Feathers fly at Oban High School badminton championships

Oban High School held their annual school badminton championships this month over two days, with 89 pupils taking part.

Numbers are so high it has proved impossible to complete all three age groups over one day. Trophies donated a couple of years ago following a plea in The Oban Times from members of the community and Argyll Beats Cardiovascular Disease were presented to winning players following hard fought matches. Most encouraging of all was the level of sportsmanship and enjoyment evident in all competitions.

All the winners and runners up from the U14, U16 and U19 competitions will represent Oban High School in the Argyll and Bute Scottish Schools competition in Atlantis Leisure, Oban, on January 28.

The National Secondary competition will be held in Perth on March 7 and 8 for pupils who are successful in the Regional Argyll and Bute competition.

Oban High School badminton players have been taking part in the Glasgow and North Strathclyde leagues this year which are held every month at Scotstoun National Badminton Centre.

With matches starting at 9am on Sunday mornings, the pupils have shown excellent commitment and it is providing invaluable experience.

Results: Under 14: Girls singles – winner Tayler

Robinson; runner-up Wiktoria Rszyka. Boys singles – winner Innes MacCallum; runner- up Euan Dods. Girls doubles winners Wiktoria Rszyka and Katie MacLellan; runners-up Taylor Robinson and Darcey Millar. Boys doubles winners Innes MacCallum and Euan Dods; runners-up Zander Craik and Aiden MacDonald.

Under 16: Girls singles – winner Ellie MacInnes; runner-up – Kaelyn Shores. Boys singles winner Morgan Gemmell; runner-up Rory Dods. Girls doubles winners Ellie MacInnes and Arden Binnie; runners-up Isla Dunlop and Jordan MacIntyre. Boys doubles winners Morgan Gemmell and Rory Dods; runners-up Finlay MacLean and Louis MacFarlane.

Under 19: Boys singles winner Fergus Carmichael; runner-up Finlay France. Girls singles winner Zoe Cook; runner up Lucy MacKinnon. Boys doubles winners Fergus Carmichael and Finlay France; runners-up Kyle MacDougall and Stuart Head.

Girls doubles winners Zoe Cook and Katie MacCorquodale; runners up Lucy MacKinnon and Ella MacKechnie.

Former school PE teacher and badminton enthusiast Moira Barbour presented Innes MacCallum with the Cameron Barbour Cup for Under 14 boys and Morgan Gemmell the Stuart Barbour trophy for Under 16 boys.

Viktoria Rszyka and Katie MacLellan won the Under-14 girls’ doubles defeating Taylor Robinson and Darcey Millar in the final

Under-14 boys’ doubles winners Euan Dods and Innes MacCallum with runners-up Aiden MacDonald and Zander Craik.

Innes MacCallum was the Under 14 boys’ singles champion.

The Under 14 girls’ singles champion was Taylor Robinson.

Fergus Carmichael and Finlay France were the Under 19 boys’ doubles winners. They are pictured with runners-up Kyle MacDougall and Stuart Head.

Under 19 girls’ doubles winners Katie MacCorquodale and Zoe Cook with runners-up Lucy MacKinnon and Ella MacKechnie.

Moira Barbour presented Morgan Gemmell with the Under-16 boys’ championship trophy. Also pictured is runner-up Rory Dods.

Under 16 girls’ doubles winners Ellie MacInnes and Arden Binnie with runners-up Isla Dunlop and Jordan MacIntyre.

Under 16 boys’ doubles winners Rory Dods and Morgan Gemmell with runners-up Finlay MacLean and Louis MacFarlane.

Fergus Carmichael, left, was the Under 19 boys’ singles winner defeating Finlay France in the final.

Under 19 girls’ singles champion Zoe Cook, right, with runner-up Lucy MacKinnon.

Under 16 boys’ singles champion Morgan Gemmell.

Ellie MacInnes was the Under 16 girls’ singles champion.