recently returned from competition in England laden with trinkets after taking part in the British Airways Badminton Club Team Challenge.

The trip represented the return leg of the tournament, which had Bermuda hosting the first one in May.

Bermuda won the first by a narrow margin, but found the going much tougher on the latest occasion and were beaten by a comfortable margin.

Competition took place in six categories -- men's A singles and doubles, men's B singles and doubles and women's singles and doubles.

While front-line players Harold Minors and Steve Wellman more than held their own in the A section against the best the hosts could offer, Bermuda's B participants were not so successful.

This was partly due to the fact that several of the British players, having suffered at the hands of locals while competing previously at A status were pushed down to the lower B level.

Minors ended up as the most successful male competitor with a 5-3 record compared to 4-4 for Wellman.

Nevertheless it was the women, specifically Julie Durrant and Claire Norbury, who were the toast of tournament.

Durrant surged through undefeated and Norbury similarly had a winning record.

They also teamed up in the doubles to win three of four matches.

The highlight of the trip came when Minors, Wellman and Randy Brangman were invited to play alongside the Middlesex County team, among Britain's best.

"It was quite exciting to be playing with players at that level,'' said Minors on his return. "The game is so fast on that level, but after the initial shock we managed to hang in there.'' Everyone received a British Airways team medallion for their participation, while BBA president Junior Durrant presented the hosts with a cedar plaque implanted with a sand filled map of Bermuda, made by a local prisoner.

"The trip proved to be a great success to badminton on the Island as the players were able to quickly adapt to the different conditions and levels of play,'' added Minors. "All were great ambassadors for Bermuda.'' Minors also thanked the Bank of Bermuda for lending their support and noted how many of the British A and county players had expressed desire to take part in next year's Bermuda International Championships.

Bermuda squad: Junior Durrant, Amanda Smith, Juliett Durrant, Clair Norbury, Shonette Wilson, Randy Brangman, Harold Minors, Terry Minors, Steve Wellman, Denton Scraders, Eugene DeRosa, Albert Jenkins, David Richardson, Albert Jenkins, Thomas Simmons.

MAP OF PARADISE -- Bermuda Badminton Association president Junior Durrant, left, presents a sand-sculptured map of Bermuda to British Airways honourary chairman Nick Browne and the airline's Badminton Association president Paul Nolan.