The Season Ends.

It feels like a long badminton season this year. There's been a lot of activity. Grades achieved, medals won. There have been a few disappointments - not singles or doubles, but when the team has been beaten an arch rival. Which is bound to happen sometimes - twice even!

Hugo set himself targets for the season and was in the odd position of achieving them in the first month or so. So had to re-set his targets, which led to a re-adjustment of priorities and so on. So the enduring highlights have been associated with particular people or teams. One memorable tournament was a huge success because he partnered a young player E. They lost every match, but they played like demons, never letting a point go. Even when they were losing massively, young E would say "come on Hugo we can still do this". Hugo and I were so impressed.

Today were the county trials and he has been selected for the county u17 squad, which is a big leap as he hasn't turned 16 yet and still won't when the season starts (Badminton England has a two year age banding rule).

The achievement that he is most proud of though, is his winners certificate for the Hertfordshire Schools Badminton Association. His schools u15 boys team won the event. He was the team! He called himself captain and bossed himself about and won.

There will be a short break now, with some summer training camps then it all starts again in September.