Nuria puts Mull on the map at national championships

A Mull teenager who trains mostly in a community hall stepped onto the senior national stage last weekend.

At the age of just 16, Nuria Clowes from Calgary competed in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions at the Yonex Scottish National Badminton Championships in Perth.

Playing at the Bell’s Sports Centre, the Tobermory High School pupil was knocked out in her opening singles match against Under-19s national champion Abbie Brooks who made it all the way to the finals where she was beaten by title defender Rachel Sugden.

Nuria and her partner Evan Kenny also made a first round exit in the mixed doubles following a tough match against Holly Newall and Michael McGuire.

In the level doubles, however, the Mull teenager and her partner Eva Tremble progressed to the second round after beating Sophie Ford and Rachel Wedlock in straight sets (21-16, 21-19) before going out to Basia Grodynska and Tony Woods.

Mum Katja accompanied the promising teenager, dad and trainer David being confined to the house after suffering a prolapsed disc in his back.

Katja said: ‘It was just so exciting to be part of such a big event again and for Nuria to be playing in such a great venue amongst a very high calibre of players.

‘It was a joy to watch.’ Nuria played on the national junior event circuit for two years before Covid hit.

She was given a place on the national squad in September 2020 and has trained in Glasgow whenever possible.

Mostly, however, she has

Daniel MacCuish, watched by Scott Maitland tries to escape the attentions of Thomas Griffin and Anthony Blair.

hand to Sutherland’s effort, couldn’t prevent the ball from nestling in the bottom corner.

Saints were looking the more likely to add to the scoring and young striker Kyle Cooper did just that with a composed finish in the 41st minute. Cammy Hill sent Cooper away on the left and in behind the home defence. Keeper Ian McLean came a long way out of his box to meet Cooper but his attempt to bring down the Saints youngster failed and Cooper skipped past him and from a very acute angle passed the ball into the empty net.

Sixteen-year-old Nuria won the Scottish Schools Badminton Union U18 singles in November last year.

trained on Mull in the Dervaig Community Hall alongside younger brother Malik (14) under the watchful eye of dad David who is a professional tennis coach.

Malik won a bronze medal in the doubles event at the U15 Home Nations Quadrangular last October and in November last year Nuria won the Scottish Schools Badminton Union Under-18 singles and doubles in Wishaw.

‘We would have been totally lost without the hall,’ said Katja.

‘Without it we would have nowhere to train and nobody to practice against.’

Malik and Nuria are both in action again later this month with the former contesting the Highland Junior Championships at Fortrose this weekend and the latter contesting the National Under-19s Championship in Lanarkshire on Saturday February 19.

Manager Willie Gemmell urged his charges to kick on in the second half and David Beaton and Kyle Cooper combined well on the right in the 51st minute to create another opportunity for Cooper which this time flew wide of target.

That proved to be Cooper’s last involvement as injury forced his withdrawal in favour of Ruaridh Horne who took the right wing-back berth with David Beaton moving up front with Craig MacEwan.

Saints gaffer Willie Gemmell made what would turn out to be his final change in the