Caithness Junior Badminton - Season 2008-2009

Contents:- - Highland (Orkney) - Under 17 - Under 15 - Under 13 -

Highland Junior Event, Orkney - 21 & 22/02/09

A 30-strong party from Caithness headed north to compete in the annual Highland under-13, under-15 and under-18 badminton tourney.

Orkney provided the first venue for the competition outwith Caithness, which had staged it since its inauguration eight years ago.

The weekend event in Kirkwall was well supported by both Caithness and Shetland but travel and cost factors meant few came from elsewhere.

The poor support from the Inner Moray Firth was very disappointing given the invariably large contingents from the far north and the Northern Isles that invariably travel to competitions in Inverness and Dingwall.

Caithness were to the fore in the under-15s in which Peter Sangster scored a hat-trick of wins.

The Halkirk youngster did not drop a set en route to the singles title though he had to come through a tough two-setter in the final versus Shetland's Roy Wood. He went on to partner Ormlie club-mates Kate MacNicol and Martyn Campbell to success in the doubles.

Kate almost brought further success in the girls singles only to lose out in a marathon three-setter to Lorrie Robertson from Shetland.

Earlier, Kate and Tanya Cowie scored a fourth win for Caithness when they secured the level doubles title following a three-set win over Lorrie Robertson and Karrie Fraser.

There was further county success with Andrew Dunnett and Michael Budge - both returning after injury - winning the level doubles plate.

Orkney dominated the under-13 tourney with Liam Delday winning three titles and Victoria Linklater two.

The main threat came from Carla Mackay who gave Victoria a run for her money in the semi- final of the singles. Carla and Wick team-mate Kayleigh Ross went on to reach the final of the level doubles where they found Victoria and Claire Johnstone just too strong.

In what was a young, inexperienced Caithness squad, Wick's Cameron Young and Matthew Sinclair battled to success in the final of the boys doubles plate.

Star of the under-18s was Orkney's Gary Nicolson who beat doubles partner David Delday in the singles on his way to a treble. Gary's toughest match came at the penultimate stage when he prevailed in a nip-and-tuck three-setter versus Andrew Cumming, from Wick.  Thurso's Ryan Jones meanwhile put up a gallant fight before going down in two close sets to David in the other semi.

Thurso's Lauren Gunn showed up well in the singles but was out-manoeuvred in the final by Orkney's Rebecca Reid in the final.

Caithness were disappointed to pick up just one piece of silverware in the under-18s with Wick's Robyn Hughes and Fern MacDonald, from Thurso, beating Orkney opposition to take home the girls level doubles plate.

UNDER 13:-

• Girls singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Linklater bt Mackay 21-8, 21-11.
    • Johnstone bt Morrison 21-19, 21-19.
  • Final
    • Linklater bt Johnstone 21-11, 21-8.
      • Plate - final - Joanne Pirie (O) bt Emma Work (O) 21-13.
• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Delday bt Reid 21-8, 21-13.
    • Irvine bt Miller 21-6, 22-20.
  • Final
    • Delday bt Irvine 21-11, 21-23, 21-13.
      • Plate - final - Liam Henderson (S) bt Matthew Sinclair (C) 21-9.
• Girls doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Johnstone & Linklater bt Morrison & Johnston 21-15, 21-10.
    • Mackay & Ross bt Keith & Bonner 21-15, 21-9.
  • Final
    • Johnstone & Linklater bt Mackay & Ross 21-9, 21-16.
      • Plate final - Emma Work & Joanne Pirie bt Ellen Rendall & Lille Flett (O) 22-20.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Reid & Delday bt Cook & Scott 20-22, 21-10, 21-14.
    • Irvine & Flaws bt Riome & Miller 21-8, 21-13.
  • Final
    • Reid & Delday bt Irvine & Flaws 21-18, 21-16.
      • Plate final - Cameron Young & Matthew Sinclair (C) bt Archie Macphail & Alex Stevenson (O) 21-16.
• Mixed doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Delday & Bonner bt Nicolson & Mackay 21-8, 21-11.
    • Irvine & Morrison bt Flaws & Johnston 21-10, 21-10.
  • Final
    • Delday & Bonner bt Irvine & Nicolson 21-10, 21-19.
      • Plate final - Thorfinn Miller & Amy Gray bt Alex Stevenson & Claire Johnstone 21-17.

