In his latest feature student Will Piper, from March, meets rising badminton star Beth Parrish, also from March.

BETH Parrish started playing badminton when she was just six years old after her grandparents Colin and Margaret Bedford first got her into the sport.

After she got past the initial stage of hitting the shuttlecock back over the net, Beth began training with her grandparents and was soon asked to play for March Badminton Club.

From there Beth began to excel and was selected to represent Cambridgeshire County Badminton team at the age of 11. Beth was selected by County Badminton head coach Laurie Finch after she impressed while playing in an Under-11’s tournament.

Beth, 16, has since become a valuable member of Finch’s county squad. She featured for her 10-person county team in the ICT Badminton tournament in Nottingham against every county in the nation earlier this year.

Beth highlights her participation in the Under-17 tournament as her greatest sporting achievement to date.

With the season re-starting in September, Beth will be training twice a week for March Badminton Club as well as turning out for games on Thursday nights. She will also train with her county badminton team every fortnight in preparation for the forthcoming season.

Beth, who has just finished her GCSE’s at Neale-Wade Community College and hopes to return to study AS-levels, has also starred for her school on several occasions over the years, most recently playing in an inter-school tournament held at Jack Hunt School in Netherton.

She said: “Anyone interested in playing the sport should give it a go as it is a good laugh with fun people and is good exercise.”

Beth is aiming to become a member of the senior Cambridgeshire County Badminton team when she turns 18 and is looking to continue playing through at college and university level.