AS expected, Jamaica’s top Badminton players, siblings Gareth and Geordine Henry, proved too much for their opponents in the 2014 Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) doubles Mania Championship at the Constant Spring Golf Club on Sunday Night.

Gareth and Geordine defeated the pair of Garron Palmer and Mikaylia Haldane 13-21, 21-19 and 21-16 in the ‘A’ Division Mixed Doubles to retain their title as mixed doubles champions.

From the first shuttle was served one could feel the tension inside the racquet complex, as spectators were on the edge of their seats watching what could be described as one of the most exciting and competitive mixed doubles matches for some time.

The Henry siblings did not get off to their usual strong start and lost the first set 21-13 to the much more focused Palmer and Haldane, who looked poised to dethrone the long-time champions.

Geordine then took charge and produced some excellent low-serves to win the second set 21-19, which forced the game into the deciding third and final set.

The Henry siblings then dominated the third set with some beautiful backhand and forehand shots that left Palmer and Haldane clueless as if they were being struck by lightning. The Henrys’ cruised to a 21-16 victory to claim yet another doubles title.

“The game was good even though we lost the first set due to some errors. We came out in the second set and changed the game; we were more consistent and more focused. I am happy with the win,” the local badminton queen, Geordine, told the Jamaica Observer.

Palmer, on the other hand, was pleased with the way his team played.

“It was a nice game, we started out good as we were more composed and focused. But in the second set we were playing Gareth more than Geordine and it didn’t work out for us, but I was pleased with how myself and Haldane played, she is a nice player,” Palmer said.

Earlier, Gareth Henry teamed up with Samuel Ricketts to win the ‘A’ Division Men’s Doubles, defeating the pair of Garron Palmer and Sean Wilson 24-22, 15-21 and 21-19.

As usual, Henry and Ricketts won the first set, but surprisingly lost the second and had to fight hard in the third.

The pair had to withstand a good challenge from Palmer and Wilson with some powerful jump smashes that took the second set 21-15, forcing a third set. Gareth and Ricketts were comfortably on their way to victory in the final set at 18-12 before Palmer and Wilson produced a superb comeback to level the score at 19-19.

It was left to the number one-seeded Henry to produce a straight low-server that saw them taking the final set and the game 21-19.

“Overall it was a good but challenging game… (but) I think we played better at the end and that I thought made the difference. Give credit to Palmer and Wilson, they played really well,” Gareth said.

In the ‘A’ Division Ladies’ Doubles, the pair of Ruth Williams and Katherine Wynter defeated Christine Leyow-Mayne and Terry Walker 29-27 and 21-16.

In other finals, Tremar Barham and Jonathan Smith teamed up and defeated Craig Allison and Joslyn Davis 21-16 and 21-13 in the ‘B’ Division Men’s Doubles.

Meanwhile, in the Ladies’ Doubles, Christina Peri and Esther Reynolds got the better of Shawnett Davis and Jade Clarke 24-22 and 21-16. Jade Clarke then teamed up with Jonathan Smith and took the Mixed Doubles by defeating Kraig Simpson and Nichole Case 21-18 and 21-9.

Over in the ‘C’ Division, Kenneth Anglin and Craig Allison defeated Maurice McLauren and Adrian Lee 20-22, 21-8 and 21-12 in the Men’s Doubles.

In the Ladies’ Double, the pair of Shezzelle McTyson and Taina Daley edged Demetra Mew and Nichole Case 22-20 and 21-16, the pair of Kenneth Anglin and Demetra Mew had a 21-11 and 21-11 victory over Stuart Sykes and Sylvia Henry in the Mixed Doubles.

Meanwhile, in the ‘D’ Division, Isaac Roberts and Justin Taylor turned back Oshane Newland and Adam Taylor 21-21-16 in the Men’s doubles. Michele Champagnie and Toni-Ann Annlyew defeated Lea Kirkcaldy and Sharon Chai 18-21, 21-15 and 21-14 in the Ladies’ equivalent and Bradley Burnett and Sharon Chai got the better of Neil McKenzie and Michele Champagnie 21-18 and 21-15 in the Mixed Doubles.