Mackay extends winning run to 26 years in Caithness invitation tournament
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Caithness Badminton Association's 26th annual invitation tournament attracted players from all over the country – but it was a local hero from Dunnet who again rose above the rest.
Mark Mackay extended his remarkable monopoly of the men's singles as he triumphed for the 26th consecutive year, meaning he remains the only player to have taken this title.
He went on to lift the trophies in all three categories – showing why, at the age of 49, his name is still feared on the Scottish badminton scene.
There was a record number of entries for the graded event at the East Caithness Community Facility in Wick. It was set up by tournament organiser Pauline Craig along with Kerry Mackenzie and Badminton Scotland.
Players came from Edinburgh, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Perth, the north-east, Inverness, Orkney and Shetland as well as Caithness.
Mark's first-round singles match saw him beat Joe Thomson (Shetland) 21-8, 21-10. Next up in the quarter-finals he beat Orkney's Erlend Ballantine 21-14, 21-4.
In the semi-finals he got the better of fourth seed Andrew Reid (Orkney) 21-15, 21-15. The final saw Mark face his toughest opponent yet, Salim Ben Boudinar (Glasgow), the number two seed.
Salim had come through some long and hard matches against formidable opponents on his way to the final. Mark comfortably won it 21-9, 21-11.
Consolation winner was Murray Spence (Aberdeen).
The finalists in the women’s singles were two of Orkney's future stars of the game, Jody Groundwater (18) and Gemma Foulis (17).
The first game was neck and neck all the way before Jody took it 21-19. With momentum on her side, Jody pushed on to take the second game 21-15 and lift the trophy for the first time.
Mark Mackay partnered with Martyn Cook from Halkirk in the men’s doubles and in the final they faced number one seeds Andrew and Matthew Reid (Orkney). It went to three sets, with Mark and Martyn winning 21-12, 16-21, 21-17.
Consolation winners were Callum Craig and Robert Hutchison (Inverness).
In the women’s doubles final, number one seeds Gemma Foulis and Shannon Leslie took the spoils against their island team-mates Jody Groundwater and Rebecca Reid in another three-set thriller. Gemma and Shannon won 21-19, 17-21, 21-15.
Consolation winners were Stephanie Keith (Shetland) and Leona Rhind (Aberdeenshire).
The mixed doubles final saw Mark Mackay going for trophy number three and the clean sweep, along with fellow county player Lauren Gunn from Thurso. They came up against Thomas Calder (Shetland) and Shannon Leslie (Orkney) and won 22-20, 22-20.
Consolation winners were Murray Spence (Aberdeen) and Leona Rhind (Aberdeenshire).
Each year a prize is given to the player of the tournament who shows respect for their opponents, good sportsmanship and encouragement to their partners – the Marina Swanson Memorial Trophy. The winner was Mark Mackay, who received the trophy from Marina’s long-time friend and badminton partner Pauline Craig.
Handing over the trophies at the evening reception in the Park Hotel, Thurso, were Caithness Badminton Association president Kate Mackay and Dounreay Communities Fund representative Mark Mackay.
Caithness Badminton Association thanked the staff of the East Caithness Community Facility and the event sponsors, Caithness Scaffolding, the Park Hotel and Dounreay Communities Fund.
