WITH three national league titles to their credit already this season, the senior Hertfordshire Badminton team triumphed in the Inter County Championship Division One play off finals at Milton Keynes.

WITH three national league titles to their credit already this season, the senior Hertfordshire Badminton team triumphed in the Inter County Championship Division One play off finals at Milton Keynes.

Wins against Lanarkshire (Scotland), Kent and Wiltshire, ensured the team will play in Premier B next season.

Lanarkshire fielded a number of Scottish international players but Herts took the opening encounter 8-7.

Wiltshire followed and Herts made their traditional slow start but recovered well to secure a comfortable 13-2 win.

On the second day Herts needed just one league point, the equivalent of six matches, to secure promotion the following morning against Kent.

Play continued in its usual style losing both men's singles before the ladies responded with straight game wins for Rachel Howard and Helena Lewczynska (Radlett). The ladies continued their form with a clean sweep in the level doubles. The men were equally as impressive winning three out of four level doubles. The points were now secure and the three mixed pairs round the tie off with fine wins to give a 12-3 winning margin.

See www.hertsbadminton.net for more information about the county side and their achievements.

The Hertfordshire squad included Helena Lewczynska (Radlett), Jon Austin (Rebourn), David Westwood (Flamstead) and Richard Southward (St Albans).

The 2007/8 season can only be described as the best season for the county since the formation of the National Premier divisions more than 15 years ago.

Three senior county teams won their divisions, the second team won the division one play offs and the 17-21 team reached the county championships semi finals.