Pupils serve up success to reach Scottish badminton competition

Forty six talented young badminton players from 13 high schools swung into action at a recent Renfrewshire badminton championship.

The players came together to take part in the Renfrew Area Schools Badminton Association (RASBA) competition with a team of top players now set to represent Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde at the Scottish Secondary Schools Championship at Perth in March.

The pupils took part in singles and doubles events in under 14, under 16 and under 19 age groups at the end of January at the Lagoon Sports Hub.

The winners were:

U19 boys: Luke Fossett, St Ninian’s

U19 boys doubles: Luke Fossett and Leon Masia, both St Ninian’s

U16 boys: Leon Masia, St Ninian’s

U16 boys doubles: Graeme O’neil and Matthew Ross, Mearns Castle

U16 girls: Sarah Findlay, Park Mains

U16 girls doubles: Julie Eve and Soumya Lanke, both Williamwood

U14 boys: Calvin McGrory, Eastwood

U14 boys doubles: Calvin McGrory and Scott Johnston, both Eastwood

U14 girls: Julie Eve, Williamwood

U14 girls doubles: Hannah Cumming and Lucy Ross, both Williamwood

And the team that’s been selected to represent the area is:

Luke Fossett, St Ninian’s

Dean Kennedy, Glennifer

Allan Cowan, Glennifer

Leon Masia, St Ninians

Sarah Findlay, Park Mains

Graeme O’neil, Mearns Castle

Matthew Ross, Mearns Castle

Emma McAughtrie, Williamwood

Rebecca Mayer, Williamwood

Julie Eve, Williamwood

Sean McCallum, St Andrews

Jonathon Paris, Gryffe

Scott Johnston, Eastwood

Calvin McGrory, Eastwood

Councillor Jim Harte, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Sport, Leisure and Culture Policy Board, said: "This fantastic event brought together pupils from three areas to showcase their talent in badminton and give them a chance to go forward and compete at national level. Badminton is a great sport that helps our young people be more active while developing a range of physical skills. My congratulations go to all who took part and I’d like to wish those who will represent the area at national level the very best of luck.”  

Eight Renfrewshire schools took part in the competition (Bt Bennedict’s, Gryffe, Park Mains, St Andrew’s, Glennifer, Linwood, Castlehead, Paisley Grammar); four East Renfrewshire schools took part (Eastwood, Mearns Castle, Williamwood, and St Ninians) and one Inverclyde school took part (Notre Dame).