabinet of Bristol City Council on 19th September without the local community or elected councillors for the area having any opportunity to make the case for the council to save Kingsdown Sports Centre.

Please help us support the centre by voicing your objection to the closure via the Council’s public consultation found on this link and going down to the bottom and clicking on the form under “Give us your views”. The consultation closes 7th November 2021 so please submit your objection by then!

https://bristol.citizenspace.com/public-health/leisure-facilities-investment-strategy/

There is also a paper petition at the entrance of the sports centre that you can sign.

Even if you do not play at Kingsdown, every bit of support will help.

Thank you!

League badminton has been devastated over the last year. We know how difficult that has been for all involved and we want to help you build back stronger. Having been off court for over 12 months, and the regular season still months away, we want to get teams back together and back on court, get the competitive juices going, and get everyone ready for the league season to come.

We are launching a brand new summer team competition, open to anyone, for teams of 4 players (2 men and 2 women). Teams will be pooled into local groups based on standard and play several matches running through July to September, and the winners of local pools invited to progress into a second Cup style stage.

We hope by leagues making their clubs and teams aware of the Summer Team Cup, and sharing details on how to enter, we can ensure as many players return to league badminton as soon as possible.  

Babolat Shuttle Giveaway

It’s free to enter, and to further incentivize teams we have partnered with Babolat to give away 200 dozen shuttles as part of a prize draw to celebrate their new hybrid shuttle! The new hybrid shuttle is a blend of feathers with a nylon skirt to provide a more durable and affordable shuttle than standard feather shuttles, but with feather shuttle flight quality.

To find out more and for teams to enter, please click here. 

Entry closes 30th June

Hi all!

Our sessions are back as of next week!

Great news that organised indoor sports can start back. Hopefully reopening for the last time!

Like before, we are using the Spond app to manage attendance as we are still restricted in numbers until further restrictions are lifted.

FAO Beaufort Park members:

Currently Kingsdown still cannot offer us our usual courts; we have two courts 7:30-10pm, and two further courts 8:30-10pm. The first 12 to respond on Spond get first refusal to play the 2.5 hour session. We may need to rotate players in further sessions to make it fair for everyone to play in the 2.5 hour slot. We will play 6 a side over two courts, rather than 6 to a court, this should make the games more varied.

Members who paid subs at the start of the season will have priority, annual members first. Winter members will need to extend their membership for the rest of the period to end of August.

Also to note, until restrictions relax further, Kingsdown are requiring players to vacate the hall and building at ten minutes to each hour for 10 minutes while they clean equipment etc. Although this doesn’t make sense to us, it is their policy and we must adhere to it.

Refunds as previously will be calculated by our new treasurer probably at the end of the summer season or start of the 2021-22 period.

Any further questions or if you haven’t received the Spond invite (paid members only) please contact the chairman Nigel or your session rep.

For further details on the return to play guidelines, please visit Badminton England.

See you all soon! ❤️

Hi,

Unfortunately due to the new national restrictions that came into force from Thursday 5th November, leisure centres and sport facilities are now closed, therefore all of our sessions (Monday General, Wednesday Advanced and Beaufort Park) have stopped with immediate effect.

You can view the updated guidance from the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

These restrictions apply until Wednesday 2nd December (at the time of writing this article).

We hope to restart our sessions once the national restrictions are lifted, however this will be subject to availability in the sports halls and also under guidance of Badminton England depending on if we are placed into Tier 1 or Tier 2 local restrictions.

We will keep you informed as we know more.

Stay safe!

Beaufort Badminton Club

With our sessions now back on at Shine Academy and Ashton Park Sports Centre (Beaufort Park), it is imperative that we stick to the guidelines put out by the Government and Badminton England to ensure as best as we can the safety of our members and family by minimising the risk of spreading Covid-19.

This is the responsibility of both the club and also every individual member of the club.

Make sure if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 that you stay at home and isolate for the 14 days as instructed by the Government.

Please read fully the two documents below before booking your slot for a session via Spond.

Thank you.

Hi all!

As of yet, we cannot confirm when we are returning to play unfortunately but we will let you know as soon as we know ourselves!

Under Badminton England guidance, we need to have in place a booking system so that we can monitor and control numbers when we are finally allowed back on court.

In preparation for this, we are going to use ‘Spond’. You should shortly be receiving/received a Spond invitation by email, so keep an eye out for it.

Thanks!

Hi all!

I hope that everyone is well and has either not had Covid-19, or if you have that you have recovered and are ok!

The other day Badminton England issued guidance to clubs with regards to returning to indoor play from potentially the 6th July. I am hoping that as individuals you have also received a similar e-mail which contains their guidance on individuals getting back to playing.

For running the club things have to be very different. Singles will be the only format of play as doubles is only permitted if you are from the same family. Up to 6 players (call this a pod) can play on the same court and that pod must remain together for the duration of their playing time. You cannot change ‘pods’ during the evening. Within the ‘pod’ social distancing is to be maintained whilst waiting to play etc. I am attaching the document that we as a club need to adhere to so that you can see the measures that will need to be taken in order to conform with getting club nights back up and running again.

Obviously this is a changing situation and as of today we do not know what Kingsdown and Everyone Active will decide about how the sports centre will operate and even when it will re-open!!

To help us plan for our return please could you let Jackie (jackie.millward@blueyonder.co.uk) know if you would want to come back in July. We will have to run a ‘booking system’ to control numbers and perhaps the length of time you play for. Nigel has agreed to be the Covid-19 officer and will attempt to source and provide hand sanitiser to supplement any players bring it themselves.

All of the above is subject to getting the go ahead from the Government, guidance from them and Badminton England and following the rules that the sports centre make. Obviously, this is entirely your own decision and you must weigh up the risks for yourself and your family before making a decision.

Any questions please do get in contact.

We are almost there! Stay safe!

Thanks! 🙂