Inter-county clash with Orkney sees Caithness juniors end 17-year wait

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Caithness junior badminton players won their inter-county challenge against Orkney for the first time in 17 years.

The event at the East Caithness Community Facility in Wick was split into three age groups – under-13s, under-15s and under-18s – and Caithness came out on top by 40 games to 32.

The last time they lifted the inter-county shield was 2007.

Coach Shona Mackay said: “The improvement in all our players from this time last year when we travelled to Orkney for this match is remarkable. They have all worked hard over this season and been rewarded for their efforts. As a coach, that is very exciting to see.”

She added: "There was a great atmosphere."

Some of the Caithness players were gaining their first "cap" at county level. They were Sophie Sinclair, Lexie Mackenzie, Finlay Nicolson, Callum Aitken, Ruaridh Kean and Logan Smith.

Over the 72 games there were a number of nail-biting encounters, including some hard-fought three-setters.

The event was sponsored by Sinclair Glazing and Joinery Ltd and A & J Mackay Plumbing and Heating Ltd.

Organisers said they were grateful to the coaches, parent helpers and those who provided food, as well as to High Life Highland and the sponsors.

Under-13s – Singles:

6th boys: Finlay Nicolson (C) v Alie Groundwater (O) 19-21, 16-21

5th boys: Liam Sinclair (C) v Daniel Copland (O) 21-9, 21-5

4th boys: Finlay McDonald (C) v Derry Gee (O) 21-6, 21-10

3rd boys: Angus Mackay (C) v Finn Dawson (O) 21-13, 21-11

2nd boys: Rory Nicolson (C) v Jack Slater (O) 21-4, 21-6

1st boys: Dhaill Mackay (C) v Matthew Gray (O) 21-12, 21-13

6th girls: Lexie Mackenzie (C) v Zoe Scott (O) 21-8, 21-5

5th girls: Myah Macleod (C) v Ella Barclay (O) 21-6, 21-3

4th girls: Erna Thain (C) v Lucy Reid (O) 21-8, 21-8

3rd girls: Sophie Sinclair (C) v Kirsty Cooper (O) 21-14, 21-8

2nd girls: Sophie Mackay (C) v Merryn Scott (O) 21-12, 21-10

1st girls: Ashlyn Gunn (C) v Chloe Leaks (O) 21-4, 21-11

Doubles – 3rd boys: F Nicolson & Sinclar (C) v Groundwater & Copland (O) 21-11, 21-14

2nd boys: McDonald & D Mackay (C) v Dawson & Slater (O) 21-19, 21-18

1st boys: A Mackay & R Nicolson (C) v Gee & Gray (O) 21-7, 21-11

3rd girls: Thain & Macleod (C) v Scott & Barclay (O) 21-2, 21-6

2nd girls: Mackenzie & Sinclair (C) v Cooper & Reid (O) 21-14, 21-10

1st girls: Mackay & Gunn (C) v Scott & Leask (O) 21-14, 21-13

Mixed doubles – 6th mixed: F Nicolson & Mackenzie (C) v Groundwater & Barclay 21-9, 21-8

5th mixed: Sinclair & Macleod (C) v Copland & Scott (O) 21-5, 21-10

4th mixed: McDonald & Sinclair (C) v Gee & Reid (O) 21-5, 21-11

3rd mixed: A Mackay & Thain (C) v Dawson & Cooper (O) 21-7, 21-11

2nd mixed: R Nicolson & Gunn (C) v Slater & Scott (O) 21-9, 21-10

1st mixed: D Mackay & S Mackay (C) v Gray & Leask (O) 21-13, 21-10

Games won: Caithness, 23 Orkney 1.

