Asda Athletes

Saturday was my second visit to Asda at Adel. This time we were bag packing. Pam and the staff at Adel were fantastic and really friendly and helpful. My Dad and Helen came with me and lots of girls from my football club came and helped as well. Thanks very much to everyone who contributed – the money will really help with my training costs. I enjoyed it so much we stayed much longer than Dad had planned (sorry Dad!).

I had some brilliant news today as well. I am in the England Team for Danish Cup in October. Helen my sister is in the England team too so we are all very excited!!

On Saturday and Sunday I played my first Badminton England U13 tournament of the season. I came away with gold medals in each of the three events.

Saturday was a really long day – we started at 10am and finished at 9pm. We had two power cuts as well. The doubles was decided on Saturday night with me and my sister Helen winning the Gold in a really tense competition.

On Sunday it was the semis and finals of the mixed and the singles. Zach and I won both matches and won the gold medal in the mixed and then it was the singles.

It was a strange occasion as for the first time in ages I had to play my sister Helen who also got to the final. Mum would normally coach us both so we had to just sort out tactics ourselves. We had a good match but I was really pleased to be the winner!!!!

The new season is here!! But first I went with a net and some spare rackets to play at my local Asda in Adel.

We met loads of really nice children – some people left their children with us whilst they went shopping!! Thanks to everyone who joined in and made it a really fun morning – I hope you all carry on playing.

And then on Saturday it was our first tournament of the year – an U15 at Nottingham. I really worked hard at singles and beat the seeded player in my group so I got to the quarter finals where I lost in the third set.

This Saturday its the first U13 tournament of the season and I am looking forward to some tough matches in my own age group.

Busy few weeks! U13 training camp in Greve was brilliant – lots of great activities and beat all the boys in the 200m time trials.
The Olympics was awesome. Three days watching badminton and volleyball. I loved the Olympics – I wanted to watch it all the time – I made mum and dad eat in the bar at the hotel so we could watch it! Well done to Jess Ennis – we see her training sometimes and she deserved her Gold.
U13 national camp was good but not sure about fitness training at 7am every day. Good to see everyone again – only a few weeks now until our first tournament of the new season!!

Its the summer holidays!! My coach Vinnie says its 8 weeks pre season training!!

I am off to Denmark with Helen (my sister) for our first pre-season training at the Greve club on Monday. I am really looking forward to seeing my Danish friends – some of the girls I met at the Danish National camp in May will be there.

Then we are both going to England training camp in two weeks time – I am doing the U13 camp and then will have three days with the U15’s.

I am going to be watching the Olympics too – can’t wait!