Josh Neil won silver medals in the boy’s singles and boy’s doubles at the UK School Games in Sheffield over the weekend, narrowly missing out on successfully defending the singles title he won last year in Gateshead.

The sixteen year old from Prestwick, who will now travel to the Isle of Man to join up with the rest of Youth Team Scotland to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games, reached the final of the boy’s singles, only to be defeated in a close match by England’s Sean Vendy 25-23 6-21 21-17. 

And in the doubles final, Neil and Mauchline’s Adam Hall were beaten 21-15 21-16 by Vendy and his partner Ben Lane. Vendy and Lane had also defeated Scots Joshua Holder (Lochcarron) and Callum Stevenson (Glasgow) 21-16 17-21 21-16 in the semi-final.

Neil also reached the semi-final of the mixed doubles partnering Lucy Nevin (Duns), beating fellow Scots Fraser Whillans (Longniddry) and Hannah Wade (Bathgate) in the quarter-final. But in the semi he was once again defeated by Verdy who went on to win the final to take a treble of singles, boy’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Earlier in the weekend Scotland finished third in the team event, behind England and surprise winners Wales. The Scots got off to a good start, beating Ulster 3-2 in their opening match, but 3-2 defeats to both England and Wales put an end to their hopes of improving on their second place finish of last year.

Full results can be viewed at www.tournamentsoftware.com or visit www.ukschoolgames.com for more information on the UK School Games.

For further information contact BADMINTONscotland on 0141 445 1218