Badminton: Juniors make their mark

Feb 20 2009

AYRSHIRE juniors did their county proud while competing against the best adults in Scotland at the Scottish National Championships at Perth.

Lewis Gallacher (Kilmarnock) and Gregor McVean (Mauchline) both won through the qualifying rounds of the men’s singles and competed well in the main event. Gail Woodburn, Shereen Spittal and Emma Cook (all Mauchline) did well in their singles and doubles.

Two of the three Ayrshire juniors, vying for a position in the European junior team (Mauchline’s Kirsten Geals and Kaity Hall), boosted their prospects of being selected for Milan in April.

The two 17-year-olds, playing with different partners, won through to the semi-finals of the ladies doubles where they lost in straight sets to the two top seeds.

The third Ayrshire player vying for team selection, Troon’s Angus Gilmour, also impressed the spectators and Badminton Scotland officials.

Angus and men’s doubles partner, Martin Campbell from Edinburgh, are currently the top U19 pairing in the European Badminton union rankings and continued their excellent form.

A win in the opening round rewarded Angus and Martin with a match against the number 3/4 seeds who they beat 16-13.

Angus and Martin won the quarters in straight sets to set up a semi against older opposition which they also took in two sets. The two 18-year-olds battled well in the final against two team GB players but lost both sets to 17.