KEYNSHAM badminton player Gene Joyner helped England’s masters team win gold at the Senior Nations Cup.
They defeated reigning champions Denmark in a closely fought final at the tournament at Rondo, Spain, which involved 12 nations.
Each tie consisted of six age groups – 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65 – as competitors played mixed, men’s and ladies’ doubles.
England breezed through group C, beating Ireland 5-1 and both Spain and Scotland 6-0.
Meeting the Netherlands in the semi-finals, England seemed to struggle at the start before going on to a comfortable 5-1 win.
They were very much the underdogs going into the final against a quality Danish side that included a former world champion.
While the tie ended three-all, the last match of the tie went to three ends, which England won 21-18. This proved pivotal, with England winning on countback, 13 match wins to 11. Had Denmark won the final game, they would have taken the top spot.
Gene has represented England masters several times, having played in the winning Senior Nations Cup team in Stuttgart four years ago. He has also played a couple of times in the annual England v Scotland McCoig Trophy competition.
As an individual, but proudly wearing an England shirt, Gene is the winner of several senior European and world doubles titles. His next tournament is the World Senior Championships in Thailand this September.
Gene, who lives in Keynsham, is chair of Chew Valley Badminton Club, Avon Badminton Association, and a board member of Badminton England. He has played as a visitor at Chew Park Keynsham, St Lukes, Broadlands and Monday night Saltford Badminton.
He said: “For anyone thinking of playing, I can recommend badminton as a very social sport, with the many health benefits that regular exercise brings, and the Keynsham and Saltford area offers badminton for everyone at whatever level, social or competitive.”
Pictured below, Gene Joyner holds up number one to signify England’s badminton triumph in the Senior Nations Cup