UNDER 15:-

• Girls singles
  • Semi-finals
    • MacNicol bt Fraser 21-19, 21-19.
    • Robertson bt Cowie 22-20, 21-11.
  • Final
    • Robertson bt MacNicol 25-23, 17-21, 21-18.
      • Plate final - Jenni Leask (S) bt Robyn Hughes (C) 21-15.
• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Wood bt Watt 21-15, 21-5.
    • Sangster bt Duffy 21-17, 21-13.
  • Final
    • Sangster by Wood 21-19, 21-18.
      • Plate final - Ryan Wood (S) bt Andrew Dunnett (C) 21-11.
• Girls doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • MacNicol & Cowie bt Drever & Moar 21-9, 21-0.
    • Robertson & Fraser bt Mackay & Garriock 21-14, 21-13.
  • Final
    • MacNicol & Cowie bt Robertson & Fraser 21-14, 16-21, 21-14.
      • Plate final - Swanney & Leask bt Hughes & Grant 21-16.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Wood & Duffy bt Reid & Reid 21-15, 21-12.
    • Sangster & Campbell bt Watt & Wood 21-11, 23-21.
  • Final
    • Sangster & Campbell bt Wood & Duffy 21-16, 22-20.
      • Plate final - Dunnett & Budge bt Major & Davidson 21-13.
• Mixed doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Sangster & MacNicol bt Duffy & Fraser 21-15, 21-12.
    • Campbell & Cowie bt Wood & Robertson 9-21, 21-16, 21-16.
  • Final
    • Sangster & MacNicol bt Campbell & Cowie 21-16, 21-11.
      • Plate final - Finn Watt & Jenni Leask bt Joe Leask & Linsay Morrison 21-9.

UNDER 18:-

• Girls singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Reid bt Hogg 21-7, 21-10.
    • Gunn bt Keith 21-18, 21-16.
  • Final
    • Reid bt Gunn 21-16, 21-11.
      • Plate final - Alison Shearer (O) bt Bronwyn Ross (C) 21-19.
• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Nicolson bt Cumming 21-16, 23-25, 21-10.
    • Delday bt Jones 21-19, 21-19.
  • Final
    • Nicolson bt Delday 21-18, 21-17.
      • Plate final - Sandy Hay (S) bt Sean Munro (C) 21-17.
• Girls doubles
  • Group 1 winners - Stephanie Keith & Lauren Hogg.
  • Group 2 winners - Chelsea Cook & Rebecca Reid.
  • Final
    • Keith & Hogg bt Cook & Reid 21-16, 11-21, 21-15.
      • Plate final - Robyn Hughes & Fern MacDonald (C) bt Kirsten Tait & Susan Hill (O) 21-17.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Nicolson & Delday bt Cumming & Munro 21-10, 21-10.
    • Gray & Anderson bt Flett & Wylie 21-7, 21-8.
  • Final
    • Nicolson & Delday bt Gray Anderson 21-14, 11-21, 21-12.
      • Plate final - Flett & Wylie bt Steven MacPhail & Jamie Firth (O) 21-14.
• Mixed doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Gray & Tait bt Delday & Reid 21-17, 19-21. 24-22. Nicolson & Cook bt Johnston & Keith 21-12, 21-18.
  • Final
    • Nicolson & Cook bt Gray & Tait 21-14, 23-21.
      • Plate final - Sandy Kay & Lauren Hogg bt Hamish Flett & Gemma Smith (O) 21-13.

report from Iain Grant

Under 17 Event - 15/11/08

A record entry posed logistical problems for organisers of last week's Caithness Badminton Association's under-17 championships.

The 40 entrants required the competition to be held over two nights - the singles at Thurso Games Hall on the Monday and the level and mixed doubles at Wick Games Hall on the Wednesday.

Such was the quality of play and competitiveness of the matches that the last match - the final of the mixed -- was not finished until 11.30 p.m.

CBA's Jane Grant said: "It's great to have such high numbers at under-17 level and the standard of play was really, really high.  "There's only a couple who are too old for this age group next year so it could be another record entry next year.  "It causes us a problem to organise the competitions but it's a problem we're happy to have."

The boys singles proved a competitive affair full of tight matches and intriguing contests.

The semi-finals pitted the two Jappy twins, Euan and Craig, against each other after Craig got through a three set marathon versus under-15 champion Peter Sangster.  That seemed to take it out of him as he eventually succumbed in two close sets versus his brother.

In the other semi, Ciaran Duffy edged out Thurso's Paul Wares to set up an all-Wick final.

It was Cieran who prevailed 21-19, 21-17 in a final which featured some excellent stroke-play and battling recoveries.

Ciaran went on to enjoy success in the level doubles when he and club-mate Sean Munro came through a tense three set semi versus Paul and Ben Nicolson to meet Peter and Thurso club-mate Martyn Campbell in the final.  The latter, who had won the under-15 title the previous week, fought back after losing the opening set and had chances to win the decider before gallantly losing out 22-20.

Thurso's Lauren Gunn proved the stand-out in the girls competition.

She successfully negotiated two three set tussles before lining up to face under-15 winner Kate MacNicol in the final.  Lauren varied her game well to take the title with a 21-15, 21-14 success.

