West of Scotland Triumph in Inaugural Masters Inter Group Tournament

Badminton players from across Scotland gathered on Saturday 3 May at the Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre near Glasgow for the inaugural Masters Inter Group. This fiercely competitive event, marked by outstanding sportsmanship, showcased Scotland’s top Masters badminton talent for ages 35+. A total of 81 players represented six regional teams—Glasgow & North Strathclyde, Highland, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Midland, and West of Scotland—as they battled for the prestigious title.

The tournament delivered edge-of-the-seat action, culminating in a gripping final showdown between West of Scotland and Lothian. With the rubbers locked at 4-4, everything hinged on the final game where Craig Robertson and Frances McLure (West of Scotland) faced Ewan Brunton and Kathryn McGregor (Lothian) in an exhilarating mixed doubles clash. After a 15-9 win for West of Scotland in the first set, the second set saw point for point, with neither side giving an inch. However, West of Scotland ultimately sealed their historic triumph with a score of 18-16, etching their names as the tournament’s first-ever champions.

While West took the trophy, Lothian were agonisingly close, pushing several matchups against West to three sets, proving that the result could have swung either way. A particular highlight was a clash of the titans in the 50+ Women’s Doubles between Anne Robertson and Gillian Brown (West of Scotland) against Christine Black and Amanda Hamilton (Lothian), which also went to three sets, with the first ending 21-20 in favour of Lothian. Another special shoutout must be given to the standout player of Frances McLure, who dominated throughout the day—winning all seven fixtures she played without dropping a single set.

At the other end of the rankings, Highland and Midland competed for the metaphorical wooden spoon, delivering another nail-biting match that saw Highland edge out Midland 5-4 in yet another down-to-the-wire finish. The decisive battle came in a three-set thriller between Highland’s Mark Sproule and Joanne Pottinger against Midland’s Andy Frayn and Emma Kenyon, with Highland securing the win. However, Highland didn’t leave with just fifth place—referee Morag McCulloch crowned them the ‘Best Dressed’ team for their impeccable matching uniforms.

Jay Moran, team captain for Highland, was asked about his experience and how he was able to gather a team to compete across the Highland region: “It’s been an incredible day, we have really enjoyed ourselves. Fortunately loads of people came forward when I put a note out [asking for players], and it’s been a great honour to be the team captain.”

The tournament featured a unique format, bringing together Masters players from both the 35+ and 50+ categories. Reflecting on this setup, he remarked, “It’s nice to have the two tiered events – certainly the over 50s appreciate not having to play the singles! As well as the badminton, I’ve came here today to meet people, specifically other Masters, and connect across Scotland.”

The event would not have been possible without the dedication of all players, team captains, and of course the referee and match controller—a huge thank you to everyone involved. Special appreciation goes to Craig Robertson, whose commitment to growing Masters badminton in Scotland has seen the sport gain strength and momentum with each passing day.

With the 2025 Masters Inter Group setting the bar high, excitement is already building for the next edition. With the bar now set, the countdown begins—who will rise to the challenge in 2026?