Karen Bridge
{{Short description|English badminton player (1960–2020)}}
{{redirect|Karen Beckman|the professor|Karen Redrobe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox badminton player
| name = Karen Bridge
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_date = 27 March 1960
| birth_place = Surrey, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2020|6|19|1960|3|27}}
| death_place = Surrey, England
| country = England
| medal_templates =
{{MedalSport | Women's badminton}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition |
{{MedalBronze | 1980 Jakarta | Women's doubles}}
{{MedalCompetition | Uber Cup }}
{{MedalSilver | 1984 Kuala Lumpur | Women's team }}
{{MedalCompetition | Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalGold | 1978 Edmonton | Mixed team}}
{{MedalGold | 1982 Brisbane | Mixed team}}
{{MedalSilver| 1982 Brisbane | Women's doubles}}
{{MedalSilver| 1982 Brisbane | Mixed doubles}}
{{MedalCompetition | European Championships}}
{{MedalGold | 1982 Böblingen | Mixed team}}
{{MedalGold | 1984 Preston | Mixed team}}
{{MedalSilver | 1982 Böblingen | Women's singles}}
{{MedalSilver | 1984 Preston | Women's doubles}}
{{MedalSilver | 1986 Uppsala | Mixed team}}
{{MedalBronze | 1984 Preston | Women's singles}}
{{MedalBronze | 1986 Uppsala | Women's doubles}}
{{MedalCompetition | European Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold | 1977 Ta' Qali | Girls' singles }}
{{MedalGold | 1977 Ta' Qali | Girls' doubles }}
{{MedalGold | 1977 Ta' Qali | Mixed team }}
{{MedalSilver | 1977 Ta' Qali | Mixed doubles }}
{{MedalSilver | 1975 Copenhagen | Mixed team }}
{{MedalBronze | 1975 Copenhagen | Girls' doubles }}
}}
Karen Beckman {{nee|Bridge}} (March 1960 – June 2020) was a female badminton player of England.
Career
She won a bronze medals at the 1980 IBF World Championships in women's doubles with Barbara Sutton.
She represented England and won a gold medal in the team event, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In addition she reached the quarter-finals of the doubles and mixed doubles.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edmonton-1978/athletes|title=1978 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41783|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=22 August 2019|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228064550/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41783|url-status=dead}}
Four years later, as Karen Beckman she represented England and won a gold medal in the team event and two silver medals in the women's doubles and mixed doubles, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/brisbane-1982/athletes|title=1982 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41760|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=22 August 2019|archive-date=22 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822141726/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41760|url-status=dead}} The mixed doubles medal was with her brother, Duncan Bridge.
Personal life
She was a coach for the Wilson Boys' School's badminton team and a part-time coach for the Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club's junior badminton team towards the end of her life.
She has a son, Ben Beckman, who has also successfully played badminton for England.
