27-Nov-08:
Cann chases singles jackpot
at 2009 English Nationals

If defending champion Elizabeth Cann lifts the women's singles title at the 2009 English National Badminton Championships at The Velodrome in Sportcity, Manchester, she will scoop the same prize money as the men's singles champion for the first time.

Back in February the Jersey star picked up a cheque for £800 when she won her third singles title. But if she retains her crown on February 1 next year she will enjoy a £400 pay rise.

A record £12,000 prize fund is on offer at the 2009 Championships, running from January 30-February 1, with the singles champions both winning £1200, the runners-up £600 and the losing semi-finalists £300 each.

As well as the women’s singles, the women’s doubles and mixed doubles also receive prize money boosts.

In all three doubles events the winners will share £1200, the runners-up will split £600 and the losing semi-finalists will share £300.

"The English Nationals are being staged at The Velodrome for the sixth year.

“This is thanks to the special partnership between BADMINTON England, Manchester City Council, Carlton, and badminton retailers www.sportsdiscount.com with invaluable support from the Manchester Evening News.

"Each year we have worked to make the event better and better. This prize money increase for the women’s singles, especially and for the prize fund in general, has to a large extent been made possible through the arrival of a new partner for the 2009 English National Championships in Imperial Consultants, the UK’s foremost specialist building validation company.”


Tournament Director

More than 120 players from 30 counties are expected to contest the five titles at the 2009 Championships.

2008 Champions:

Men’s singles:
   Rajiv Ouseph (Middx)
Women’s singles:
   Elizabeth Cann (Jersey)
Men’s doubles:
   Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson (Notts)
Women’s doubles:
   Tracey Hallam (Staffs) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire)
Mixed doubles:
   Anthony Clark (Notts) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire)

“We are delighted to be able to offer equal prize money for all five events at the 2009 Championships, and it shows great support and recognition for the tournament from the partners involved.

“Since the change to the scoring system, the men and women play now play to the same points, which provides an exciting opportunity to raise not only the prize money, but also the profile of the events and players involved.

“I’m sure the increase in prize money will please the players, who train and play hard to make it to Manchester, and will hopefully create some added rivalry and competition for the Championships. The old argument that the women's singles was shorter no longer applies, and the players deserve parity when it comes to prize money, so they are now playing for the same reward as the men's singles stars.”


Competition Director