Invitation Tournament - Season 2006-2007 - 09&10/03/07

Some trophy winners. (more below)

Mark Mackay completed a treble success in the 10th Caithness Annual Invitation Tournament sponsored by Aurora Jewellery, UKAEA Dounreay, Precision Blinds, Jim Sangster & Jacobs Babtie.

The competition proved one of the most hotly contested so far, with a strong visiting entry from Shetland, Orkney and the Central Belt.

Mackay had a relatively untroubled passage towards his 10th singles title. He defeated Orcadian, Ross Groundwater in the semi-final and a match against his fellow Caithnessian, John Durrand was to be his final hurdle in the final. John was up against it from the beginning and after losing 10 points in-a-row in the opening set, John found it difficult to pull a string of points together leaving Mark the appropriate winner.

The women's title went to Fiona Maxtone, Grangemouth. The 18 year old, who plays in the junior elite circuit, did not drop a set, though she had to pull out all the stops before getting the better of Edinburgh's, Caroline Young in the final.

Mark and John linked up to win the level doubles, which proved as tough as any of the preceding tournaments. They battled through to the final where they prevailed after two marathon sets versus the Shetland duo, Jason Jamieson and Colin Grant.

Mark completed the treble when he and Michelle Cowie toughed it out to claim the mixed title.

In the climax to a series of close run tussles in the competition, they got home after a three-set cliffhanger versus Orkney exile, Ian Gorn and Edinburgh's, Sandra Watt.

Watt, a double Commonwelath Games bronze medallist, had earlier tasted success in the level doubles when she and Carolyn Young won a two set final versus Fiona Maxtone and Vicky Gorn.

report by Jane Grant

Results:-

• Ladies Singles - Fiona Maxtone beat Carolyn Young
  • Plate - Louise Campbell beat Debbie Stewart
• Mens Singles - Mark Mackay beat John Durrand
  • Plate - Steven Mackenzie beat Abdul Mkith
• Ladies Doubles - Carolyn Young & Sandra Watt beat Vicky Gorn & Fiona Maxtone
  • Plate - Megan Ross & Louise Campbell beat Lindsay Coghill & Susan Craigie
• Mens Doubles - Mark Mackay & John Durrand beat Colin Grant & Jason Jamieson
  • Plate - Sandy Mackenzie & Andrew Boe beat Steven Mackenzie & Stephen Hill
• Mixed Doubles - Mark Mackay & Michelle Cowie beat Ian Gorn & Sandra Watt
  • Plate - Jim Maxtone & Vicky Gorn beat Sandy Mackenzie & Kim Atkinson

Photos

Most Winners & Runners-Up (posing for the sponsors)

Most Winners & Runners-Up (sponsors no more)

Ladies Singles' final - Carolyn v Fiona

Ladies Singles' final - Carolyn v Fiona

Ladies Singles' final - Carolyn v Fiona

Men's Doubles Final - Mark v John

Men's Doubles Final - Mark v John

Mens Semi-Final action - Back = John v Eoin Ballantyne - Front = Mark v Ross Groundwater

Mens Singles Final - Abdul v Steven

Ladies Doubles Semi-Final

Ladies Doubles Semi-Final - Sandra & Carolyn v Kath & Christine

Men's Doubles Semi-Final - Colin & Jason v Keith & Ian

Men's Doubles Semi-Final (back) - Ross & Eoin v Mark & John

End-of-Document