YET another memorable and successful weekend was experienced at the Duchy of Cornwall 25th "Open" Badminton Championships in its silver anniversary year, writes John Tresidder.

Two ladies each carried home a brace of Duchy titles and a Liskeard youngster was awarded the best Cornish player silverware in his inaugural appearancet.

There was a bumper entry of 117, including 57 in the men's singles discipline for the tournament which was staged at its usual base, Carn Brea Leisure Centrenear Redruth over the weekend.

In its eighth year as a Badminton England "satellite" ranking tournament and with a prize-fund of £1,260, it attracted players from a marvellous spread of 23 English, Welsh and Scottish counties.

In the blue ribband singles events on day one, there were two inaugural winners with Gloucestershire's no. one seed, Rebecca Pantaney, the England No. 4, securing her first Duchy singles title, when she out-pointed Jo Dix, England-ranked 28, from Hampshire, 21/11, 21/3.

Early on Saturday evening, Hampshire's Mark Ashton, the number two seed, a finalist, for the past two years, finally went one better this time around, when he overcame the challenge of his county compatriot, Andy Penn, running out a deserved winner, 21/17, 5/21, 21/11.

On the second day, Sarah Burgess, Southampton-based, teamed up with Matthew Sprake (Cheshire), to harvest the mixed doubles - defeating the Hampshire duo, of Andy Penn and Jo Dix, 21/12, 21/16.

Sarah, partnering Miss Pantenay, then went on to win the doubles, to beat the Jo Dix and Caroline Simpson combination, 21/15, 21/13, thus reaping two titles each for the ladies.

This was a third Duchy success for Rebecca, the former England senior international, from Cheltenham, who in the 22nd "Open" won the mixed doubles with Mike Heywood.

1St Satellite final appearance and victory for Lancashire's Keith and David: The Lancashire outfit of Keith Cuncarr and David Edgar, seeded two, beat the favourites, Matt and Dan Corby, the Ivybridge (Devon), brothers, in a close-fought men's doubles final, 21/18, 21/18, to register their first English satellite ranking tournament apperance and victory.

Warwickshire's Mark Sellwood, the men's singles champion, in 2002 and top seed this year, sadly had to withdraw before the weekend, owing to injury.

In the special awards, Chris Glasson, aged 16, of Truro School and the First Edition Club, was the popular recipient of the Sporting Spirit Trophy and Douglas Andrews (17) from Liskeard Community School and the Liskeard Badminton Club was voted the best Cornish player.

This was due to Douglas reaching the singles "plate" semi-finals as well as winning through to the third round of the men's doubles main event with his older brother, Richard.

Amongst the Cornish entry of 26, were 15 youngsters from the successful Cornwall Youth Badminton (CYB) Organisation: Truro School's county singles champion, Emily James, aged 16, took Crediton's top-flight junior, Charlotte Hawkins, to a deciding third game in the first round of her ladies' singles, before going down 18/21, 21/8, 21/9.

Miss James, from Falmouth, partnering Claire Whitmore, also reached the semis of the ladies' doubles Plate, held on the second day.

Mr Mike Sertin, Badminton England's chairman, from Somerset; and the Cornwall president, Mr Mike Avery and wife Pauline, present a number of the trophies and cheques.

Graphic Solutions from Aldershot, Hampshire, together with Tag Sports (Newton Abbot and Portsmouth), in conjunction with Yonex UK Ltd, again joined forces as the tournament's joint main sponsors.

The Countryman Inns Free Houses Group together with Dales Renault were amongst the other generous sponsors.

Dr David Pegg, an experienced international referee, from Worcestershire, was the official in charge.

FULL RESULTS Ladies' singles - semi-finals: R. Pantaney (Glos), bt V. Jones (Mid-Glamorgan), 21/15, 21/8; J. Dix (Hants) bt C. Simpson, 21/19, 21/9. Final: Pantaney bt Dix, 21/11, 21/3.

Men's singles - semi-finals: M. Ashton (Hants) bt M. Ventham (Hants), 21/13, 17/21, 21/11; A. Penn (Hants) bt. B. Barber (Essex), 21/19, 21/19. Final: M. Ashton bt. A. Penn, 21/17, 5/21, 21/11.

Ladies' doubles - semi-finals: R. Pantenay/S. Burgess(Glos/Hants) bt N. Y. Shing and Z. D. Ledger (Wilts/Devon), 21/8, 21/6; J. Dix/C. Simpson (Hants/Glos), bt K. Lester/ K. Mead (Herts/Dorset), 7/21, 21/10, 21/9. Final: Pantenay and Burgess bt Dix and Simpson, 21/15, 21/13.

Men's doubles - semi-finals: M. Corby/D. Corby (both Devon), bt M. Sprake/C. Wright (both Cheshire), 21/17, 18/21, 21/19; K. Cuncarr/D. Edgar (both Lancs), bt J. Andrews/S Hulbert (Wilts/Somerset), 22/20, 21/15. Final: K. Cuncarr/D. Edgar bt M. Corby/D. Corby, 21/18, 21/18.

Mixed doubles - semi-finals: M. Sprake/S. Burgess (Cheshire/Hants), bt C. Wright/K. Lester (Cheshire/Herts), 21/11, 21/5; A. Penn/J. Dix (both Hants), bt. S. Gennery/ Mrs. S. Gennery (both Hants), 21/10, 23/21. Final: M. Sprake and S. Burgess bt A. Penn and J. Dix, 21/12, 21/16.

KNOCK-OUT PLATE FINALS Ladies singles: K. Mead (Dorset) bt. A. Feesey (Devon), 21/18. Men's singles: A. Zahoor (Middlesex), bt C. Brent (Hants), 21/8; Ladies' doubles: H. Crump/E. Porter (both Worcs), bt Miss. N. Hall/L. Farquhar (both Dorset), 21/11; men's doubles: J. Hepworth/P. Scott (Hants/Scotland) bt C. Brent/A Ferguson (both Hants), 27/25.