Young players make competitive debuts
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Half-court singles was the first discipline of the day at the competition in Wick Games Hall and players coped with the size of the court with ease.
Play was fast and furious and games were quick to conclude, with organisers fearing that the event would be over before the players had settled. But the early frenzied action was short-lived, with the rallies becoming longer as the players’ confidence grew and their skill and talent began to come to the fore.
As this was many of the players’ first experience of competition, it was pleasing to watch them perform under pressure and also control their emotions. They played with thought and deliberation and at times with a mature head for ones so young.
It was a delight to see them improve over the course of the afternoon with their temperament and attitude a credit to themselves and their coaches.
As the competition continued into doubles and finally mixed doubles, it is clear that if CBA can hold on to this group of players over the coming years, the sport should be in a healthy state for the foreseeable future.
Results: (D – Dunnet; L – Lybster; T – Thurso; W – Wick) boys’ singles – winner – Ben Sinclair (W). Runner-up – Robbie Gunn (W). Plate – Michael Steven (D).
Girls’ singles – winner – Laura Bain (T). Runner-up – Hannah Kennedy (D). Plate – Chloe O’Neill (W).
Boys’ doubles – winners – Ben Sinclair & Robbie Gunn. Runners-up – Calvin Forbes (L) & Jack Gunn (T).
Plate – William Mackay & Mark Beveridge (W).
Girls’ doubles – winners – Laura Bain & Hannah Kennedy. Runners-up – Nicola Miller & Amy Colquhoun (W). Plate – Abby Munro & Iona Fleming (W).
Mixed doubles – winners – Ben Sinclair & Shannon Ross (W). Runners-up Ross Mackay (W) & Chloe O’Neill. Plate – Benjamin Gunn (W) & Hannah Kennedy.
Boys’ player of the day – Connor Steven (D). Girls’ player of the day – Eilidh Fleming (W).
