EXMOUTH brothers Alex and Ben Lane began the season in the best possible way by winning five gold medals between them at the weekend.

England star Alex competed alongside some of his international teammates at the UK School Games in Newcastle as part of the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

The multi-sport games are a feeder to youth and Commonwealth standard and are aimed at talented children of all ages.

In the team event, Alex was unbeaten at singles in the wins over Scotland (5-0), Wales (4-1) and Ireland (5-0) and went on to win the doubles event alongside Sam Parsons (Warks) with victory over Farid Akroum and Mike Rowe 21-10, 21-7.

He also won the mixed doubles with England teammate Chloe Burch, beating Josh Neil and Rebecca Findley (Scotland) 21-11, 21-12 in a convincing display in the final.

But exhaustion was to rob Alex of a possible victory in the singles. The final event of the weekend saw him play three semi-finals on the Sunday morning before running out of steam in the afternoon against Josh Neil in the singles final 11-21, 21-18, 21-11. In the team event, Alex had beaten the Scottish junior in three ends.

At a national under-15 tournament in Manchester, brother Ben won the boys' doubles with Cranford clubmate and fellow international Dan Chow when they beat brothers Marcus and Craig Smith (Staffs) 21-11, 21-12 in the final.

Ben also won the mixed event with Jess Pugh after securing victory over Sean Vendy and Brodie Miller 21-17, 21-17, and Chow was to reach the singles final, where he went down to Sean Vendy 21-17, 21-18.

The Devon trials for the Yonex inter-county veterans championships will take place at The Maynard School in Exeter on Sunday, September 26. The county competitions are divided into the following age groups: over-40, over-45, over-50, over-55, over-60 and over-65.

Approximately 60 players from all over Devon are normally involved and previous county playing experience in their younger days is not necessary.

If you would like a chance to represent Devon, please contact Dylys Bradshaw on 01752 402015, or Margaret Banyard on 01752 319471 before September 19.

The Devon Restricted event is to be held at two separate venues this year.

The singles will be at Exeter University Sports Hall from 6pm on Friday, September 24. The level doubles and mixed doubles will be at the Acorn Centre, Torquay, on Saturday, September 25 from 10am.