EURO VETERANS: FORMER WORLD CHAMPION WINS SECOND 40+ TITLE

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April 2, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Former men's doubles world champion Jesper Helledie of Denmark added the European Veterans badminton men's doubles title in the over-40 age group to his collection of gold medals this past weekend in Gatehead, England. Helledie won the over-40 men's doubles title with partner Klaus Andersen, also of Denmark.

In mixed doubles, Helledie teamed up with Susanne Sorensen of Denmark to also take a second gold medal in the over-40 category.

English legends Ray Sharp and Paul Whetnall lived up to their reputations and captured the men's doubles title in the over-50 group. Morten Fredlund of Denmark teamed up with compatriot Henrik Guntoft to add the over-45 men's doubles crown to his over-45 mixed doubles success.

Lars Kure and Soren Nielsen of Denmark were the champions in the over-55 men's doubles event.

Susanne Sorensen, Anne Marie Bagger and Liz Ratchsach were also Danish dual gold medalists. Sorensen, the mixed doubles over-40 winner, and partner Bette Myhre of Denmark took the women's doubles laurels in the same age group. In the over-45 age group, Anne Marie Bagger, the mixed doubles over-45 champion, and Liz Ratchsach, the women's singles over-45 titleist, also won the women's doubles gold medal.

In the over-50 category, the Danish-English pair of Irene Sterlie and Barbara Wadsworth were the best in the women's doubles field, while in the over-55 group, Brenda Andrew, the mixed doubles over-55 winner, and Beryl Goodall took women's doubles top honors for host nation England.