Schools squash: Crieff proves to be fertile ground for squash talent

Crieff has proved to a great production line for Scottish squash players, and Rory Stewart and Maddie Orr continued the tradition by winning titles at the Scottish Junior National Championships at the Heriot-Watt National Centre in Edinburgh.

Rory (Crieff High School) won the boys’ under-17 title, Maddie (Crieff Primary School) claimed the girls’ under-11s, while Claire Gadsby (Crieff High School) was runner-up in the girls’ under-17s.

Dr Eileen Morrison was the force behind the Crieff structure that started in the 1980s and today there are around 70 youngsters training regularly at Crieff High Community Campus and Crieff Hydro.

“There are six of us who are voluntary coaches,” explained Rory’s mum, Susan Stewart. “When the new school was built we campaigned for courts and it was great to be successful.”

Fifteen-year-old Rory, who is also a talented four handicap golfer, was particularly pleased to follow in the footsteps of his brother – Greig Stewart won the under-17 trophy last year.

The win also means he can set his sights on a place in the Scotland team for the under-17 European Championships in Finland in April.

For ten-year-old Maddie, it was maybe the start of a family conveyor belt. Her brothers, Ben (11) and Jack (nine) are equally keen and all three played in last month’s Scottish Junior Open.

Rosie Allan (Montrose Academy), winner of the Scottish Junior Open, completed the double when she romped to victory.