County Open, Thurso - Season 2010-2011 - 05/02/11

Ahead of their marriage in the summer, Mark Mackay and Shona Keith at the weekend showed they are a formidable partnership on the badminton court.

The Dunnet couple teamed up to lift the mixed doubles title at the annual Caithness open tourney, as well as each winning their singles. Thurso High Games Hall provided the venue for the tourney, with many of the competitors due back there tomorrow for the inter-county return leg versus Orkney.

Mark, who works on the family farm, and Shona, a PE teacher, eased through their semi versus Halkirk's Casey Sangster and Wick youngster Ewan Jappy.

In the other semi, Thurso/Wick combo Pam Mackay and Sam Campbell were beaten in two sets by Carole Mowat, Thurso and Casey's son Peter. The latter battled for every point in the final but went down in straight sets to Shona and Mark.

Carole Mowat has dominated the women's singles for many years but surprisingly chose not to defend her title.

The competition was run in two groups, with Shona pitted in the final against Wick's Donna Majilton after the latter survived a three set epic versus Thurso's Kirsty Grant in her decisive group match.

Shona had just too much for Donna in the final, winning through in two competitive sets.

The women's doubles was run on a round-robin basis involving the five entrants.

After a clutch of hard-fought three-set games, Carole Mowat and Casey Sangster extended their run of success in the event.

Mark, who is on the mend after a knee operation, won the singles without dropping a set.

After defeating Wick's Sam Campbell at the penultimate stage, he faced Stephen Hill in the final.

Stephen was unable to work Mark enough around the court and went down 21-13, 21-12.

Mark was denied a treble when he and partner Iain Dunnett were pipped by a single point in the round-robin competition in the level doubles.

Victory went to Wick duo Abdul Mkith and Stephen Hill, who had teamed up to land the restricted title the previous week.

The pair lost out in a stamina-sapping three setter to Craig and Ewan Jappy but triumphed overall after winning their other three games, including a straight sets win over Mark and Iain.

Results

• Ladies Singles - Shona Keith
• Mens Singles - Mark Mackay
• Ladies Doubles - Carole Mowat & Casey Sangster
• Mens Doubles - Stephen Hill & Abdul Mkith
• Mixed Doubles - Mark Mackay & Shona Keith

End-of-Document