The 25th Anniversary of the Robert McCoig Match is most competitive yet

The 25th Annual Robert McCoig Match between England and Scotland took place in the Sir Craig Reedie Centre yesterday hosting 43 events across nine age categories. 

Whilst England did take a determined victory of 33-10, many of the games were three enders and boasted some of the most competitive contests the match has seen in its 25 years.

To celebrate the momentous milestone of 25 years, the event was opened with Harris Thomson of the Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band playing Flower of Scotland ahead of the matches beginning. This was the largest that the Robert McCoig Match had ever been with nine age groups and 43 games to be played in the Sir Craig Reedie Centre.

The match is named after Robert McCoig who debuted as a Scottish International at 18 in 1956, going on to represent Scotland sixty 67 times before retiring from International play in 1976. Not only did McCoig win the Scottish Open singles title four times, he was also responsible for Scotland’s first badminton at a Commonwealth Games with his partner Muriel Woodcock at the 1966 Kingston Games.

Amongst the 52 Scots playing, eight made their Scottish Masters debut, earning them their first caps. Neil Cuthbert, Andrew Simpson, Deepa Ganapathy, Kirsty Flockhart, Gordon Anderson, Gillian Brown and Andrew Pennycook all played incredibly well with  Gillian Brown winning two matches on her debut. She took the Womens Singles 60s win as well as the Womens Doubles 60s win alongside Jill Smith.

The other Scottish winners were spread across the age groups. Jody Barral and Frances Mclure played a very intense and spirited three ender in the 35s Womens Doubles, taking the win 21-13, 11-21, 21-14 over Kimberley Clague and Kelly Fairey.

There were no Scotland winners in the 40s but both Laura Muir in the Womens Singles and Carolyn Young and Suzanne Zwane in the Womens Doubles played three set games.

Mark Mackay’s win in the 45s Mens Singles looked like it was going to be close as the first set was won 24-22 but Mackay took the second with much more ease at 21-16 over James White. The victory was made much sweeter by it being on Mackay’s 50th birthday. Mackay nearly took a second win as he stepped in for an injured Bruce Flockhart in the Mixed Doubles to play with Kirsty Flockhart. The last minute duo won the first set 21-17 but lost the following two 18-21, 10-21.

Over in the 50s Una Hunter took a smooth win with 21-13 in both sets to beat England’s Betty Blair. Elsewhere in the 50s category Alan Mcmillan and Chair of Events Craig Robertson had a nail-biting game in the mens doubles after losing the first set 18-21, taking the second 21-17 and the final set going to 24-26 where England’s Carl Jennings and Mark King took the result.

There were two winners in the 55s group with Craig Young beating Ian Richardson 21-18, 21-15 in the Mens Doubles and Anne Robertson and Badminton Scotland Vice President Aileen Travers took victory over Sara Foster and Susan Godfrey in a brilliant comeback after losing the first game 12-21, taking the following two 21-19, 21-15.

In the 65s group Dan Travers took a break from being the event director to win the Mens Singles 21-19, 21-17 before joining forces with Badminton Scotland President Colin Campbell to beat John Molyneux and Ian Purton 21-19, 23-22 in the Mens Doubles.

Ewan Macdonell and Alan Pirrie took the sole victory in the 70s group beating Denis Cleary and Peter Emptage 17-21, 21-14, 14-21. Macdonell had also faced Cleary in the Mens Singles where the game went to three sets again but this time in favour of Cleary 16-21, 21-14, 16-21.

Finally in the newly instated 75s England took all three victories in the Mens Singles, Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Speaking to Scotland Team Captain Margaret Emery who played in the Mixed Doubles, she was delighted about how much Masters Badminton in Scotland and wider has expanded.

“It’s great to see so many people playing Masters Badminton, 2o years ago we tried to built it up and its taken a while but now its increasing. I didn’t expect there to be a 75 age group, because when I started it went from 40 and ended at 65. You’ll have to make an 80s group soon!”

Full Results can be found: Badminton Scotland – Robert McCoig Match 2025 – Draws

 

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