THE NEW Bolton le Moors Junior Badminton League proved to be a smash-hit at its launch.

At a special open day at Horwich Leisure Centre, organised by the new League and Bolton Metro Leisure Services, young Lancashire players showed the dozens of hopefuls what could be achieved in this fast-growing sport with demonstration games.

There was a fun mini-tournament for children who can already play, won by Luke Isherwood and Lucy Brown. And local coaches ran "taster" sessions for both older children and short badminton for children aged from our years.

Official guests included Bolton's deputy Mayor Cllr Tom Anderton, who encouraged all the youngsters present, reminding them that Bolton has already produced a national champion in Christ Hunt. Also present were Clive Ellames fromt he Badminton Association of England, Stuart Bailey for the North West Regional Sports Countil and Norman Long, president of the Lancashire Badminton Association, plus regional badminton co-ordinator Peter Clough. Peter Wood, the Rossendale-based England Youth Squad coach was there with the young Lancashire squad, but was also able to see the results of his hard work and practical encouragement of the Thornleigh Badminton Club initiative which has led to the formation of the League. The Junior League's new chairperson Neil Flanagan was delighted with the numbers taking part on the day. "It was great to see so many children wanting to play and improve - and really enjoying themselves," he stated.

Now, the new League begins its fixtures this Thursday at Harper Green Sports Centre at Farnworth, from 5.30pm - 7.30pm each week, with special areas planned to be set aside for that important homework!

But at the launch, the day finished off with another enjoyable event: a successful ceilidh.

Any more clubs or schools wanting to put a team of three girls and three boys aged under 16 into the new League can contact Dennis Corbett on 01942 746237.

Meanwhile, in the Bolton League itself, Leigh BC players have been reproducing the form they've shown in matches in the annual League Tournament.

In the final of the men's doubles, Laurie Bly and Dave Burgess faced fellow Club members James McCormick and Chris McGowan. The former had knocked out Steve Denner and Gordon Mitchell in their semi-final, and the latter Christ Church's Bill Hamblett and Chris Vines. But, on the day, Bly and Burgess proved the stronger, snatching the first game 18-17 and then overwhelming their opponents in the second 15-3 in an exciting final.

In the plate competition, Leigh's Steve Bower teamed up with Forrest's Albert Mahoney to face Mark Bex and Colin Warburton (both Forrest BC). Steve and Albert won in two tight games, 15-10, 15-14.

St John's A team is having a successful time in the League this season, having dropped only one point so far. They reinforced their record when they went to Forrest's new Turton Sports Centre home to play Forrest F. Only Ann Seddon and Steve Arnold scored well for the home side in the mixed, adding three to the score putting St John's, already a healthy 7-3 ahead going into the levels.

Karen Cottam and Ann Roberts for the visitors then proceded to ensure points, before St John's split the final two men's and ladies' sets for an 11-7 win. Hard work in the mixed could not save Sharples B from eventually losing out in their home D section fixture with Metro B. The score was 5-5 after several closely fought mixed games, but Metro's ladies proved their value when they took all four level games. The final game of the night sorted out the points, when the visitors took a 10-8 win, with special mention going to Metro's ladies L Allcock, G Lawrie and J Royle.

Christ Church D also had a significant contribution from its women when they entertained Westhoughton D in their F section match.

They edge ahead in the mixed - in spite of notable play from Westhoughton's Brian Hutchinson and Gail Aldred in their first set - to be 6-4 up. But top ladies went to Christ Church 15-1, 15-0 thanks to Sheila Hayes and Michelle Crook, with second ladies split. Top men's also went to the home team, from Brian Hayes and Chris Ball, but even when the final men's set was taken by Westhoughton's Andy Turner and Ron Connolly, it was too late to prevent Christ Church winning 11-7 for the two points. RESULTS A Section: Bury A 11 Markland Hill A 7; Metro A 4 Leigh A 14; ABC 16 Bury B 2; Leigh B 4 Christ Church A 14; BASS A 6 Forrest A 12.

B Section: Markland Hill B 15 Rosehill 3; Hawkshaw B 7 Chowbent A 11; Forrest B 16 Markland Hill C 2; Christ Church B 7 Thornleigh B 11; Thornleigh A 18 Swinton 0.

C Section: Park B 1 Chowbent B 16; GMT A 5 Hawkshaw C 13; Park A 12 Sharples A 6.

D Section: Westhoughton B 16 Sharples B 2; Sharples B 8 Metro B 10; Park C 4 Westhoughton B 14; Thornleigh D 1 BHT 17; Farnworth A 17 Markland Hill D 1.

E Section: Christ Church C 14 Deane B 4; Forrest F 7 St John's A 11; Metro C 1 Leigh C 17.

F Section: Christ Church D 11 Westhoughton D 7; St John's B 2 Smithills A 16; Thornleigh E 14 Holy Cross A 4.

G Section: Markland Hill E 10 Deane C 8; Sharples D 7 Metro F 11; Chowbent D 17 Metro E 1; GMT B 7 Sharples C 11; BIT B 11 Farmworth B 7.

H Section: Metro G 5 Park D 13; St John's C 7 Forrest G 11; Farnworth C 12 Smithills B 6; Holy Cross B 2 Thornleigh F 16.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.