Badminton – U15 Junior Inter County Match – Shetland v Orkney
On Saturday 6 February the U15 badminton team finally set off up to Shetland on the overnight Northlink Ferry to play their Annual Inter County Badminton match with Shetland. The trip had been cancelled the previous weekend due to the snowy weather and cancellation of flights.
Around midday the players were transported to the Clickimin Centre where the match commenced at 1-00pm. The format of play consisted of two games of singles, one level doubles & one mixed doubles for each player totalling 36 games in all which was to be played on three courts. The Orkney players did very well to claim this inter county title for the first time in its four years of running.
1st round - Girls Singles:
6th – Joanne Pirie(O) lost Sophie Baert(S) 21-13,21-9, 5th – Abbie Lyall(O) lost Shannon Hughson(S) 21-7, 21-3, 4th – Claire Johnstone(O) bt Kerry MacGregor(S) 21-8, 21-12, 3rd – Victoria Linklater(O) beat Zoe Buchanan(S) 21-3, 21-13, 2nd – Ami Garriock(O) lost Lynsey Morrison(S) 21-19, 13-21, 28-30, 1st – Rhian MacKay(O) beat Karrie Fraser(S) 21-15, 23-21.
1st round - Boys Singles:
6th – Thorfinn Miller(O) beat Ashley Govier(S) 21-11, 21-13, 5th – Andrew Reid(O) beat Dean Guthrie(S) 18-21, 21-16, 21-19, Alistair Scott(O) lost Eion Leask(S) 19-21, 11-21, 3rd – Liam Delday(O) beat Harry Morton(S) 21-10, 21-16, 2nd - Owen Reid beat Liam Flaws(S) 21-14, 16-21, 21-12, 1st – Matthew Reid(O) beat Rory Irvine (S) 21-15, 21-18.
2nd round – Girls Singles
5th- Abbie Lyall(O) lost 6th - Sophie Baert(S) 17-21, 12-21, 6th - Joanne Pirie(O) lost 5th - Shannon Hughson(S) 17-21,14-21, 3rd- Victoria Linklater(O) beat 4th - Kerry MacGregor(S) 21-12, 21-8, 4th - Claire Johnstone(O) beat 3rd - Zoe Buchanan(S) 21-10, 18-21, 21-12, 1st - Rhian MacKay(O) beat 2nd – Lynsey Morrison(S) 21-17, 21-19, 2nd - Ami Garriock(O) lost 1st - Karrie Fraser(S).
2nd round – Boys Singles
5th – Andrew Reid(O) beat 6th - Ashley Govier(S) 22-20, 20-22, 21-12, 6th – Thorfinn Miller(O) beat 5th - Dean Guthrie(S) 21-10, 21-16, 3rd – Liam Delday(O) beat 4th - Eion Leask(S) 21-14, 21-14, 4th – Alistair Scott(O) lost 3rd – Harry Morton(S) 10-21, 23-21, 1st – Matthew Reid(O) beat 2nd – Liam Flaws(S) 21-8, 21-6, 2nd – Owen Reid beat 1st - Rory Irvine(S) 21-8, 24-22, 21-16.
After the first round of singles for the U15 boys and girls, where each player plays their opposite, Orkney took the lead by 8-4. There were some steady performances from the girls by Rhian, Claire & Victoria and some very entertaining matches in the boys singles. Andrew Reid produced one of the many nail-bitingly close three setters of the day in his match against young yell player, Dean Guthrie. There were some spectacular long fought out rallies during this match which Andrew finally clinched. Owen Reid had two hard fought matches in his singles and through some excellent tactical play and determination finally secured his matches. Matthew, Liam & Thorfinn remained steady in their singles and the remaining squad players gave good gritty performances. After the second round of singles in which each player plays either the player above or below, the Orkney players retained their good form to win 8-4. This secured the lead for Orkney 16 games - Shetland 8 games. After a short break the level doubles were the next games on the courts.
Girls Doubles:
3rd – Joanne Pirie & Abbie Lyall(O) lost Zoe Buchanan & Sophie Baert(S) 11-21, 16-21. 2nd – Victoria Linklater & Claire Johnstone(O) beat Shannon Hughson & Kerry MacGregor(S) 21-12, 21-8. 1st – Rhian Mackay & Ami Garriock(O) lost Lynsey Morrison & Karrie Fraser(S) 19-21, 26-24.
Boys Doubles:
3rd – Alistair Scott & Thorfinn Miller(O) lost Dean Guthrie & Ashley Govier(S) 21-17, 20-22, 19-21. 2nd – Liam Delday & Andrew Reid(O) beat Eion Leask & Harry Morton(S) 21-11, 8-21, 21-18. 1st – Matthew Reid & Owen Reid(O) beat Liam Flaws & Rory Irvine(S) 21-14, 21-11.
During the level doubles there were some very close and exciting matches. Shetland managed to pull back several games securing a draw 3-3 bringing the total score to Orkney 19 games - Shetland 11 games. Victoria & Claire played well to win at 2nd girls and 1st girls Rhian & Ami struggled to find their true form on the day losing out to the Shetland no 1 girls doubles pairing. Liam & Andrew had to dig deep to secure their match and Owen & Matthew won comfortably. Thorfinn & Alistair were unlucky, losing out to the very determined opposition of Govier & Guthrie in a thrilling three setter match.
Mixed Doubles:
6th mxd - Andrew Reid & Joanne Pirie(O) beat Ashley Govier & Sophie Baert(S) 14-21, 21-11, 21-16. 5th mxd – Alistair Scott & Abbie Lyall(O) lost Dean Guthrie & Zoe Buchanan(S) 9-21, 18-21. 4th mxd – Thorfinn Miller & Victoria Linklater(O) beat Eion Leask & Shannon Hughson(S) 21-19, 19-21, 21-19. 3rd mxd - Liam Delday & Claire Johnstone(O) lost Harry Morton & Kerry MaGregor(S) 21-14, 17-21, 21-12. 2nd mxd – Owen Reid & Ami Garriock(O) beat Liam Flaws & Lynsey Morrison(S) 21-14, 15-21, 21-15. 1st mxd – Matthew Reid & Rhian Mackay(O) beat Rory Irvine & Karrie Fraser(S) 21-10, 21-19.
Orkney regained form in the mixed to win 4-2 over Shetland. Owen & Ami, Thorfinn & Victoria, Andrew Reid & Joanne Pirie all performed well to win competitive three setters. However, the final overall score saw a convincing win for Orkney 23 games to Shetland 13 games.
On completion of the matches everyone gathered together for the presentation of the trophy. Scott Smith, Under 11 Boys Champion, dressed in his Up Helly Aa Viking outfit, presented the Rab Anderson Cup to the winning Orkney captains Owen Reid & Ami Garriock. Many thanks were made to the Clickimin staff, Anne Wood & Audrey Leask, for their organisation of the event, score keepers and the enthusiastic spectators. Special thanks went to the Shetland parents who hosted the Orkney players during their short stay.
The Orkney coach, Elaine Gray, praised all her young players for their sterling performances on the day. Each showed a good display of sportsmanship, determination and resilience whilst under pressure and an ability to put into practice all the routines and advice worked on in squad training. She finally thanked Corinne Miller, parent helper and David Delday who accompanied the team up to Shetland and assisted with coaching.