YOUNG badminton stars from the district have excelled in county and national competitions.

Twelve-year-old Lucy Dodd won the Northumberland county singles titles, at Tyneside Badminton Centre in Slatyford, at U15, U17, and U19 level.

She was also a doubles winner at all three levels, while partnered by her brother James Dodd.

The teenager is currently ranked number three nationally at singles, and number five at doubles and mixed doubles.

Tim Bodani (15) was successful at both U17 and U19 singles events, and also in the U17 boys’ doubles, and U19 mixed doubles at Slatyford.

He also partnered James Dodd to win the NBA adults’ C grade doubles title.

Other Ponteland juniors who impressed at Slatyford were Reema Rajeev, who was runner-up in the U13 girls doubles, and Jude Wisby, runner-up in the U13 boys’ doubles.

In the U17 Badminton England event in Thornaby on Teesside, the doubles partnership of Ollie Edmondson and Jack Tilbury were awarded a bronze medal.

Recent tournament success by Ponteland players hasn’t been confined to juniors, as Mark Brown and Karen Bodani won the adults’ mixed doubles D event at the Tyneside Badminton Centre.

Coach Phil Hall said: “The success of these players is down to hard work, but also due to the high number and quality of players using our leisure centre. With links to local schools and weekly after school sessions, badminton is thriving here. “