Potters Bar’s Ryan McCarthy believes his stunning run to the semi-finals of the English National Badminton Championships illustrates the potential of his men’s doubles pairing with Tom Wolfenden.

McCarthy and Wolfenden shocked third seeds Chris Coles and Matthew Nottingham in the quarter-finals, losing out only to the eventual winners Peter Mills and Chris Langridge in the last four.

Against Coles and Nottingham, who train full-time with Badminton England at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, McCarthy and Wolfenden’s victory was as surprising as it was dramatic.

Following a game that swung both ways, 19-year-old McCarthy and Wolfenden, 18, eventually won through 22-24, 23-21, 28-26 taking their fifth match point, having saved three.

It proved to be the longest match of the tournament, an absorbing 77-minute contest, and McCarthy hopes that will stand them in good stead as they push for participation at more senior internationals.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” he said of their quarter-final. “We held it together well and played the big points quite well.

“They pushed us all the way, they are a good pair to beat – they are under-19 European champions – so it was a very good win for us, and good to be a part of that game.

“We will now be playing more tournaments at a higher level and will get used to playing these high-intensity matches.

“We will eventually get the knack of it and consistently play at a high intensity. That comes with experience, with us being a relatively inexperienced pair.”

A day after their gruelling quarter-final, Mills and Langridge were comfortable 21-14, 21-7 victors over McCarthy and Wolfenden, who won a silver medal together at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011.

But McCarthy admitted they had surpassed expectations by even reaching the semi-finals, and he is now looking forward to their future development.

“I feel quite happy with how we played,” he said. “We did well in the quarter-finals, but the semi-finals were probably a step too far – they are a good pair.

“I believe we have got really good potential. We will go away now and play some senior international tournaments and just progress as a pair.

“There is potential there to compete at a high level so I am quite happy with it all.”

Next up, come and experience the world’s best players and London 2012 Olympians at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships. For more information, visit www.allenglandbadminton.com.