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Tennis ace lives up to favourite billing at Aviemore club champs


By Gavin Musgrove

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Men’s doubles winners Angus Harrold and Grant Davis with the trophy after winning in a tie-break.
Men’s doubles winners Angus Harrold and Grant Davis with the trophy after winning in a tie-break.

Student Angus Harrold completed a double in the men’s singles and doubles on finals day at Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis Club.

Number one seed Harrold beat Colin Ramsay 6-0 and 6-2 in Sunday’s final with his big kick serve proving particularly troublesome for his opponent.

Harrold, a sports engineer student at Glasgow’s Strathclyde University, then joined forces later in the afternoon with Grant Davis to beat the challenge of Dougie Somerville and Gavin Musgrove in a close encounter.

The pair fought their way back into the match after losing the first set 6-4 to prevail 10-7 in the tie-break.

Rafa Salazar and Michelle McCormick in the mixed doubles.
Rafa Salazar and Michelle McCormick in the mixed doubles.

There was almost a double in the ladies too with Eve Wilkinson taking the singles title in a hard fought game with Erin Ferguson by 7-5, 6-2.

Wilkinson then had two match points along with Michelle McCormick in a very well-contested ladies doubles with some good hitting.

But their challengers – the experienced Kingussie pairing of Marjorie Deans and Helen Peebles – held their nerve.

They survived the test, taking the victory with their first match point of the final with an enthralling 12-10 win in the rubber.

Dougie Somerville in action in the mixed doubles final.
Dougie Somerville in action in the mixed doubles final.

Dougie Somerville was close to claiming two doubles titles but he had mixed fortunes in his deciding tie-breaks.

Club spokeswoman Yvonne Birnie said that the club’s recently installed covered court had ensured that the finals days went ahead.

A poor forecast had seen organisers schedule slots through-out the day for the plate and finals. Ms Birnie said: “Once again the covered court saved the day and it proved to be a busy day at Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis club with the finals of club championships starting at 10am and finishing at 8.30pm.

Players and spectators are wrapped up against the cold on Sunday afternoon in the covered court.
Players and spectators are wrapped up against the cold on Sunday afternoon in the covered court.

“All of the matches were contested under cover and only the gents in their doubles braving the cold and wet outside but gave up once the heavier rain arrived mid-afternoon and headed indoors to finish their match.

“All doubles matches were very close and all went to a championship tie break.”

Rothiemurchus & Aviemore Tennis Club Championship 2021:

Ladies singles – Eve Wilkinson beat Erin Ferguson 7-5 6-2.

Men’s singles – Angus Harrold beat Colin Ramsay 6-0 6-2.

Ladies doubles – Marjorie Deans & Helen Peebles beat Eve Wilkinson & Michelle McCormick 6-3 3-6 & 12-10.

Men’s doubles – Angus Harrold & Grant Davis beat Dougie Somerville & Gavin Musgrove 4-6 6-2 & 10-7.

Mixed Doubles – Dougie Somerville & Caroline Bashford beat Rafa Salazar & Michelle McCormick 6-4 5-7 & 10-4.

Plate men’s singles – Gavin Musgrove beat Marcus Alliod 6-1 6-2.

Plate men’s doubles – Nick Morgan & Karl Thurlow beat Duncan Mackenzie & Colin Campbell 6-7 7-5 & 10-8.

Plate ladies doubles – LJ Fishpool & Sarah Clarke beat Jenny Sime & Sarah Caird 7-5 4-6 & 10-8.


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