KIRSTY Binstead and Charlotte Lane brought the Southend & District Badminton season to end in style at the Greensward Academy with a tense and exciting duel for the Ladies’ Singles title.

Lane took the first set 21-18, and looked to be on course for victory, but a determined fightback by Binstead saw her take the second set 21-19, to take the match into a decider.

There was nothing to choose between the two girls in the final game, and the score mounted evenly to 20-all.

But it was 16-year-old Binstead who held her nerve the better to take the title by the narrowest of margins at 22-20.

Arran Weston won the Men’s Singles, with a powerful display against the fleet-footed Rhys Gillard. There was some stunning badminton in the Men’s Doubles final, and a thrilling finish, as John Masheter and Lee Price fought their way back from 19-16 in the deciding set to take the title by 25-23.

There was a disappointing entry for the Ladies’ Doubles, where the experienced Essex players Karina Bye and Liz Gotts won their third title in a row with a classy display against brave youngsters, Kirsy Binstead and Clare Pasquini.

Bye, who recently won the All England Veteran’s title, was also in fine form in the Mixed Doubles, where she teamed up with Lee Scott.

The best match in this event came in the semi-final when Kesh Naidoo and Clare Pasquini just got the better of Arran Weston and Jade Timms by 21-19 in the final set.

But they were unable to extend the top seeds in the final as Scott and Bye prevailed 21-13, 21-10.

But there was an excellent entry of eight pairs for the Lower Divisions Men’s Handicapped Doubles.

Two teams led the way from the start and they were the scratch pairing of Lawrence Smith and Chris Brunt, and the minus three duo of Paul Hyde and Nick Harbott.

But it was Hyde and Harbott who came out on top, 21-11, to take the title and finish the day as the only unbeaten pair. Dawn Eagon and Emma Clark (minus 3) won the ladies’ event, with Jade Timms and Andrea Lloyd in second place.