The launch of my website on June 19, 2005 was followed by the announcement that I would be establishing the Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy on July 25, 2005.  Within a matter of weeks a group of elite junior players commenced weekly coaching and training sessions, supplemented by Dunes training and playing in the re-established Hawthorns Badminton Ladder. 

I am delighted that with the dedicated help of the other coaches we have been able to build on the players existing training programmes through a whole range of on and off court activities. It has been so rewarding to receive the positive feedback from players and their parents.  All of the players have had good results already this season and we have confidence that they will continue to progress their development through hard work and dedication to their sport.

Good weeks training after a bout of German measles! Started using the new scoring system in training and its certainly different, I think I like it! But it depends if I start winning in competitions or notJ. The scoring makes experience and tactical/technical knowledge on winning points very important.

TEAM WALES ANNOUNCES
2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES BADMINTON SQUAD

The Commonwealth Games Council for Wales (CGCW) has today announced the six–strong badminton contingent that have been invited to take their seats on the Melbourne bound plane for the 2006 Commonwealth Games showdown (15-26 March 2006).

Following prolonged discussions with Yonex UK, the WBU has secured a 5 year sponsorship agreement. In essence, the agreement will provide a cash injection each year and an equivalent provision of Yonex products. The make up of the products to be decided by the WBU. Yonex will also provide all the courts for the designated tournaments and have agreed a comprehensive shuttle price which will benefit all events.

 The qualifying and Main Draw of the 2005 Grade B Welsh International is now published! The event does not include Kelly Morgan who is recovering from giving birth or Richard Vaughan recovering from a virus.
The qualifying event for Men's Singles in the 2005 Grade B Welsh International Championships will start at 3pm on Thursday 1 December. 

Good weeks training or me getting closer to beating Zhu Min!

Academy players Vikki Jones, and Rachel Thomas helped Wales come 4th in the Northumberland Tournament, and performed well in the individuals.

The last couple of weeks training has gone really well, the sparring player Zhu Min has been great and really needed as Zhou, Matt, and Martyn have been away for some time in Asia .

There has been a new Conditioning coach ‘Michael Johnston' who has come into the SCW staff and the brief time working with him has been very beneficial.

The International Badminton Federation looks set to implement a new scoring system for badminton.  Although a rule change would have to be approved by the membership at an Annual General Meeting, the IBF Council is expected to declare that a new scoring system is experimented at specific events from as early as December 2005.

The RV Academy launches its first 2 day training camps over the Christmas holidays, the two camps are open to everyone, but places are limited to 12 players so spaces might go fast.

UK SPORT has taken the rare step of giving a sport — in this case badminton — substantially more money than it requested, to ensure that the British Olympic performance director, Lars Sologub, stays. The quango has awarded an extra 50 per cent in funds to keep the Swede, who wanted to quit the job after the 2004 Olympics to spend more time in Gothenburg with his family.

UK Sport was not only impressed that Sologub guided Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms to a silver medal in Athens,  the best badminton performance by Great Britain at an Olympics but also that every British player met or exceeded their personal targets.