Raphoe Badminton Club take Club of the Year award

Raphoe Badminton Club was crowned 'Club of the Year' at the recent Badminton Ireland awards.

Club stalwart Samuel Magee had the honour of collecting the award on behalf of the members, many of whom were preset at the ceremony at the Carlton Hotel in Blanchardstown.

Raphoe's Kim Magee was also awarded ‘Young woman of the Year 2022’ by Badminton Ireland.

“Our vision in Raphoe for the past year has been to get people back playing badminton and creating a club for all, regardless of level or desire to be competitive,” the club said.

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“We have tried to foster an environment for all players.”

Under the direction of three-time Olympian Chloe Magee, a high performance-like feel is around some of the club's juveniles.

Corey Chambers and Amy Moore were part of the Ireland team that finished second in the Team Event at the Swedish Youth Games.

Chambers, one of the rising stars, won two Irish Under-13 titles, while Callum Laird took a silver in the under-17 boys doubles with Chambers bagging two bronze medals from an Under-13 English Gold tournament.

Moore and Emily Maxwell left with bronze in the under-13 girls doubles with Moore teaming up with Eoin Evans for a mixed doubles bronze.

Rhys McAuley left the Connacht Open with a hat-trick of gold medals while there were also golds for Kimberley Pearson and Zach McAuley in the same competition.

Rachael Darragh won a bronze medal at the FZ FORZA Norwegian International and competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Raphoe also finished as runners-up in the Vi Kearon Cup with Louise Goudie, Josh McMullan, Emily Maxwell and Thomas Darragh taking silver medals.

It hasn't all been about medals, though, as the club grows its membership through the ages and the levels.