A RECORD number of entrants served up an enthralling spectacle of sporting action at the Yehlex Swindon & District Junior Badminton Championships, played at New College, writes GARETH MOORHOUSE.

The first event on was the under 12 boys singles, an all Swindon-Pinehurst affair.

Charlie Dent took the title with a 21-7, 21-10 victory over Andrew Jones.

The under 12 girls singles was won by Imogen Saunders, who beat Georgia Wilkins in straight sets. Saunders and Wilkins then teamed up to take home the silverware in the under 12 girls doubles.

Dent added the under 12 boys doubles trophy to his singles title when he joined forces with Henry Prothero to defeat Jones and Thomas Hiller 21-19, 21-16.

Reuben Mansfield was crowned under 14 boys singles champion after a gripping 19-21, 21-17, 21-16 victory over Swindon-Pinehurst clubmate Fraser Conway.

Conway and Mansfield then teamed up to win the boys doubles, beating Robert Hares and Andrew Ferris 21-5, 21-9.

The under 14 girls singles, played in an American section, saw a four-way battle between Harriet Ferris, Helena Marsh, Alice Woodman and Molly Reid, with the top two accumulated scores playing off in a final which was won by Ferris, who beat Woodman 21-15, 21-10.

The girls doubles was another all Swindon-Pinehurst affair, with Ferris and Woodman justifying their favourites tag to beat Lois Donohoe and Melanie Hamilton.

The most popular event of the day was the under 16 boys singles, which had 18 entrants. Two-time winner Patrick Hobbs made it a hat-trick of titles, edging out Matt Illing 21-19, 22-20 in a superb final.

Again the two finalists combined to take the doubles crown, triumphing in straight sets over James Dent and Jeremy Marsh.

The under 16 girls singles final was contested by Beth Woodman and Harriet Ferris, playing in her third final of the day. Woodman won 21-13, 11-21, 21-17.

The under 16 girls doubles sprung a surprise win for Swindon-Pinehurst's Rebecca French and Yasmin Hallard, who beat the favourites Woodman and Ferris 21-16, 23-21.

The under 18 boys singles saw last year's winner and number two seed John Palmer (Kennet), knocked out by Josh Andrews (Swindon-Pinehurst).

Palmer eventually went on to win the under 18 plate event, while Aaron French beat Matt Illing for his first singles title.

National ranked Lisa Turner stormed to a third straight victory in the under 18 girls singles, beating Harriett Ferris - who earlier knocked out under 17 Wiltshire number one Charlotte Reeves.

Under 16 boys doubles champs Hobbs and Illing then added the under 18 title to their collection with a 23-21, 24-22 win over Kennet's George Cooper and John Palmer.

Charlotte Reeves and Lisa Turner retained their under 18 girls doubles crown, defeating Megan Gibson and Beth Woodman 21-15, 21-13.

The Mixed Doubles saw the biggest surprise of the day, as Reeves teamed up with under 15 county player George Dent to beat Illing and Ferris in a thrilling final which nobody could have foreseen at the beginning of the tournament.

Visit www.wiltshirebadminton.co.uk for full review of the championships.