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News - April 09 2009 Yonex East of Scotland ChampionshipsDespite missing a number of familiar faces as a result of Inter County commitments and the forthcoming European Junior event in Milan, entries were up on the previous year at the 2009 Yonex East of Scotland Championships held at Meadowbank on the 28th and 29th March. Lothian players were well to the fore in the finals and 3 of the 5 titles went to the same players who had triumphed in the Glasgow Championships earlier in the month. In the men’s singles, top seed Gordon Hoggan moved smoothly through to the final, without dropping a set. In the bottom half, Andrew Gilliland took advantage of the withdrawal of 2nd seed Stephen Stewart to reach the final, coming through a very tight quarter final against Michael Campbell, which he followed up by a more comfortable straight set win over Craig Lamb in the semi final. Andrew gave a good account of himself in the final, but the result was never really in question with Gordon running out a 21-11, 21-14 winner, adding another singles title to the one he won recently at Glasgow. In the ladies’ singles, as expected, Lauren Smith who will represent England in the European Junior, came through to the final where she met the unseeded Lindsay Campbell, who had beaten 3/4 seed, Frances Heslop in the semi final. Lindsay won an excellent quality first set but in the second set, Lauren established an early supremacy and went on to win the second and third sets comfortably. Local boys, Peter Hockey and Duncan Leith were hot favourites in the doubles, cruising through to the final where they met their Lothian county team mates, Craig Lamb and Gordon Hoggan. Peter and Duncan’s doubles skills were too much for Craig and Gordon in the final and they took their 2nd senior title within a month, 21-15, 21-9. In the ladies doubles, Lindsay Campbell and Victoria Wan, who had also won in Glasgow, were equally convincing on their path to the final, where they came up against the youngsters, Caitlin Pringle and Emma Cook, who had overcome Helen McCombe and Michelle Wan in the semi final. There was to be no further upset, though, with Lindsay and Victoria winning 21-9, 21-6. The mixed final pitched doubles partners Peter Hockey and Duncan Leith against each other with Peter partnering Jaclyn Gilliland and Duncan Leith playing with former Lothian player, Helen McCombe. In the most keenly contested of all the finals, Duncan and Helen were to emerge victorious in an entertaining 3 set match. In the consolation event for players who lost their first match in the main event the winners were: Men’s singles – Robert Lynch Ladies’ singles – Emma Cook Men’s doubles – Steven Chappell and John Parkinson Ladies’ doubles – Sara Jalicy and Ruth Johnston Mixed doubles – Danny Leinster and Emma Cook Complete results can be found at: Lothian Group convenor Douglas Walker presented the prizes to the winners and runners up following the finals. Tournament organiser Ian Campbell thanked the Officials of BADMINTONscotland, the staff at Meadowbank Sports Centre and the players for their cooperation and excellent behaviour throughout the weekend. He also expressed his thanks to the sponsors, Yonex and Activcity. Lothian Group is also indebted to Rapid Repairs who provided the prizes for the consolation events.
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