Some close matches on the Saturday of the Babolat Dunfermline Championships 2019/20

It was good to see a couple of local pairs entering and experiencing a higher level of competition. The semi-finals played on Sunday resulted in a hard fought win for top seeds Josh Apiliga & Rachel Sugden over Callum Smith & Erin Waddell and in the other half of the draw Mark Leith & Rachel Andrew had an easier path when Kenneth Cheung and Jodie Harris withdrew after the first game due to Kenneth feeling unwell. The final was a closely contested 2 game win for Josh & Rachel.

A good entry in the Men’s Singles saw some close matches on Saturday, with the top four seeds reaching the semis. On Sunday morning, Josh Apiliga and Callum Smith, the top 2 seeds were both extended to 3 games by Danny Robson & Lloyd Holland respectively although both had comfortable  wins in the third game. The final was yet another close match with Callum Smith reversing the result of the West Open by winning in three games and taking his first Senior Open Singles Title.

In contrast, the entry in the Women’s Singles was disappointing, but all credit to Rachel Sugden who retained her title with ease. It was a similar story in the Women’s Doubles which was played in a Pool with Rachel Sugden & Alice Campbell winning all their matches and thus taking the title.
Congratulations to Rachel on winning three titles.

As far as the locals were concerned, the Men’s Doubles was the event of the Tournament.
Calum Flockhart, playing with his father Bruce, thirty years his senior, knocked out 3 /4 seeds Kenneth Cheung & Calvin Chan in the first round, progressed through the next round to set up a semi against Lloyd Holland & Danny Robson. The youngsters found it hard to cope with the change of pace and variety of shots in the game and managed 11points in the third set.

In the other semi, Mark Leith & Alistair Gordon had an impressive win over top seeds Callum Smith & Josh Apiliga. The final was just one match too many for Bruce & Calum, Mark  & Alistair were worthy winners, both of them securing their first Open Titles.

This year, with the help of committee member, Stuart Edmond, we had live streaming through the Dunfermline Badminton Association Facebook page and had lots of positive feedback.

Very many thanks to our sponsors Babolat, to Aileen Travers Midland Group Convenor who presented the prizes, the Umpires, Tournament Secretary Gordon Anderson and all other helpers from Dunfermline Badminton Association.

Full results are available on Tournament Software.