The final of the girls doubles was an all-Thurso affair with Lauren and Bronwyn Ross proving just too strong for Kate and Tanya Cowie though the latter were unfortunate not to take the match to a decider.

Kate finally tasted success in the mixed when she and Peter repeated their win at under-15 level.  After defeating Lauren and Craig Jappy in the semi, their combination of guile and power took them to victory in a straight-set final versus Ciaran and Sarah Sutherland.

Results:- (L - Lybster; T- Thurso; W - Wick)

• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Euan Jappy (W) bt Craig Jappy (W) 21-18, 21-15.
    • Ciaran Duffy (W) bt Paul Wares (T) 21-19, 21-17.
  • Final
    • Ciaran bt Euan 21-7, 21-15.
      • Plate final - Christopher Simpson (W) bt Gareth Watt (L) 21-13.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Ciaran Duffy & Sean Munro (W) bt Paul Wares & Ben Nicolson (T) 19-21, 21-10, 21-13.
    • Peter Sangster & Martyn Campbell (T) bt Ewan Jappy & Alan McGee (W) 23-21, 21-11.
  • Final
    • Ciaran & Sean bt Peter & Martyn 21-14, 19-21, 22-20.
      • Plate final - Christopher Simpson & Craig McKiddie (W) bt Dean Smith & Christopher Stone (T).
• Girls singles
  • Semi-final
    • Kate MacNicol (T) bt Beckie Gunn (W) 21-17, 26-24.
    • Lauren Gunn (T) bt Tanya Cowie (T) 21-15, 23-25, 21-7.
  • Final
    • Lauren bt Kate 21-15, 21-14.
      • Plate final - Kirsty MacLeod (W) bt Fern MacDonald (T) 21-18.
• Girls doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Kate MacNicol & Tanya Cowie bt Fern MacDonald & Kayleigh Wright (T) 21-11, 21-19.
    • Lauren Gunn & Bronwyn Ross (T) bt Beckie Gunn & Jodie Anderson 21-15, 21-13.
  • Final
    • Lauren & Bronwyn bt Kate & Tanya 21-17, 22-20.
      • Plate final - Kirsty MacLeod & Laura Hughes bt Sarah Sutherland & Kimmy Lai (W).
• Mixed Doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Peter Sangster & Kate MacNicol bt Craig Jappy & Lauren Gunn 21-12, 21-14.
    • Ciaran Duffy & Sarah Sutherland bt Alan McGee & Jodie Anderson 21-11, 21-14.
  • Final
    • Peter & Kate bt Ciaran & Sarah 21-18, 21-14.
      • Plate final - Jamie Cormack & Camilla Ramsoy (L) bt Kevin Cameron & Sammy Bain (L) 22-20.

report from Iain Grant

Under 15 Event - 08/11/08

Kate MacNicol and Peter Sangster each celebrated treble successes at Caithness Badminton Association's under-15 championships.

Kate, from Gerston, and Peter, from Halkirk, breezed through to all three finals in the event staged at Wick High's games hall.

The majority of the other entrants either have another year in the age group or qualified from the previous weekend's under-13 competition.

The boys singles final proved very competitive with Peter pitched against Thurso club colleague Martyn Campbell.  Martyn put in his best performance yet against Peter who was pushed to the limit before taking the first game 23-21. Martyn ran out of steam a bit in the second which Peter took 21-12.

The combination proved too strong in the doubles where the main contest was on who would finish second among the six pairs.  The runners-up prize ended up going to Wick's Cameron Duffy and Michael Budge.

The girls final between Kate MacNicol and Thurso's, Tanya Cowie was an excellent game with both girls producing a good variety of shots and covering the court really well.  After losing the first game, Tanya looked a good bet to take the second but Kate dug deep to pull through 22-20 to clinch the title.

The two finalists teamed up in the doubles where they comfortably won all their matches in the round-robin series.  The fight for second was between Laura Grant & Robyn Hughes and Amelia Mackay & Lori Crowe.  In a cracking decider, Lori & Amelia just lost out 21/18 to the Wick duo.

The mixed double finale almost inevitably pitted Peter & Kate and Martyn & Tanya in the final though the other pairs put up brave bids against them en route.  In what was the match of the day, Tanya and Martyn competed well before losing out in two hard-fought games.

