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Sophie continues successful start to year as she picks up more silverware





Sophie Mackay with her Midlothian U14 trophies.
Sophie Mackay with her Midlothian U14 trophies.

Caithness junior badminton squad member Sophie Mackay continued her great start to 2025 when she was among the honours at Sunday’s under-14 Midlothian Junior Championships in Penicuik.

The 11-year-old from Dunnet, playing an age group up, won the girls’ singles and girls’ doubles with her playing partner Josie Columbine from the Black Isle.

The girls’ singles was played in a round-robin format with each of the five players facing each other.

Sophie had a super start, winning all her games in two sets. She beat the first and second seeds to top the table after dropping only 109 points over eight sets.

The girls’ doubles was a straight final between Sophie and Josie and Lothian’s Sophia Gari and Giselle Lee. Sophie and Josie won comfortably, 21-11, 21-13.

Sophie had earlier taken part in the Scottish Schools Badminton Union (SSBU) 2013 age group (U13) tournament in Wishaw, winning the girls’ singles and girls’ doubles with partner Anvita Awasthi from Lothian Badminton.

In the singles, Sophie played group stages first and lost only 11 points, putting her into the main draw semi-final where she took on the number one seed Ava Li. Sophie came out on top 21-11, 21-19 putting her into the final against her doubles partner Anvita Awasthi with Sophie winning 21-14, 21-14.

The girls’ doubles competition was played as a round-robin. Sophie and Anvita topped the table to take the title.

Dhaill Mackay (left) and Matthew Cook competed in the SSBU 2010 age group tournament at Wishaw.
Dhaill Mackay (left) and Matthew Cook competed in the SSBU 2010 age group tournament at Wishaw.

Two other members of the Caithness junior badminton squad, Dhaill Mackay and Matthew Cook, travelled to Wishaw to take part in the SSBU 2010 age group (U16) tournament on Saturday.

Both boys had a tough round of games in the group stages of the singles, leading them in each case to the B-plate (consolation) draw.

Dhaill played Jai Wilkes in the consolation quarter-final, with Jai winning 21-18. Matthew had a bye to the semi-finals where he faced Chris Agnew, with Chris going through 21-15.

In the boys’ doubles each of the six pairs played each other in a round-robin format. The Caithness boys had some good games against tough opposition, winning one of their five matches 22-20.

Sophie Mackay holding both her trophies after the SSBU 2013 age group event in Wishaw.
Sophie Mackay holding both her trophies after the SSBU 2013 age group event in Wishaw.

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