EARLSTON High School took centre stage this weekend for the Borders Primary School Badminton Championships 2013.
With 54 boys and 29 girls representing 19 Borders primary schools and many parents and family supporters, the hall was full to capacity.
Staged by the Borders Badminton Group, with help from Graeme Murdoch, active schools manager for the Borders Sport and Leisure Trust, the event saw players put into pools of 12 (for the boys) and seven (for the girls).
The seedings proved to be spot-on with a few surprises along the way, when the third-seeded boy and girl made it into the finals.
Paul Goldie from Drumlanrig Primary School in Hawick beat number two seed Dion Trafford (Coldingham PS) and Iona Fox from Kingsland Primary in Peebles beat number two seed Jodie Black (Coldingham).
The number one seeds cruised their way into the semi-finals, beating number four seeds Ninian Grant (Gordon) and Kirsten Rodwell (West Linton) to reach the final.
Eventual worthy winners were Callum Smith and Keira Waddell, both from Duns Primary. As well as going on to represent the Borders and their school at the Scottish Schools Championships in Perth in April, these two young players will also be representing two different Scottish teams in Belgium at the end of March.
The group would like to thank the PE and janitorial staff at Earlston who were very supportive on the day.
A small refreshment stall was set up to raise funds for the Borders Badminton Group which stages both the secondary and primary championships for free. This year, more than £180 was raised, thanks to the younger (and older) non-playing family members who helped out. Roxburgh and Berwickshire sports councils provide financial support to the group. Thanks were also extended to all the primary class and PE teachers, as well as coaches who give up their free time.
The next competition for primary age groups players will be on March 2, hosted by Duns Badminton Club. Coaches and interested parties are reminded that the Borders Badminton Group has meetings in the Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells, to organise adult and schools badminton and would welcome any new members. The next meeting will be on the Monday, March 19.