Masterly badminton displays

Badminton players Gordon Keith, Anne Wood and Graham Keith were very successful in the week­end’s 25th Scottish Masters Open Championships in Glasgow.

The tournament attracts players from throughout the Scottish mainland with many ex-Scottish internationalists returning to comp­etition, as well as players from Ireland and England where there is a very healthy and competitive veterans’ scene.

Gordon was the runner up in the men’s singles (45 years), losing out to Ross Gladwin in the final.

Anne and her partner Christine Black completed a successful double, winning both the 45 and 50 years women’s doubles age groups. They faced a bi-national duo in the final of the 45s with Imelda Carroll from Ireland and Robin Martin from Scotland pairing up.

Graham seemed to dominate the courts with his presence; not only with his strong and powerful play, but as he was in both the 40 and 45 mixed doubles he was rarely off the court. Along with his partner Alison Johnstone, he narrowly missed out on a place in the final of the 40s, only dropping one of their group games.

In the 45 age group it was Gordon’s turn this year to snatch the title from Graham and Anne after a thrilling three-set deciding match that enthralled and enter­tained the crowds.

The last event of the weekend was the final of the 45 men’s doubles. Gordon and Graham had played some gruelling matches over the weekend, and credit to their fitness and their determination that they convinc­ingly overpowered the experienced pairing of Dougie McBriar and Joe O’Donnell to take the title and carry on the recent notoriety of Shetland players in the Scottish veteran scene.

Gordon, Graham and Anne have now been selected to represent their country in the up and coming international triangular which will take place in Dublin between Scotland, Ireland and Wales.