Elgin Academy and West End Primary School are badminton kings after winning the Gibb Memorial Quaich national tournaments for primary and secondary schools
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Two Moray schools have triumphed on the national badminton courts.
The all-conquering West End Primary team from Elgin travelled to Wishaw for the Gibb Memorial primary school quaich event, aiming to win for the fifth time in a row and seventh overall.
Scotland’s top badminton primary duly did the business, playing against teams from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
West End were in pole position going into the final round of games and even when defeat was staring them in the face, they came up with the goods. Trailimng 3-0 to Braidbar Primary from Giffnock, the Elgin school stormed back for a 6-4 victory to retain the quaich.
Looking to emulate the younger pupils, Elgin Academy entered two teams into the Gibb Memorial Quaich for secondary schools for the very first time.
The senior team (S4-6) competed in some very close contests, finishing third overall having defeated the eventual runners-up in the group stages.
In the junior section for S1-S3, Elgin Academy’s team dominated the scene. Containing several players who had tasted national glory in the quaich with West End Primary in the past, the juniors won 27 of their 30 matches played in total.
That was enough to clinch the silverware and meant that a number of Elgin youngsters have now lifted both the primary and secondary national quaich.
What made their achievement all the greater was that six players from the Academy’s squad of eight were first year pupils.
Several of the Elgin Academy players also took part in the Highland Open tournament in Inverness, competing in both the under-15 and under-19 competitions.
Fresh from representing Scotland at international level, Callum McWhirter was the stand-out player of the tournament winning the singles, boys doubles and mixed doubles for a clean sweep of honours.
In the younger age group, one single S1 class at the school - all of whom started at West End - produced a number of medallists in the Highland capital. Drew Murdoch, Donald Coull, Rose Christie, Isla Johnston and Kurt Griffiths were all either winners or runners up across several disciplines.
Next month (May 11-12) sees Moray Sports centre host the Highland Open.
