Invitation Tournament - Season 2009-2010 - 05&06/03/10

A record entry of 80 from throughout Scotland at the annual Caithness invitation badminton tourney at the weekend reinforced its claim as one of the leading events of its kind in the country.

The two-day event attracted contingents from Shetland, Orkney, Edinburgh as well as players who travelled from Aberdeen and Fife.

The size of the entry taxed organisers to get the 10 competitions played in the allotted time.

The last shuttlecock landed on Thurso Games Hall at eight on Saturday night after a total of 16 hours of play.

Dunnet's Mark Mackay extended his record as the most successful competitor in the 13 year history of the tourney.

The 35-year-old did not drop a game en route to retaining his single crown.

Orkney exile Ian Gorn was unlucky when he had to retire with an injury after losing a tough first set to Mackay in the semi.

The final produced a cracking contest which pitted the long-time Caithness number one versus Craig Lamb.

The pair know each other's games very well after having regularly teamed up in doubles in regional tourneys in the south of Scotland and England.

Both games went into extra time with Mackay squeezing through the first 22-20.

In the second, he opened up an apparently decisive 19-13 lead only for the Edinburgh man to battle back to tie at 19-19.

Some lengthy rallies extended the tension as the cliffhanger eventually fell Mackay's way as he edged through 23-21 to end the match.

Mackay went on to partner Thurso's James Henderson to the level doubles' title.

They had a scare in the quarter-finals against Wick duo Benjii Mackay and Iain Nicolson.

The latter were just edged out 23-21 in the first game and were good value to cause an upset before Benji Mackay had to retire with a calf strain.

In the other half of the draw, Lamb and Edinburgh team-mate Kevin Warman clinched a place in the final after coming through two toughs sets versus Shetland twins Graham and Gordon Keith.

Mark Mackay and Henderson combined well in the final to power to a 21-12, 26-24 victory.

Mark's hopes of a treble were dashed when he and Shetland partner Shona Keith went down in a marathon final versus Lamb and Thurso's Carole Mowat.

The latter won the first before being pegged back in the second but regrouped to take the decider with quite a bit to spare.

The ladies singles in recent years has ended up as a showdown between Mowat and Young.

The former defeated Shona Keith in her semi after Young had knocked out Wick's Donna Majilton.

Mowat was unable to repeat her win over Young in the 2008 final as the Edinburgh player retained her title in two sets.

Shetland tasted success in the ladies doubles when Shona Keith and Anne Wood defeated Young and Edinburgh team-mate Kim Atkinson in straight sets in the final.

Caithness combo Casey Sangster and Carole Mowat went out after a closely fought contest at the penultimate stage to the city pair.

Caithness players who won silverware in the plate competition were Michelle Cowie, Jane Grant, Pam Bain and Kate MacNicol.

report from Iain Grant & photos above from James Gunn photographic - click for website.

Results:-

• Ladies Singles - Carolyn Young, Edinburgh
  • Plate - Michelle Cowie, Caithness
• Mens Singles - Mark Mackay, Caithness
  • Plate - Gordon Keith, Shetland
• Ladies Doubles - Anne Wood & Shona Keith, Shetland
  • Plate - Jane Grant & Pam Bain, Caithness
• Mens Doubles - Mark Mackay & James Henderson, Caithness
  • Plate - Calum Flett & Graham Beck, Orkney
• Mixed Doubles - Craig Lamb, Edinburgh & Carole Mowat, Caithness
  • Plate - Graham Keith, Shetland & Kate MacNicol, Caithness

Photos

The below snaps are from James Gunn photographic - click for website.

Extra Photos

Other snaps from DZ.

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