All around Lanarkshire
THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR DUNN & HALL
Motherwell’s Alex Dunn and his partner Adam Hall have set their sights on a top four rank going into the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The duo are on form, having won the men’s doubles for a third successive year at the Yonex Scottish National Badminton Championships in Perth last Sunday.
They’re currently preparing for the Austrian Open from February 19-22, which Alex says is of a similar standard, and they’re aiming to win that, too.
It’s events like that and higher that the former Dalziel High pupil is looking at.
“This is a kind of transitional year for us,” he said. “We won’t be able to qualify for the Olympics, and there’s nothing else that big for the next year, so it’s preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
“We don’t just want to qualify, we want to be ranked in the top four so we get good seeding for it, so that’s the aim.
“We’re going to do the best we can this year, and see where it takes us, but we want to take part in higher ranked tournaments to see where we are.”
Dunn and Hall won the title at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth by beating Christopher and Matthew Grimley 2220 21-18 in a repeat of last year’s final.
Dunn said: “It was really good to win it, and even better that it was for the third time.
“This year’s was especially good, because the competition is a bit stronger. There are younger boys who are showing a lot of promise.
“It’s our first tournament of the year, we’re continuing our winning form, and this gives us confidence going into the Austrian Open.
“It’s the same level as the Scottish
Open, which we also won, so we’re looking to win it.”
GILMOUR ON TRACK FOR TOKYO
Lanarkshire badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour is confident that she’s on track to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The Bothwell ace is over in the Far East at the moment, picking up ranking points to make sure she gets to represent her country at the biggest event possible in the sport.
Gilmour has been in Indonesia, Thailand and India, and other than a bout of food poisoning, it has gone well.
“To qualify for a second Olympic Games would be great,” said Gilmour.
“It would prove consistency in my level over a substantial period of time, and to be part of Team GB is always something special.
“I would say I’m pretty confidently on track at the moment. I think there are five more opportunities to gain ranking points between now and the end of April.
“I have good experiences in a few of the tournaments coming up, which always helps.
“It sounds silly, but there are some arenas where I just play better than others.
“Whether that’s to do with the conditions or the atmosphere, I’m not quite sure.”
Gilmour added: “So far the tour has been pretty good. I have gained a couple of ranking places, but mostly I’m happy with my performances.
“I have changed a few things in my game that have made a positive impact on court, so I’m glad that good results are following that.
“I’m four weeks into a six-week trip just now. I was in Milton Keynes for some training, then Indonesia and Thailand for tournaments.
“Now, I’m currently in Hyderabad in India for the Premier Badminton League. This year I’m part of the Chennai Superstarz and we’re doing pretty well.
“Unfortunately I suffered some food poisoning, but I’m on the mend!”
Travelling all over the world would be viewed as glamorous for most people, but for Gilmour it’s just part of the job.
She said: “Every trip is different; sometimes I get to see lots of things and have lots of new experiences, and other times it is just about playing, training and resting.
“It usually depends on the country, how many times I’ve been there before, and the people I’ve got around me.
“A lot of the time I’m travelling by myself and if my schedule doesn’t match with my friends from other countries, it can get a little difficult.
“I’ve chosen these tournaments because of a mixture of points, and they allow me some wiggle room, in terms of quality of opponents.
“They have a lot of the world top ten players competing, but if my draws are good then I can get some momentum against some players ranked 20-30.
“I managed to get a couple of good wins, which does a lot for my confidence, which is something I’ve been lacking for a while.”
DUO TAKE LONG COURSE MEDALS
Lanark Amateur Swimming Club brought home three medals from the West District Round 2 Long Course Championships in Glasgow.
A squad of 20 competed in the event at Tollcross, with 12-year-old Craig Shaw second in the 50m breaststroke and Millie Mcarthur, 14, winning the 50m freestyle (29.34) and was third in 200m freestyle.
Millie also finished fourth in 50m backstroke, and was fifth in 200m individual medley.
Justin Bone was sixth in 1500m freestyle, Euan Mcleod was fourth in 200m freestyle, Evi Mackie was fourth in 200m breaststroke and sixth in 50m butterfly, and Abbigail Mcarthur was fifth in 200m backstroke.
New personal bests were set by Katie Towers, Abbie Barnstaple, Ayla Miller, Ross Carswell, Cameron Bruce, Benji
Jones, Caitlyn Hamilton, Connor Fallon, Michael Maxfield and Alistair Dunsmore.
Coach Karen Kelly said after the Meet: “The competitions are coming thick and fast now.
“Some of the younger swimmer hadn’t competed over some of their events in long course before, so this was a big learning curve for them.
“Millie had a fantastic 50m freestyle, qualifying seventh, and ended up taking first place.
“Well done to young Craig too, on his silver in 50m breaststroke.”
CURLING RESULTS
Results of curling matches held at Lanarkshire Ice Rink in Hamilton on Tuesday were:
Lanarkshire Province League: Lanark 6, Lesmahagow 4; Lesmahagow 1, EK and Hairmyres 10.
Small Clubs’ League Section B: Hamilton Coaches 9, New Bothwell 4.
Crookedstone Trophy: I. Fleming 4, B. Marshall 6; A. Kerr 4, J. Tait 9.
Men’s Senior League: B. Thomson 13, J. Motion 3.
Galloway Trophy: Dippool 10, Lesmahagow Ladies 5; Coulter 7, Upperward Ladies 3; Biggar 4, Douglas 8.
West of Scotland Ladies’ League: A. Strang 5, A. Taylor 9.
Mixed Doubles League: A. and L. Roden 2, K. Howes and C. Wardrope 8; C. and A. Stewart 2, A. Hood and P. Heron 5; B. Henderson and R. Jamieson 3, S. Cassidy and A. Hobbs 5; J. and C. Morrison 3, R. Edwards and M. Ross 2.
DISABILITY AWARDS
Nominations are open for South Lanarkshire Disability Sport’s 2019 Awards.
The awards take place at Hamilton Town House on Tuesday, May 19. There are eight categories to nominate in, visit sl-leisure.co.uk/south for an application.