Hummersknott School maintained their impressive national badminton form, stretching back over 20 seasons, when competing in the English Schools Under-13 event at Luton Regional Sports Centre. The girls competition involved four teams who had won through from regional rounds and was Hummersknott's best girls team result since 1990.

In the boys event, 10 teams were involved and the Darlington team took second place.

Hummersknott topped their group with wins over St Peter's (Wolverhampton), Gravesend School, Silverdale (Sheffield) and Haberdashers Aske's to reach the final and went on to gain silver for the first time at this age group since 1995.

All the boys contributed vital wins in the group stages. Mark Dobinson, playing first singles, had excellent wins against leading county players while Matthew Blewitt won nine out of his 10 matches played, sive singles and teaming with Mark Reeves in doulbes, a partnership which proved signifcant.

For the pair it was the third consecutive appearance in the boys' finals, having first represented Mowden Juniors in 1999.

Scott Iveson, the youngest member of the squad, played in a national final just six months and four days after hitting his first shuttlecock in school.

A group of 30 Hummersknott players - some now at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form - parents and staff are travelling to Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan at Easter in a tour to promote junior international badminton.

Boys: 1 Wilson School (Surrey), 2 Hummersknott A (Mark Dobinson, Matthew Blewitt, Mark Reeves, Scott Iveson, Caleb May), 3 Haberdashers Askes (Elstree), 4 Heaton Manor (Northumberland), 5 Gravesend School (Kent), 6 Sir John Deane (Northwich), 7 Silverdale (Sheffield), 8 Outwood Grange (Wakefield), 9 St Peter's (Wolverhampton), 10 Chosen Hill (Gloucestershire).

Girls: 1 Garforth, 2 Collingwood College (Camberley), Dame Alice Harpur (Potters Bar), 4 Hummersknott (Jenny Blewitt, Katie Zissler), Diane Gray, Jenny Robertson)