Bishopmill Primary tennis star Calleigh McConnell, 11, does Moray proud in UK-wide inter-county competition in Dumfries
An 11-year-old tennis star did Moray proud on the UK inter-county scene.
Calleigh McConnell represented the North of Scotland in the British-wide tournament in Dumfries, and was undefeated in her singles matches and lost just once in the doubles.
The Elgin youngster, who plays for both Elgin and Rothes clubs in the Highlands League, has twice made long journeys south with the north squad this year.
Earlier in the year, she had participated in the north 11-and-under team in a British regional event in Nottingham.
This time Calleigh, accompanied by her mum Angela and dad Alan, headed for the Scottish Borders to play in the girls’ 12-and-under UK Inter County Cup.
In the Lawn Tennis Association boundaries, the north county stretches from Thurso all the way down to Stirling, a large catchment area for Calleigh to gain selection from.
The north team played in division 2c alongside counterparts from the south and east of Scotland as well as Cheshire, Cumbria, and Northumberland.
The team reached the group final where they were defeated 4-2 by Cheshire.
In a nervy but exciting affair, Cheshire led 3-1 going into the final doubles’ rubbers, and Calleigh and her partner won their match to ensure that the next rubber would be the decider.
If the north girls won, the match would have been drawn and a tiebreak to ten would have been the deciding factor. However, the remaining north double were defeated and the dream of qualification from the groups ended there.
Nevertheless the tournament was a great experience for the Bishopmill primary youngster and to remain undefeated in the singles was a fine achievement.
