DORSET claimed second place in the under-11s' singles regional team badminton challenge in Stroud, Gloucester.

Margaret Bainton's youngsters were a player short, but still managed to secure the runners-up spot ahead of Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset and the home county.

Dorset boys - Oliver Baczala (Christ the King), Edward Shrimpton (Christ the King), James Middleton (Longfleet) and Robert Booth (Kings Park) - dominated and were unbeaten.

Eleanor Spawton, Claire Barlow (Broadstone Middle) and Heidi Brown (West Moors Middle) did well but were unable to overcome conceding a match in every contest.

The competition was used as the basis for selecting the South West team to play in the regional finals at Milton Keynes on June 11.

All Dorset's boys were selected as part of the six-player squad, joining two from Devon. For the girls, Spawton just missed out having lost to her nearest rival.

Dorset under-13s lifted the Carlton Cup for the sixth year running after overcoming delays to get to Jersey.

A long hold-up at Southampton Airport failed to affect the players as they ran up a 28-12, 30-10 victory over the Channel Islanders.

The under-16s ended the season mid-table in the South West Regional League having recorded victories against Somerset, Cornwall and Avon and only losing to Devon by the narrowest of margins (19-17).

The team then travelled to Nottingham for a national event and finally took 26th place out of the 39 counties competing.

Any under-11 girls interested in learning to play badminton should come along to Dorset trials at 9am on Sunday, July 10, at Poole Dolphin Centre and ask for Margaret Bainton.

Dorset under-11s: Oliver Baczala, Edward Shrimpton, James Middleton, Robert Booth, Eleanor Spawton, Claire Barlow, Heidi Brown.

Dorset under-13s: Matt McMillan, Patrick James, Oliver Baczala, James Middleton, Adam Dochniak, Edward Shrimpton, Sam Jacobs, George Streets, Harriet Alcock, Hannah Lyons, Alix Rothnie, Emma Brooks.

Dorset under-16s: Jon Evans, Mark Wilson, Michael Grier, Tom Mansbridge, Andrew Muller, Jason Masters, Mark Potter, Jack Brown, Sam Cumming, Isabelle Bork, Kirsty Wilcox, Ruth Richards, Jenny Sargent, Sam McMillan, Sammy Jones, Emma Frost, Emily Cherrett, Kathy Potter.