For racquet sports fans in the UK, the end of the Australian Tennis Open left only 4 days until the next big event - the English National Badminton Championships. Held at the Manchester Velodrome between the 5th and 7th February, the event gave fans just as much excitement as it did in its beginning year of 1963.
The Women's Singles event saw Jersey girl Elizabeth Cann as the victor, walking away triumphant with her fourth title after defeating Cheshire's Helen Davies. This was just the result she hoped for after losing out at last year's finals due to an injury incurred months before the tournament which caused heavy disruption to her training.
Also victorious in Manchester was Jenny Wallwork from Yorkshire, finishing up the weekend with not one but two titles - in the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles events - which she played with Gabby White and Nathan Robertson respectively.
Badminton bunnies have just a month to wait in anticipation until the start of the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham on 9th March, and a further month for the ever-exciting Europeans in April, also held in Manchester - just enough time to catch your breath.