Beckman died of cancer in June 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/news/gill-clark-leads-tributes-to-the-duchessI|title=Gill Clark leads tributes to 'The Duchess'|publisher=Badminton England}}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIaKV5M1u5I|title=Wilson's School Sports Awards 2020|publisher=Wilson's School}}
Achievements
= World Championships =
Women's doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#F3E6D7"
| align="center" | 1980 | align="left" | Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Barbara Sutton | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Verawaty Fadjrin | align="left" | 15–12, 10–15, 4–15 | style="text-align:left; background: white" | Bronze Bronze |
= Commonwealth Games =
Women's doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#FFE4B5"
| align="center" | 1982 | align="left" | Chandler Sports Hall, Brisbane, Australia | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Clark | align="left" | {{flagicon|CAN}} Claire Backhouse-Sharpe | align="left" | 15–13, 16–18, 4–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver |
Mixed doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#FFE4B5"
| align="center" | 1982 | align="left" | Chandler Sports Hall, Brisbane, Australia | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Duncan Bridge | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Dew | align="left" | 13–18, 3–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver |
= European Championships =
Women's singles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#ECF2FF"
| align="center" | 1982 | align="left" | Sporthalle, Böblingen, West Germany | align="left" | {{Flagicon|DEN}} Lene Køppen | align="left" | 1–11, 9–11 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver |
| style="background:#ECF2FF"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Guild Hall, Preston, England | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Helen Troke | align="left" | 8–11, 7–11 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze Bronze |
Women's doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#ECF2FF"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Guild Hall, Preston, England | align="left" | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman | align="left" | 17–15, 12–15, 2–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver |
| style="background:#ECF2FF"
| align="center"| 1986 | align="left" | Fyrishallen, Uppsala, Sweden | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Halsall | align="left" | {{flagicon|DEN}} Dorte Kjær | align="left" | 8–15, 4–15 | style="text-align:left; background: white" | Bronze Bronze |
= European Junior Championships =
Girls' singles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#AABBCC"
| align="center" | 1977 | align="left" | RAF Ta Kali hangar, Ta'Qali, Malta | align="left" |{{flagicon|DEN}} Kirsten Meier | align="left" | 11–8, 11–3 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Gold Gold |
Girls' doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#AABBCC"
| align="center" | 1975 | align="left" | Gladsaxe Sportscenter, Copenhagen, Denmark | align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} Paula Kilvington | align="left" |{{flagicon|DEN}} Inge Borgstrom | align="left" | 15–7, 5–15, 5–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze Bronze |
| style="background:#AABBCC"
| align="center" | 1977 | align="left" | RAF Ta Kali hangar, Ta'Qali, Malta | align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Puttick | align="left" |{{flagicon|SCO}} Pamela Hamilton | align="left" | 17–15, 15–8 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Gold Gold |
Mixed doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Venue ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#AABBCC"
| align="center" | 1977 | align="left" | RAF Ta Kali hangar, Ta'Qali, Malta | align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Jolly | align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Tier | align="left" | walkover | style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver |
= IBF Grand Prix =
The World Badminton Grand Prix was sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983-2006.
Women's singles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Tournament ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | German Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Helen Troke | align="left" | 9–12, 12–10, 11–6 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
Women's doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Tournament ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1983 | align="left" | Scottish Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Barbara Sutton | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman | align="left" | 15–12, 15–6 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1983 | align="left" | Canadian Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sally Podger | align="left" | {{flagicon|CAN}} Claire Backhouse-Sharpe | align="left" | 18–14, 10–15, 15–4 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Dutch Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|DEN}} Dorte Kjær | align="left" | 15–12, 15–10 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | German Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman | align="left" | 17–14, 18–14 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Japan Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Ruth Damayanti | align="left" | 13–15, 15–3, 15–12 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Thailand Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gowers | align="left" | 18–16, 17–18, 15–9 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1984 | align="left" | Chinese Taipei Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Ruth Damayanti | align="left" | 15–12, 9–15, 17–14 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1985 | align="left" | German Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|CHN}} Guan Weizhen | align="left" | 9–15, 15–6, 9–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1985 | align="left" | Chinese Taipei Open | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Clark | align="left" | 15–10, 14–17, 0–15 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up |
| style="background:#D4F1C5"
| align="center" | 1985 | align="left" | English Masters | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Clark | align="left" | 15–11, 15–5 | style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner |
= IBF International =
Women's singles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Tournament ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| align="center" | 1977
| align="left" | Portugal International | align="left" | {{flagicon |
| align="left" |
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|-
| align="center" | 1981
| align="left" | Victor Cup
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jane Webster
| align="left" | 11–1, 4–11, 11–4
