An evening of badminton was overshadowed by an unexpected visitor: a bat looping the sports hall for half an hour, mistaking the gloom for a cave. Amid opened doors and nervous glances, Dillan’s yelps and dives stole the show until the creature finally found its way out.

After a games social at Crofters we headed to Ashburton for badminton, where the evening became a run of tight, testing matches. Dillan had to withdraw after his first game with a sore arm, but the rest pressed on and enjoyed some excellent play.

John’s first ride since donating a kidney called for a gentle plan. We delayed our start in the cold to browse old ride photos, then a café‑first vote in Ashburton quietly cancelled the lane loop; slow service aside, the shorter outing proved just right for his return.

Another great evening of badminton, made more interesting than usual by Gavin’s presence. Unexpectedly, he didn’t win as many games as he usually does.

A drizzly start kept us at the clubroom watching the Winter Olympics before a dry, unhurried spin to Dartington for a café stop. We looped back by quiet lanes via Westcombe Farm and a steep pull to Rattery Sawmills.

A brief note records a full complement of eight for the club’s badminton evening, enjoyed by all.

Despite a cold, grey start we made for the new Café 3 Sixty in Bovey Tracey, thawing by the stove with bikes on the indoor racks. Sunshine brightened the return, after Dillan tried the park’s exercise machines and a brief call at Sue and Jude’s.

With snow lingering on the lanes and rain about, the morning ride became a badminton social at Ivybridge Leisure Centre, rounded off with a Costa at Marsh Mills before a computer games session back home. A brisk, good‑humoured switch that kept the club together.

An Ashmoor booking mix-up left us without courts, but with just four we improvised doubles in the gymnasium, working around the low ceiling. Courts are rebooked for the next two weeks, so normal service resumes next Friday.

With a poor forecast we kept it short with a ride to Ashburton, swapping pedals for badminton at Ashmoor leisure centre despite three-quarters of the lights being out. A spell of steady rain sent us into the Brick House café, before bright sunshine and a playful stop at the skate park saw us home.

Another enjoyable badminton evening at Ashmoor, made more interesting by a full complement of players that kept every game flowing and the pace brisk.

The Bovey Tracey contingent were fifteen minutes late, but we still made the most of the session with some excellent games of badminton at Ashmoor. A slow start became a lively, enjoyable run of matches.