Papdale Primary Team 1 - Owen Reid, Joe Sutherland, Lianne Bruce & Nicola Kemp

On Sunday 23 April the final competition in the Orkney Badminton Association fixture was played in the Pickaquoy Centre - the Primary Schools Badminton Team Competition. It was good to see 12 teams competing, two more than last year. There were first time appearances from Stenness and St Margarets Hope and both teams performed well on the day. The event ran smoothly and resulted in some very close and exciting matches throughout the placings.

Teams:

Papdale Primary Team 1 - Owen Reid, Joe Sutherland, Lianne Bruce & Nicola Kemp.

Papdale Primary Team 2 – Cameron Barbour, Craig Sutherland, Nicola Sutherland & Laura Martin. Adult helper – Calvin Reid & Mrs Sutherland

St Margarets Hope Primary – Leona Norquoy, Leanne Omand, Aiden drever & Andrew Stevenson. Adult helper – Mrs Norquoy

St Andrews Primary Team 1 – Liam Delday, Simon Loudon, Aimee Drever & Helen Moar.

St Andrews Primary Team 2 – Joseph Mills, Callum Lewis, Fiona Moar & Judith Bonner.

St Andrews Primary Team 3 – Craig Rendall, Samuel Murray, Stephanie Moar & Catriona Ward. Adult helpers – Fiona MacNab & Linda Bonner.

Dounby Primary – Ryan Major, Scott Davidson, Isla Kirkness & Alanna Swanney. Adult helper – Anne Davidson.

Stromness Primary – Theo Prendergast, Graeme Bain, Morna Brown & Trisbee Sinclair.

Adult helper – Matilda Prendergast & Josh Prendergast.

Stenness Primary – Lewis Moar, Garry Mathers, Sisie Manson & Jody Spence.

Adult helpers – Mrs Kennedy, Jill Manson & parents.

Glaitness Primary Team 1 – Mathew Reid, Thorfinn Manson, Sarah Cowie &

Catrin Sutherland.

Glaitness Primary Team 2 – Jamie Firth, Max Harris Jones, Rhiann Mackay & Aimee Garrioch.

Glaitness Primary Team 3 – Duncan MacLean, Andrew Reid, Claire Johnston & Thora Cant.

Adult helpers – Lesley Mackay & Lorna Reid.

The competition was played in the initial stages with four groups competing for places into the final stages. Each group consisted of 3 teams which played a round robin competion against eachother, each team playing 2 matches initially. Each match consisted of 2 boys & 2 girls singles – up to 11 points, 1 boys & 1 girls doubles match – up to 15 points. In the event of a draw team points would be added up to determine the winner. After competing all teams had their placings within their group - either 1st, 2nd or 3rd. The four 1st group winners played a cross over semi finals, followed by a final to determine the eventual winner. The eight remaining teams played out the deciding matches in the same format to determine their final placings - each team competed in four matches on the day.

Group 1 – St Andrews 1 bt Glaitness 6-0, St Andrews 1 bt St Margarets Hope 6-0 & Glaitness 3 bt St Margarets Hope 4-2.

Group placing – 1st St Andrews 1 - 12 games, 2nd Glaitness 3 – 4 games, 3rd St Margarets Hope – 2 games.

Group 2 – Stromness bt Papdale 2 4-2, Glaitness 1 bt Stromness 6-0 & Glaitness 1 bt Papdale 2 6-0.

Group Placing – 1st Glaitness 1 - 12 games , 2nd Stromness - 4 games, 3rd Papdale 2 -

2 games.

Group 3 – Glaitness 2 (55 points) v St Andrews 3(37 points) draw 3-3, Dounby bt Glaitness 2 5-1 & Dounby bt St Andrews 3 4-2.

Group placing – 1st Dounby - 9 games, 2nd St Andrews 3 – 5 games & 3rd Glaitness 2 - 4 games.

Group 4 – Stenness(41 points) v Papdale 1(39 points) 3-3 draw, St Andrews 2(55 points) v

Papdale 1(37 points) 3-3 draw.

Group placing – 1st St Andrews 2 – 7 games, 2nd Papdale 1 – 6 games, 3rd Stenness – 5 games.

11th & 12th Play off – St Margarets Hope bt Papdale 2 - 5-1

Singles - Aiden Drever(Hope) bt Cameron Barbour(Papdale) 11-1, Craig Sutherland(Papdale) bt Andrew Stevenson(Hope) 11-8, Leona Norquoy(Hope) bt Nicola Sutherland(Papdale) 11-0, Leanne Omand(Hope) bt Laura Martin(Papdale) 11-3.

Doubles – Cameron & Craig(Papdale) bt Aiden & Andrew(Hope) 15-14, Leona & Leanne(Hope) bt Nicola & Laura(Papdale) 15-0.

The Papdale team did well against tough opposition on the day. Many thanks go to the team members who stood in at the last minute. The Hope had a group of good young players who will have gained experience from their matches in this competition and we look forward to seeing them back in next years competitions.

9th & 10th Play off – Glaitness 2(42 points)won - Stenness(37 points) 3-3 draw

Singles – Jamie Firth(Glaitness 2) bt Lewis Moar(Stenness) 11-0, Max Harris Jones(Glaitness 2) bt Gary Mathers(Stenness) 11-0, Susie Manson(Stenness) bt Claire Johnston(Glaitness 2) 11-2, Jody Spence(Stenness) bt Aimee Garrioch(Glaitness 2) 11-2.

Doubles – Jamie & Max(Glaitness 2) bt Lewis & Gary(Stenness) 15-0, Susie & Jody(Stenness) bt Claire & Aimee(Glaitness 2) 15-1

This was a very close match with Glaitness just gaining 9th position over Stenness by five points. For Glaitness, Jamie & Max were unbeaten in their singles and doubles . Stenness secured their draw after Susie & Jody won all their singles and doubles matches for Stenness – well done to both teams for an exciting match.