Results:- (W - Wick; T - Thurso)

• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Peter Sangster (T) bt Darren Shek (T) 31-9.
    • Martyn Campbell (T) bt Michael Budge (W) 31-22.
  • Final
    • Peter bt Martyn 23-21, 21-12.
      • Plate final - Andrew Nicolson (W) bt Martin Nicolson (W) 25-23.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Peter Sangster & Martyn Campbell bt Andrew Nicolson & Christopher Green (W) 21-10.
    • Cameron Duffy & Michael Budge (W) bt Jamie Morris & Darren Shek (T) 21-14.
  • Final
    • Peter & Martyn bt Cameron & Michael 21-11 21-7.
      • Plate final - Martin Nicolson & Matthew Sinclair (W) bt Cameron Young & Craig Muir (W) 21-18.
• Girls singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Kate MacNicol (T) bt Robyn Hughes (W) 31-7.
    • Tayna Cowie (T) bt Amelia Mackay (T) 31-14.
  • Final
    • Kate bt Tanya 21-14, 22-20.
      • Plate final - Karla Mackay (W) bt Lori Crowe (W) 21-10.
• Girls doubles
  • Round Robin
    1. Kate MacNicol & Tanya Cowie.
    2. Robyn Hughes & Laura Grant (W).
    3. Amelia Mackay & Lori Crowe (W).
• Mixed Doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Peter Sangster & Kate MacNicol bt Darren Shek & Alexandra Ball (T) 31-7.
    • Martyn Campbell & Tanya Cowie (T) bt Cameron Duffy & Robyn Hughes (W) 31-15.
  • Final
    • Peter & Kate bt Martyn & Tanya 21-15, 21-18.
      • Plate final - Cameron Young & Karla Mackay bt Christopher Green & Lori Crowe 21-13.

report from Iain Grant

Under 13 Event - 01/11/08

Under 13s were in action on Saturday in the first of the annual round of inter-county competitions staged by Caithness Badminton Association. Youngsters from four clubs were in action in the afternoon event at Thurso High School's games hall.

The overall standard of play was at least as good as recent previous competitions though the entry was down on last year, mainly as a result of the absence of any representation from Thurso.

photo from Jane Grant

Coaches have recognised plenty of potential to develop some of the starlets, who they hope will stay in the game.

The outstanding performer was Wick's Karla Mackay who ended the day with three trophies.  Karla did not find it easy getting past club-mate Shannon MacKenzie in the semi of her singles but went to score a comfortable victory over Lybster's Christy Ross in the final.

Karla and Shannon proved an unbeatable combination in the level doubles while Karla teamed up with Cameron Young to take the mixed title. Success was not guaranteed until the final shuttle flew in their final against Lybster's Chelsea Lightley and Michael Stone, from Castletown.  The match of the tourney swung one way and then the other before the Wick duo finally prevailed 25-23,

Michael also featured in a nail-biter before losing out by the final in the final of the boys doubles.  He and Dunnet club colleague Ashley Lawrence were pipped to the silverware by Wick's Matthew Sinclair & Martin Nicolson.  Michael did however savour success in the singles when he defeated Matthew at the semi-final stage and Martin in the final.

Results (D - Dunnet; L - Lybster; T - Thurso; W- Wick):

• Boys singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Martin Nicolson (W) bt Ashley Lawrence (D) 21-16.
    • Michael Stone (D) bt Matthew Sinclair (W) 21-16.
  • Final
    • Michael bt Martin 21-15.
      • Plate final - Cameron Young (W) bt Tom Ross (T) 21-16.
• Boys doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Matthew Sinclair & Martin Nicolson bt Ewan Grant & Adrian McColl (L) 21-12.
    • Michael Stone & Ashley Lawrence bt Stewart Harness & Kyle Tait (T) 21-14.
  • Final
    • Matthew & Martin bt Michael & Ashley 25-23.
      • Plate final - Greg Polson & Callum Sutherland (W) bt Grant Anderson & Michael Green (W) 21-15.
• Girls singles
  • Semi-finals
    • Karla Mackay (W) bt Shannon MacKenzie (W) 21-16.
    • Christy Ross (L) bt Kayleigh Ross (W) 21-19.
  • Final
    • Karla bt Christy 21-5.
      • Plate final - Katie Cunningham (W) bt Erin Nicolson (L) 21-6.
• Girls doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Karla Mackay & Shannon MacKenzie bt Frances Minnock & Natalie Farquhar (W) 21-10.
    • Kayleigh Ross & Katie Cunningham bt Chelsea Lightley & Christy Ross 21-14.
  • Final
    • Karla & Shannon bt Kayleigh & Katie 21-10.
      • Plate final - Holly Forbes & Kelly Muffet (W) bt Lynn Sinclair & Erin Cormack (W) 21-18.
• Mixed doubles
  • Semi-finals
    • Karla Mackay & Cameron Young (W) bt Christie Ross & Ashley Lawrence 21-17.
    • Chelsea Lightley & Michael Stone bt Shannon MacKenzie & Martin Nicolson 21-16.
  • Final
    • Karla & Cameron bt Chelsea & Michael 23-21.
      • Plate final - Frances Minnock & Callum Sutherland bt Leanne Forbes (L) & Adrian McColl 21-16.

report from Iain Grant

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