Inaugural championship proves a smash hit with Oban Ravens

"attachment_818701" "" "300"] Sixteen Oban Ravens took park in the inaugural Championships.

 

Oban Ravens squash team held its inaugural championships last weekend with 16 ladies taking part.

 

Formed in 2018 by coach Colin MacNiven, the Ravens consist of women of any age and ability who either want to take up the sport or come back into it and gives them the opportunity to play competitive matches at their own level.

 

Last weekend's event gave the ladies a chance to get together and compete against each other for championship honours for the first time with first round losers going head to head in a plate competition.

 

To give everyone a chance, the competition was handicapped with coach MacNiven reviewing the handicaps after every game.

 

Following some highly competitive match-ups, Denise Gemmell took the honours in the main event with Helen Conlon and Laura MacKay in second and third place respectively.

 

Claire Hill saw off Liz Comer in the final of the plate competition with Jennifer Kelly winning the third place play-off.

 

Claire also won the 'Player of the Day' accolade.

 

Having set up the team with just six players, coach MacNiven is delighted with how far Oban Ravens have come, now boasting 22 players, and equally elated at the standard of competition in this inaugural championship competition.

 

'The enthusiasm and sportsmanship of this group is second to none and they are really leading the way in women's squash at local and national level,' he said.

 

Squash newcomer Laura MacKay agrees. After only picking up a racket in June this year, the mother of one picked achieved her first podium spot on Saturday and is hungry for more.

 

'This group has given me the chance to come into a sport I had never played before and to be part of a team who encourage and support you no matter what level you play at,' she said.

 

"attachment_818710" "" "246"] Jasmine Hoey made this cake to mark the occasion.

 

Organisers thank Atlantis Leisure for hosting the competition, Oban Filling Station for providing refreshments on the day and Jasmine Hoey for making a magnificent cake to mark the occasion. They also thanked local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle and everyone who bought a ticket.

 

"attachment_818692" "" "300"] Oban Ravens joined players from all over Scotland for the final WISPS tournament of 2022 at Bridge of Allan.

 

•Elsewhere  six Ravens travelled to Bridge of Allan on Sunday October 30 for the final Women in Scotland Playing Squash (WISPS) tournament of the year.

 

In group D, Lorna MacLeod had wins over City of Edinburgh player Cath Alexander, 15-11, 15-10, and teammate Claire Hill, 15-11, 15-12, before being beaten in the final by Stirling's Allison Penman, 4-15, 6-15.

 

Group B saw Claire Easton also picking up a second place after winning her games against fellow Raven Denise Gemmell, 15-4, 15-9, and Bettina Buchman from City of Edinburgh, 15-10, 11-15, 15-12, before succumbing to East Lothian's Charmaine Love in the final, 7-15, 13-15.

 

Nicola Morgan took the third podium place in the highly competitive Group A after beating Edinburgh player Christine Graham in the play-off, 15-8, 15-10.

 

Photographs

 

NO_ObanRavens_Championships 02: Ravens trophy and plate podium from left, Liz Comer, Helen Conlon, Denise Gemmell, Claire Hill, Laura Mackay and Jennifer Kelly.

 

NO_ObanRavens_WISPS_BridgeOfAllan 02: Oban Ravens joined players from all over Scotland for the final WISPS tournament of 2022 at Bridge of Allan.