Scottish National Championships 2003
11-13 April, Aberdeen SRC

HEATH & MAITLAND RETAIN
SCOTTISH NATIONAL TITLES
Defending champions Martin Heath and Wendy Maitland retained their Scottish National titles at the Aberdeen Squash Rackets Club, beating John White and Senga Macfie respectively, in repeats of the 2002 finals.

Fred Milne reports from Aberdeen
What a fantastic venue and what a fantastic Men's Final !!!

John White headed off to an impressive 2 - 0 lead but Martin Heath proved that he is really proud of his Scottish National heritage by digging in and bravely seeing off his "Australian" brother by 3 games to 2!

Wendy Maitland proved, yet again, that she has the beating of ex-Scottish Champion Senga Macfie, to retain her Scottish title. Where was Pamela Nimmo?

Aberdeen Squash Racquets Club pulled out a great idea when they played their own Club Championship Final prior to the 2 main events. Craig Thomson pulled off a major surprise when he beat the Club no. 1, Sean Berryman by 3 games to 2 in an epic battle which left the Aberdeen crowd baying for more from their more illustrious adversaries in the National Finals.

Well done ASRC, and here's to them hosting another great Championship!!

2002 results

2002 Scottish National Championships, Perth, 29-31 March

Men's final:
[2] Martin Heath (Oban) beat [1] John White (Nottingham)  15-10, 15-10, 12-15, 15-5

Semi-finals:
White beat David Heath (Oban)  15-7,15-12,15-13
M Heath beat P O'Hara (Newlands)  15-9,15-5,15-7

Women's Final:
[2] Wendy Maitland (Aberdeen) beat [1] Senga McFie (Edinburgh SC) 7-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-7

Semi finals:
Maitland beat Lisa McKenna (ESC)   7-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0
McFie beat Sue Dalrymple (ESC)   9-3, 9-1, 9-6  

UPSETS IN SCOTTISH NATIONAL FINALS
There were upsets in both of the National finals in the Scottish Closed Championships held at Bell's Sports Centre in Perth from 29th - 31st March sponsored by Perth and Kinross Leisure, reports Iain Smith.

In the men's final, World number 13 Martin Heath repeated his fine win earlier in the week in Pakistan over John White, ranked seven places above him. Heath had previously won his home title in 1995 and 97.

In front of a full house, Heath was always in control and although White came back to win the third set, it was the home based Scot who took the title in the fourth. Enjoying a fine run of form and free from the injuries that have plagued his career in recent seasons, Heath will go into the forthcoming British Open confident that he can upset some of those seeded above him. With Peter Nicol having chosen to play for England and John White farcically prevented from representing Scotland, it will be Heath who will carry Scottish hopes in the Commonwealth Games.     

The number one seed was also beaten in the ladies final with Wendy Maitland also carrying on a recent rich vein of form to beat current title holder Senga McFie. This was Wendy's first National title and follows her first WISPA tour victory in the Swiss Open last month.