THREE Bolton badminton players took top trophies at the All England Veterans' Championships in London at the weekend. And the town was well represented throughout the prestigious event, which attracts players from all over the country including a large contingent from Lancashire.

Avril Sloane from Atherton Badminton Club (ABC) joined with Essex partner Betty Bartlett to reprise her English Nationals' success in the over-45s ladies doubles' final.

And, in the over-50s ladies doubles, Forrest BC's Barbara Seddon repeated her English Nationals' partnership win with Southport's Maureen Rimmer, beating Barbara Wadsworth (Buckinghamshire) and Jenny Abbott (Nottinghamshire) to win the final. In the over-50s mixed doubles, Angela Brown from Markland Hill (alias the BEN's Features Editor Angela Kelly) teamed up with Bury's Peter Wood to take the national trophy. They beat Nottinghamshire pair Cyril Martin and Kay Brindle 15-4, 15-4 in the final.

Peter made it a double success here by winning the over-50s men's doubles with Essex partner Graham Billinghurst. Roger Taylor from Christ Church BC narrowly missed repeating his English Nationals' mixed success when he and Essex partner Andi Stretch lost in the final of the over-40s mixed doubles to Durham's Peter Higman and Jackie Hurst.

Roger and Bolton partner Phil Howe lost in the semi-final of the over-40s men's doubles, and Bury BC's Graham Holt with Mid-Lancs' John Cocker lost in the final of the over 45s men's doubles to the holders, Peter Emptage and John Gardner from Essex.

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