IRVINE Junior Badminton Club had five players compete in the Scottish Schools Badminton Union Under-14 age group at Wishaw last Saturday.

And major successes were celebrated with the local club claiming both boys and girls doubles titles.

In the girls under 14 singles Zara Kirkwood won her pool, she advanced to play team mate and runner up in pool B, Eva Tremble, in a close contest Zara edged to victory, winning 8-21, 21-19 and 21-12.

In the final, Zara faced tough opposition, National squad player Sophie Ford where she narrowly lost 21-12, 21-15.

In girls doubles, Zara and partner Zoe McInnes from Renfrewshire went one better.

First they beat Sophie Ford and Ella Haime 10-21, 12-18, 21-14, the beating team mate Imogen Meldrum and Amy Craig 21-18, 21-15 and in the final game beating Eva Tremble and partner Iona Muir 21-17, 21-19.

In the boys Under-14 doubles, Irvine’s Leo McMillan and Evan Kenny won their pool, winning all three games. In the semi-final, they played North Berwick’s Ben Riddle and Harry Bent, winning 21-13, 13-21, 21-18.

In the final, the boys played Alex Dalton and Corey Stewart from Edinburgh, winning 21-16, 21-14 in a game that lasted 24 minutes.

Irvine Junior Badminton Club are hosting Primary half court singles at Irvine Royal Academy this coming Friday, December 15, in the Games Hall.

There are four categories which attracted a credible 30 entries throughout Ayrshire: Primary 4-5 girls singles, Primary 4-5 boys singles, Primary 6-7 girls singles and Primary 6-7 boys singles.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the competition which starts at 6pm.

The season ends on Friday, Sessions resume in the New Year on Tuesday, January 9.

On Saturday, December 30, the local club have a Junior match arranged with Scotstoun Badminton Club at the Portal, from noon until 2 pm. This should be a great contest and people are invited to come along and watch some exciting games.