BADMINTON - Bright start fired by inspirational coach

The benefit of coaching has given Whangarei Badminton Club's junior players a noticeable jump-start in competition this year.
The club's Sharon Heywood said the standard of play has improved steadily since internationally-qualified coach Aaron Spence took charge of the juniors.
"The games among our top juniors have improved no end from when I first got involved two years ago and the individual growth among our younger club members is really good to see," she said.
Spence plays at the Whangarei club and has helped nurture some of the younger talent at the club.
The Whangarei Badminton Club had its junior prizegiving last week. The results are as follows:
Boys: Singles champion, Robert Smith; runner-up, Shotaro Hashimoto; plate, Mike Ringrose 1, Nathan Bishop 2. Under-11 singles, Ben Andrews 1; Arnav Shetty 2. Doubles, Douglas Wright and Lahiru Hapugaskumbura 1, Mike Ringrose and Jaymin McGuire 2. Under-11 doubles, Ben Andrews and Dinidu Hapugaskumbura 1, Akash Kodisinghe and Arnav Shetty 2.
Girls: Singles, Jessica Heywood 1, Tamiko Watson 2; Under-11 singles, Rachael Sawyers 1, Jasmin Ringrose 2; plate, Daniella Smith 1, Nadine Bishop 2. Doubles, Tamiko Watson and Jessica Heywood 1; under-11 doubles, Jasmin Ringrose and Natalie Hammond 1, Nandini Prasad and Rachael Sawyers 2.
Drawn doubles: Jessica Heywood and Dinidu Hapugaskumbura 1, Jaymin McGuire and Natalie Hammond 2; plate, Lahiru Hapugaskumbura and Akash Kodisinghe 1, Douglas Wright and Daniella Smith 2.
Most improved boy: Robert Smith
Most improved girl: Nandini Prasad
Sportsperson boy: Nathan Bishop
Sportsperson girl: Maia Moana Mokaraka