Badminton skills stay in the family

Aug 1 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

TWO of England’s top Badminton players were in the city yesterday to promote the next European Championships being held at the Echo Arena.

Liverpool will host the team events in February 2009 with individual matches being played in Manchester in 2010.

Jenny Wallwork, 21, said it was fantastic the sport was coming to Liverpool where her mother and grandparents played the sport.

Accompanied by her grandmother, Jean Pringle, who still lives in the city, Jenny said: “The championships coming to Liverpool is great for Badminton England and is great for me personally because of my family’s connections to the city.”

Jenny reached the ranking of 19th in the world and is following the achievements of her mother, Jill Pringle, who also represented England playing badminton.

Grandmother Jean said: “Badminton has always been popular in Liverpool, my husband used to coach in Kirkby.

“Years ago you had to pay to travel and enter competitions, but it’s all changed now with sponsorship – the sport is more accessible to everyone.”

Fellow England star Chris Langridge added: “I’m looking forward to playing here, I’m a big Liverpool Football Club fan.”