7th & 8th Play off – Glaitness 3 bt Papdale 1 - 4-2

Singles – Owen Reid(Papdale 1) bt Duncan MacLean(Glaitness 3) 11-3, Andrew Reid(Glaitness 3) bt Joe Sutherland(Papdale 1) 11-1, Victoria Linklater(Glaitness 3) bt Leanne Bruce(Papdale 1), Thora Cant(Glaitness 3) bt Nicola Kemp(Papdale 1) 11-2.

Doubles – Owen & Joe(Papdale) bt Duncan & Andrew(Glaitness 3) 15-7, Victoria & Thora(Glaitness 3) bt Leanne & Nicola(Papdale 1) 15-9.

Owen Reid(Papdale) performed well on the day winning both his matches. However, a good depth of strength throughout the Glaitness team gave them the upper hand in this match to gain 7th position.

5th & 6th Play off – Stromness(45 points)won – St Andrews 3(40 points) 3-3 draw

Singles – Theo Prendergast(Stromness) bt Craig Rendall(St Andrews 3) 11-1, Graeme Bain(Stromness) bt Aaron Williamson(St Andrews 3) 11-1, Stephanie Moar(St Andrews 3) bt Morna Brown(Stromness) 11-6, Catriona Ward(St Andrews 3) bt Trisbee Sinclair(Stromness)

11-0.

Doubles – Theo & Graeme(Stromness) bt Craig & Aaron(St Andrews 3) 15-1, Stephanie & Catriona(St Andrews 3) bt Morna & Trisbee(Stromness) 15-2.

Another thrilling match was played between Stromness & St Andrews 3. Stephanie & Catriona won their three matches for St Andrews 3 which helped to secure a draw. However, it was not quite enough as convincing wins from Theo & Graeme helped the Stromness team gain 5th position after a count back on points.

3rd & 4th Play off – Dounby(58 points)won – Glaitness 1(53 points) 3-3 draw

Singles –Matthew Reid(Glaitness 1) bt Ryan Major(Dounby) 11-1, Scott Davidson(Dounby) bt Thorfinn Manson(Glaitness 1) 11-5, Sarah Cowie(glaitness 1) bt Isla Kirkness(Dounby) 11-7,

Alana Swanney(Dounby) bt Catrin Sutherland(Glaitness 1) 11-4. Doubles – Matthew & Thorfinn (Glaitness 1) bt Ryan & Scott(Dounby) 15-13, Isla & Alana(Dounby) btSarah & Catrin(Glaitness 1) 15-7.

This play off was exciting and contained many hard fought rallies of a high standard. Matthew Reid stormed ahead to overcome Ryan Major to secure the first match for Glaitness. However, Scott Davidson levelled the score with a win against Thorfinn Manson. Again the girls singles went one each way making the score level at 2-2. In the boys doubles match Matthew & Thorfinn(Glaitness 1) had a very close encounter with Ryan & Scott(Dounby). After much rallying Glaitness 1 clinched the final points to secure the match 15-13. This left the Dounby girls Isla & Alana with the chance to level the score. This they did, overpowering their Glaitness opponents Sarah & Catrin comfortably 15-7. The teams waited on baited breathe to hear the winner as the points were totalled up – Dounby had gained 3rd spot in a narrowest of wins over Glaitness by just 5 points. Well done to both teams for a very exciting match.

1st & 2nd Play off – St Andrews1 bt St Andrews 2 5-1

Singles – Liam delday(St Andrews 1) bt Calum Lewis(St Andrews 2) 11-6, Samuel Murray(St Andrews 2) bt Joseph Mills(St Andrews 2) 11-6, Aimee Drever(St Andrews 1) bt Fiona Moar(St Andrews 2) 11-2, Helen Moar(St Andrews 1) bt Judith Bonner(St Andrews 2) 11-3.

Doubles – Liam & Joseph(St Andrews 1) bt Calum & Samuel(St Andrews 2) 15-12, Aimee & Helen(St Andrews1) bt Fiona & Judith(St Andrews 2) 15-6.

St Andrews primary school were prominent again in this years final and were determined to retain their winning shield from last year. St Andrews team 1 & 2 took to the courts for the last competition of the day. Primary Singles champion Liam Delday overcame Calum Lewis to put St Andrews 1 ahead. However, Samuel Murray(St Andrews 2) replied by levelling the score when he won his singles match. Experience was the key factor in the girls singles matches, as Primary Schools singles winner Aimee Drever & Helen Moar(St Andrews 1) won over their opponents convincingly to take the lead 3-1. St Andrews 2 needed to win both doubles matches to draw. The boys doubles match was beginning to attract spectators as they both produced some fine rallies. In the closing stages, it was Liam & Joseph(St Andrews 1) who edged ahead to secure this exciting match 15-12. Team mates Aimee & Helen(St Andrews 1) proved too strong for their opponents Fiona & Judith(St Andrews2) winning 15-6 to take the game. This saw St Andrews 1 take first place in the Primary Schools Badminton Team Event for the third time winning 5-1 over St Andrews 2.

Tournament Organiser, Elaine Gray introduced the Director of Education, Lesley Manson who presented the Shield and medals to the winning team St Andrews 1 captained by Aimee Drever. Medals were presented to the runners-up St Andrews 2 and third place Dounby. In his speech, Mr Manson commended the children on their fine performance during the day. Finally, he thanked all primary schools who had put in much time and effort in preparing their teams for this competition.

Many thanks go to the youth development players who umpired & Kitty Work who assisted with the competition. Thanks to all the parents/adult helpers who transported and supervised teams and gave their support on the day.

E Gray