SOMERSET'S top badminton players are heading for Crewkerne Sports Centre this weekend to take part in the county championships.

Around 40 players will be competing to become champions in the following categories: men’s and ladies’ singles, men’s and ladies doubles and mixed doubles.

The tournament takes place over two days with all the group stages being played tomorrow (Saturday) followed by all the semi-finals and finals on Sunday.

Group matches start from 10am and play is expected to finish between 6pm and 7pm.

The semi-finals will start at 10am and the finals with run from about 1pm until 4pm to 5pm depending on the length of matches.

Three county teams will be selected following the tournament with all the home Somerset matches being played at Crewkerne throughout the forthcoming season.

The organiser of the event and manager of Crewkerne Sports Centre, former Wales international Cath Vigar, said: “The tournament will be an ideal opportunity to see the cream of Somerset’s badminton talent and to watch some exciting matches.

“The event is open to the public to watch so I do urge people to come along as badminton is a fantastic spectator sport and there will be some exciting and fast moving games to enjoy.

“It would be wonderful if the county’s emerging Badminton talent had some local support, and who knows we may seem some future national stars emerge from this local tournament.”

Crewkerne Sports Centre is fast becoming a centre of excellence for badminton as it is also hosting matches for the Guernsey Badminton Association which plays its mainland home matches at Crewkerne. The Association includes players who took part in the recent Commonwealth Games.

Earlier this month the centre also launched a new course of badminton sessions on Thursday evenings which are aimed at novices and families to encourage more people to take up the sport.

For more information about the county championships and badminton courses contact Cath Vigar on 01460-271683.