Cambridgeshire Badminton Association is celebrating an historic victory after success in the Badminton England Masters County Championships.

In a finals competition spanning April 22-23 held at the University of Birmingham, the county's O40 team triumphed in the finals of the season-long competition.

The Cambridgeshire team comprising Daniel Bates, Neil Place, Sam Scharf, James Wilson, Natalie Taylor, Sara Cunnington, Alison Meijers and Jenifer Hewitt reached the finals after winning the Midlands-East regional division held from October to February, comprising teams from Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Five of the eight players - Daniel, Neil, James, Sara and Jenifer - are also members of Ely Victoria Badminton Club.

The division was won with a clean sweep of victories, and only seven games dropped all season.

This was then followed with success in a nail-biting national playoff against Staffordshire in Nottingham on April 2, with Cambridgeshire winning 7-5.

Finally, masters teams of all ages were brought together in Birmingham this weekend at the culmination of the Masters County Championships for the semi-finals on Saturday, and finals on Sunday.

In the O40 category on Saturday, Cambridgeshire achieved a commanding 10-2 semi-final win against Devon, putting them through to a final against Lancashire at lunchtime on Sunday.

In another hard-fought match, Cambridgeshire reproduced the same 10-2 result to be crowned O40 National Champions.

This result marks the first time that a team from the county has won a national title at junior, senior or masters levels.

The country has a thriving badminton representation, with four masters teams, three senior teams, and three junior teams all taking part in inter-county competition.

James Wilson, team member, said: "A major part of our success was down to the team's overall strength - we have no weak pairs.

"As friends and teammates, they are a pleasure to play with.

"Ely Victoria Badminton club are very fortunate to have so many of the winning team as members.

"It highlights the strength we have across all age groups, and the win means a huge amount to the club and county."