Dunfermline Press: West Fife Primary Schools’ Badminton Championships

Youngsters from West Fife primary schools served up an action-packed day of badminton at a recently held festival.

The West Fife Primary Schools’ Badminton Championships was organised with help from Badminton Scotland RDO Jane Russell and brought together kids from 12 schools to showcase their talents on the court.

Supported by Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council, Active Schools Fife, and Dunfermline Badminton Association, pupils played a minimum of six singles matches in their respective pools, with the winners progressing to the knockout competition.

There were net gains for Ayla Sharp of Toryburn Primary, Angus McGregor, of Duloch; and Masterton Primary, who claimed the girls singles, boys singles and schools’ championship titles retrospectively.

Praise Zvavamwe, of Masterton, and Molly McNab of Torryburn, finished second and third in the girls singles; Adam Ross, of Masterton, and Adam Watson of Townhill, were second and third in the boys singles; and Torryburn and Townhill were second and third in the schools’ category.

Players taking part also received coaching from Dunfermline Badminton Association who organise competitions at both local and national level throughout the year.

Youngsters looking to take up the sport can attend sessions held by Wing Badminton Club on Thursdays from 6-9PM, or Orion Badminton Club on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30PM at Queen Anne High School.

Find out more information on Dunfermline Badminton Association’s Facebook.

Jane Russell, RDO Fife & Central told us:

“The badminton festival was the cherry on top of the Dunfermline & West Fife Sports Council Coaching Program. Between October and March, I organised three free badminton taster sessions in 25 primary schools in Dunfermline & West Fife. The funding was through local sports council and they reached out through their school contacts to promote programme.”

“I worked with Dunfermline Badminton Association and recruited four coaches who were able to deliver the sessions. I did all the programming for the sessions and liaised with coaches. Due to the teachers strike the festival was rearranged from march into the summer term which meant some schools couldn’t attend”.

“The feedback from coaching sessions and festival have been really positive and I hope to work with sports council to do the same next season. Members of DBA committee helped run the festival and the sports council provided all the medals”.

“I am looking forward to the summer badminton camp which I have organised in partnership with DBA & Community Use and some of the children who attended festival are already booked on. It’s a great model if you have a supportive sports council, a local badminton association and coaches who are keen to get involved in offering taster sessions. While it was a lot of work on my part, when everything comes together gives me a real buzz”.

Our thanks to:

  • Lindsay Weir – Dunfermline & West Fife Sports Council (he is a star!)
  • DBA Committee – especially Gordon Anderson who ran the badminton festival
  • Coaches – Lewis Hann, Julie Hogg, Isa McArthur & Zoryana Guild (who all received fab feedback)
  • Active Schools – Alex Bird & Blair Ferguson (who provided high school volunteers to umpire matches for primary kids)