International success for Easingwold badminton player Denis Cleary (From York Press)

International success for Easingwold badminton player Denis Cleary

1:05pm Wednesday 9th March 2011 in Badminton

EASINGWOLD’S Denis Cleary tasted international badminton success with England veterans as they beat Scotland 21-3 in the 11th McCoig Trophy in York, writes Stuart Martel.

Cleary and doubles partner Pete Preston were beaten 21-16 21-18 in their match against the old enemy, but Cleary revelled in the chance to represent his country at York RI’s gym.

Clifton Badminton Club member Cleary – ranked at number three in the country in doubles in the 55-plus age group – said: “We were a bit nervous and felt the pressure of making our debuts.

“But it was fantastic for the area to stage something like this. The standard was as high as anything I have played in.”

England and Scotland are pitted against each other in five matches across five age groups for the trophy, named in honour of celebrated former badminton international Bob McCoig.

The teams played men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles in the age groups 40-plus, 45-plus, 50-plus, 55-plus and 60-plus.