Under-15s – Singles: Logan Smith (C) v Ethan Kinghorn (O) 11-21, 13-21

Callum Aitken (C) v Alex Adamson (O) 15-21, 19-21

Owen Malcolm (C) v Kian Leask (O) 6-21, 5-21

Alex Richard (O) v Scott Slater (O) 6-21, 7-21

Ruaridh Kean (C) v Sam Keldie (O) 8-21, 13-21

Alexander Mackay (C) v Murray Clark (O) 21-18, 21-16

Blayr Howden (C) v Scott O) 17-21, 21-19, 20-22

Rhea Bruce (C) v Cooper (O) 19-21, 21-18, 18-21

Hallie Bremner (C) v C Leask (O) 21-10, 21-15

Freya Mackay (C) v Cara Johnson (O) 21-14, 21-4

Freya Swanson (C) v Summer Masson (O) 18-21, 21-17, 11-21

Ava Cook (C) v Rebecca Seator (O) 21-10, 21-8

Doubles: Smith & Aitken (C) v Kinghorn & Leask (O) 11-21, 11-21

Richard & Malcolm (C) v Adamson & Slater (O) 4-21, 13-21

Kean & Mackay (C) v Keldie & Clark (O) 19-21, 21-18, 21-19

Bruce & Howden (C) v Leask & Scott (O) 21-19, 22-20

F Macky & Bremner (C) v Reid & Johnson (O) 21-8, 21-10

Swanson & Cook (C) v Masson & Seator (O) 21-14, 21-19

Mixed doubles: Aitken & Howden (C) v Adamson & Reid (O) 21-19, 18-21, 18-21

Malcolm & Bruce (C) v Kinghorn & Scott (O) 19-21, 10-21

Smith & Bremner (C) v Leask & Leask (O) 4-21, 9-21

Richard & Swanson (C) v Slater & Johnson (O) 15-21, 10-21

A Mackay & F Mackay (C) v Keldie & Masson (O) 21-17, 21-13

Kean & Cook (C) v Clark & Seator (O) 21-18, 19-21, 18-21

Games won: Caithness 9, Orkney 15.

Under-18s – Singles: Tyler Campbell (C) v Slater (O) 12-21, 11-21

Brody Mackenzie (C) v Keldie (O) 8-21, 12-21

Ronin Kean (C) v Clark (O) 21-12, 21-14

Qida Du (C) v Fraser Cooper (O) 21-12, 19-21, 18-21

Lewis Swan (C) v Danny Moar (O) 7-21, 17-21

Taylor Swan (C) v Ian Moar (O) 13-21, 21-17, 16-21

Anna Durrand (C) v Scott (O) 21-18, 21-8

Rebecca Henderson (C) v C Leask (O) 8-21, 16-21

Antonia Beattie (C) v Johnson (O) 21-12, 21-2

Chloe Begg (C) v Masson (O) 21-13, 21-14

Kirsty Henderson (C) v Seator (O) 14-21, 9-21

Chloe Mackenzie (C) v Jody Groundwater 21-18, 9-21, 19-21

Doubles: Campbell & Mackenzie (C) v Slater & Keldie (O) 18-21, 18-21

Kean & Du (C) v Cooper & Clark (O) 21-18, 18-21, 21-15

L Swan & T Swan (C) v I Moar & D Moar 15-21, 14-21

R Henderson & Durrand (C) v Scott & Leask (O) 20-22, 19-21

Beattie & Begg (C) v Johnson & Masson (O) 22-20, 21-9

Mackenzie & K Henderson (C) v Groundwater & Seator 21-14, 21-15

Mixed doubles: Campbell & R Henderson (C) v Slater & Scott 10-21, 7-21

B Mackenzie & Durrand (C) v Keldie & Johnson 21-23, 17-21

Kean & Begg (C) v Clark & C Leask (O) 21-15, 21-19

Du & Beattie (C) v Cooper & Masson (O) 11-21, 20-22

L Swan & K Henderson (C) v D Moar & Seater 21-14, 12-21, 16-21

T Swan & Mackenzie (C) v I Moar & Groundwater 22-24, 15-21

Games won: Caithness 8, Orkney 16.

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