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Elgin badminton players celebrate Scottish Schools Badminton Union win


By Sarah Rollo

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PUPILS from a Moray school are celebrating after winning a national title for the second year running.

A team of 10 players from West End Primary in Elgin reigned supreme at the Scottish Schools Badminton Union Primary Quaich competition, held in Wishaw on February 22.

The team, made up of five boys and five girls, made it through local heats to represent Moray at the competition and went on to win 33 out of the 35 games they played to take the top spot.

West End Primary School badminton team visit their sponsors Pentland Land Rover in Elgin to show the team the Scottish Schools Badminton Union Primary Quaich, which they have won for the second year in a row. Welcoming the team and their coaches Daniel Mcwhirter and Lloyd Griffiths is Adam Rhind. Picture:Daniel Forsyth.
West End Primary School badminton team visit their sponsors Pentland Land Rover in Elgin to show the team the Scottish Schools Badminton Union Primary Quaich, which they have won for the second year in a row. Welcoming the team and their coaches Daniel Mcwhirter and Lloyd Griffiths is Adam Rhind. Picture:Daniel Forsyth.

Points were totted up after a series of boys singles, girls singles, doubles and mixed doubles games which saw young players from across Scotland on the courts.

In taking the top spot, they retained the Quaich which they also won in 2019, following earlier triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

Back home, they have added it to the school's silverware cabinet, which contains a number of badminton trophies after a bumper 2019.

On the team were Fiona Coull (10), Isla Griffiths (11), Natalie Macaulay (10), Finlay McLuckie (11), Callum Mcwhirter (11), Finlay Murdoch (11), Harris Nairn (11), Eva Thomson (11), Charlie Watson (11) and Jessica Williamson (10).

Coached by Darren Mcwhirter and Lloyd Griffiths, the youngsters train for three hours a week, with sessions at both Moray College UHI and Moray Sports Centre.

Mr Mcwhirter said the youngsters' competitive attitude gave them the edge on the courts.

Following the national victory, the team visited Pentland Land Rover in Elgin to thank the dealership, who sponsor the squad. That has enabled them to buy kit, while also subsidising training costs.

Pentland's Adam Rhind said the team was delighted at West End's success. He said: "When Darren came to us and asked if we would be willing to do something, we jumped at the chance to offer this local support."

The team's success came as Pentland was celebrating another victory, having been named Land Rover Dealer of the Year for 2019 for the whole of the UK.

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