Scottish Mens and Ladies Tour 2023
The third event in the Scottish Mens and Ladies Tour was held in Aberdeen at the Dee Swimming Club attracting 110 competitors in the two championships. This year the event doubled up as the SDA Masters Championship which had been in abeyance for the last three seasons due to Covid 19 restrictions.
little bit of history was created in the men’s event as East Stirlingshire’s Gary Stone whitewashed Jamie Curran from Ayrshire, 6-0 in the final. This was Gary’s fourth championship win following triumphs in 2012, 2013 and 2018, making him the most successful male player in Masters history. Gary gained his spot in the final with a 6-5 victory over Tay Valley’s Glen Parsons while his opponent in the final defeated Jamie Bain, from Grampian, 6-4, in their last four match.
Making up the last eight were Derek Maclean (Highland), Danny Trueman (Grampian), Dean Carr (Fife) and John Imrie.
You could be forgiven for experiencing deja vu in the ladies event as the two players reaching the final were doing so for the third time this season. In a repeat of the first and second Tour events Ayrshire’s Lorraine Hyde took on Chloe O’Brien from Angus.
Lorraine took her third consecutive title, adding the Masters to the SDA Singles title won previously and taking her into a very exclusive club of players who have won both major Scottish titles in the same season.
Lorraine’s 5-0 win in the final followed a 4-0 victory in the semi-final over Andrea Carr from Fife while Chloe defeated Hollie Ridgers from Highland 4-1 in their last four match.
In the last eight were Marian Ogg (Moray), Jordan Mcnally (Renfrewshire), Susanna McGimpsey (Greater Glasgow) and Julie Ward (Ayrshire).
The Ranking Table after three events has Mark Barilli leading with 9 points, John Imrie (8) second and four players on 7 points, Colin Miller, Paul Anderson, William Kirkwood and Glen Parsons.
In the Ladies event, as expected, Lorraine Hyde, with 100% record, leads on 16 points followed by Chloe O’Brien (12) and Emily Davidson (5)
The fourth event in the Tour will take place on the 15th April at Bannockburn.