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1983
| align="left" | Welsh International
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fiona Elliott
| align="left" | 11–3, 11–3
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1983
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Pamela Hamilton
| align="left" | 11–5, 12–9
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1985
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fiona Elliott
| align="left" | 11–5, 11–4
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|}
Women's doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Tournament ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| align="center" | 1977
| align="left" | Portugal International | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Anne Statt | align="left" | {{flagicon |
{{flagicon|}}
| align="left" |
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|-
| align="center" | 1980
| align="left" | Scottish Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Paula Kilvington
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Kathleen Redhead
{{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman
| align="left" | 15–10, 15–5
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|-
| align="center" | 1981
| align="left" | Victor Cup
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Barbara Sutton
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jane Webster
{{flagicon|ENG}} Nora Perry
| align="left" | 12–15, 15–11, 6–15
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1983
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Barbara Sutton
| align="left" | {{flagicon|NIR}} Barbara Beckett
{{flagicon|SCO}} Alison Fulton
| align="left" | 15–12, 15–9
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1984
| align="left" | Scottish Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Pamela Hamilton
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jane Webster
{{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman
| align="left" |
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1984
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sally Podger
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gowers
{{flagicon|ENG}} Helen Troke
| align="left" | 6–15, 15–3, 14–18
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1985
| align="left" | Welsh International
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|DEN}} Hanne Adsbøl
{{flagicon|DEN}} Nettie Nielsen
| align="left" | 15–7, 15–12
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1985
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Lisa Chapman
{{flagicon|ENG}} Fiona Elliot
| align="left" | 15–9, 15–6
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1986
| align="left" | Welsh International
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Lisa Chapman
{{flagicon|ENG}} Cheryl Cooke
| align="left" | 15–10, 15–12
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1986
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Fiona Elliot
{{flagicon|ENG}} Helen Troke
| align="left" | 15–0, 15–9
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1987
| align="left" | Irish Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Elinor Allen
{{flagicon|SCO}} Jennifer Allen
| align="left" | 15–6, 15–4
| style="text-align:left; background: white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1988
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|CAN}} Denyse Julien
{{flagicon|CAN}} Claire Backhouse-Sharpe
| align="left" | 12–15, 10–15
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1989
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sara Sankey
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Elinor Allen
{{flagicon|SCO}} Jennifer Allen
| align="left" | 18–15, 10–15, 15–4
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|}
Mixed doubles
| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year ! Tournament ! Partner ! Opponent ! Score ! Result |
| align="center" | 1977
| align="left" | Portugal International | align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Tim Stokes | align="left" | {{flagicon |
{{flagicon|}}
| align="left" |
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1983
| align="left" | Holland Masters
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Tredgett
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Dew
{{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks
| align="left" | 4–15, 10–15
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1983
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Duncan Bridge
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eddy Sutton
{{flagicon|SCO}} Alison Fulton
| align="left" | 15–8, 15–12
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1984
| align="left" | Scottish Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dipak Tailor
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Gilliland
{{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Chapman
| align="left" |
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1984
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Gilliland
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Tier
{{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gowers
| align="left" | 17–16, 15–13
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1986
| align="left" | Welsh International
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Dobson
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Dew
{{flagicon|ENG}} Gillian Gilks
| align="left" | 1–15, 0–15
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1987
| align="left" | Irish Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Tredgett
| align="left" | {{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Gilliland
{{flagicon|SCO}} Jennifer Allen
| align="left" | 15–7, 8–15, 15–11
| style="text-align:left; background: white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|- style="background:#D5D5D5"
| align="center" | 1989
| align="left" | Bell's Open
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Goode
| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Miles Johnson
{{flagicon|ENG}} Cheryl Johnson
| align="left" | 15–5, 15–8
| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner
|}
|}
References
{{reflist}}
- [http://www.badmintoneurope.com/page.aspx?id=12642 European results]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110815062016/http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=6494 English statistics]
- [https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/news/gill-clark-leads-tributes-to-the-duchess]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIaKV5M1u5I]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridge, Karen}}
Category:English female badminton players
Category:Deaths from cancer in England
Category:Badminton players at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in badminton
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England
Category:Medallists at the 1978 Commonwealth Games