Grimley aiming for a fantastic fourth title at the Nationals

Matthew Grimley will be aiming to win the under 19 boys’ doubles crown for an unprecedented fourth time early next month when the U15/19 National Junior Championships get underway in Motherwell.

Not since the 1972/73 season, when Allan Gilliland and Gordon Hamilton won the third of their boys’ doubles titles, has any pair won three titles in as many years, but last year Christopher and Matthew Grimley did just that when they beat Glen Lewington and Ciar Pringle in the final to take the title without dropping a game.

But if Matthew is to win the title for an historic fourth time he will have to do so without his brother, who will be in Buenos Aires competing at the Youth Olympic Games.

“I’m aware that if I win I’ll be the only person to have done that [won four U19 boys’ doubles titles] so I’m looking forward to trying my best to win the doubles event especially” said Grimley.

“I think it will feel a little bit weird not playing with Chris but I’m used to it in a way because in training we practice with others therefore it shouldn’t be too different.

“This is the first time I’m playing without Christopher in a National Junior event so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Although Grimley and his partner Jack MacGregor will start as favourites for the title there could be another Pringle standing in the way, this time in the form of Ciar’s younger brother Adam and his partner Joshua Apiliga, who along with Grimley were part of the team which acquitted themselves so well at the recent European Junior Championships.

Pringle (top seed) and Apiliga (second seed) will also represent the biggest challenge to Grimley in the singles as he continues his comeback from injury, while Callum Smith is the other joint 3/4 seed.

Pringle is top seed in mixed doubles with Rachel Andrew while MacGregor and Lauren Middleton are seeded second.

Things are reversed in the girls’ doubles with Andrew and Rachel Cameron the second seeds, aiming to challenge favourites Middleton and Sarah Sidebottom, with Sidebottom hoping to retain the title she won last year with Ciara Torrance.

Finally, Rachel Sugden is favourite to retain her girls’ singles crown, although she is likely to have to overcome second seed Middleton in a repeat of last year’s final in order to keep her title.

In last year’s U15 events Brooke Stalker won the girls’ doubles at the tender age of eleven, along with then 13-year-old Keryn Swan.

They are the only defending champions in their age group and start as firm favourites to retain their title with Iona Muir and Eva Tremble their likely opponents in the final.

Swan is top seed in the singles with Stalker expected to meet her in the final and Katrina Chan and Mary Kong are the joint 3/4 seeds.

Stalker is also seeded second in the mixed doubles with Anthony McGuire behind favourites Grant Lewis and Kong.

Lewis and Finlay Sheriff are second seeds in boys’ doubles behind Logan Ireland and Angus Meldrum while Meldrum is also top seed in the boys’ singles, with Shaun Aamir seeded second.

The U15/19 National Junior Championships will take place at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility on 6 & 7 October.

The full draw will be published at badmintonscotland.org.uk by Wednesday 3 October and a full list of seeds is shown below:

U15 Boys’ Singles : Holder – Nathan MacPherson (Stonehaven)
1. Angus Meldrum (Dundonald)
2. Shaun Aamir (Hamilton)
3/4. Grant Lewis (Dunblane); Anthony McGuire (Bothwell)
5/8. Daniel Harris (Stonehaven); Scott MacKenzie (Glasgow); Hamish McCallister (Edinburgh); Finlay Sheriff (Dunblane)

U15 Girls’ Singles : Holder – Jodie Black (Eyemouth)
1. Keryn Swan (Alexandria)
2. Brooke Stalker (Dunfermline)
3/4. Katrina Chan (Glasgow); Mary Kong (Edinburgh)

U15 Boys’ Doubles : Holders – Lewis Hart (Motherwell)/Isaac Weir (Duns)
1. Logan Ireland (Linlithgow) & Angus Meldrum (Dundonald)
2. Grant Lewis (Dunblane) & Finlay Sheriff (Dunblane)

U15 Girls’ Doubles : Holders – Brooke Stalker (Dunfermline)/Keryn Swan (Alexandria)
1. Brooke Stalker (Dunfermline) & Keryn Swan (Alexandria)
2. Iona Muir (Renfrew) & Eva Tremble (Irvine)

U15 Mixed Doubles : Holders – Isaac Weir (Duns)/Jodie Black (Eyemouth)
1. Grant Lewis (Dunblane) & Mary Kong (Edinburgh)
2. Anthony McGuire (Bothwell) & Brooke Stalker (Dunfermline)
3/4. Logan Ireland (Linlithgow) & Sophie Ford (Glasgow); Angus Meldrum (Dundonald) & Zoe McInnes (Erskine)

U19 Boys’ Singles : Holder – Christopher Grimley (Glasgow)
1. Adam Pringle (Giffnock)
2. Joshua Apiliga (Glasgow)
3/4. Matthew Grimley (Glasgow); Callum Smith (Duns)
5/8. Alastair Campbell (Dunbar); Lloyd Holland (Glasgow); Jack MacGregor (Hamilton); Harry Mobey (Glasgow)

U19 Girls’ Singles : Holder – Rachel Sugden (Alexandria)
1. Rachel Sugden (Alexandria)
2. Lauren Middleton (Dundee)
3/4. Rachel Cameron (Musselburgh); Lindsey Ireland (Aberdeen)

U19 Boys’ Doubles : Holders – Christopher Grimley (Glasgow)/Matthew Grimley (Glasgow)
1. Matthew Grimley (Glasgow) & Jack MacGregor (Hamilton)
2. Joshua Apiliga (Glasgow) & Adam Pringle (Giffnock)

U19 Girls’ Doubles : Holders – Sarah Sidebottom (Rothesay)/Ciara Torrance (Prestwick)
1. Lauren Middleton (Dundee) & Sarah Sidebottom (Rothesay)
2. Rachel Andrew (Edinburgh) & Rachel Cameron (Musselburgh)

U19 Mixed Doubles : Holders – Christopher Grimley (Glasgow)/ Ciara Torrance (Prestwick)
1. Adam Pringle (Giffnock) & Rachel Andrew (Edinburgh)
2. Jack MacGregor (Hamilton) & Lauren Middleton (Dundee)