Countdown to the Center Parcs National Schools Championships
The number of entrants for this year’s Center Parcs National Schools Championships broke all previous records. Over 1,600 schools and 22,000 children entered what is one of the biggest school tournaments in the country and on 24 and 25 April, 36 schools will gather at the finals, to be held at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, to do battle for Championship honours.
This year marks the second time that the finals of the National Schools Championships will be hosted by Center Parcs. Once again, the badminton courts at Sherwood Forest will be transformed overnight into a top level competitive arena with bleacher seating for spectators, courtside branding and branded court dividers to separate out the courts.
There will be some familiar faces amongst this year’s finalists with a number of schools thrilled to be making a return visit. Eric Brown, Chair of the Youth and Sport Board for BADMINTON England, commented:
"I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to all of the schools that have made it through to the finals. Given that we had a record number of entrants this year it’s a real achievement for schools to have made it this far – and in particular for those schools that were finalists last year as well."
Over the course of the finals weekend, several former Team England players will be on hand to meet the young players. Olympic silver medallist, Gail Emms, and European Champion, Donna Kellogg, will both be taking time out to spend some time with players and answer some of their questions, as well as getting involved in the on-court action.
Colin Whaley, Sales and Marketing Director at Center Parcs, said:
“Center Parcs is proud to be the title sponsor of the National Schools Championships. We are hugely excited to be hosting the Finals once again and look forward to welcoming some of the most promising young badminton players in the country to Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.”
For further information about the Center Parcs National Schools Championships, go to: www.badmintonengland.co.uk
