Badminton coach Jamie Neill tips youngsters Alex Dunn and Darren Reid for the top

Jun 23 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON badminton coach Jamie Neill has tipped youngsters Alex Dunn and Darren Reid for the top – but warned them not to become complacent.

Motherwell player Alex, aged just 12, is the current Scottish Under-13 singles and mixed doubles champion, and is ranked third in the country at under-14 level. He has now been invited to train with the national Under-16 squad.

Darren (14) from Uddingston, is ranked fourth at under-14 level and is showing promise of achieving results at higher levels.

Both are also in the badminton squad for the International Children’s Games, which take place in Lanarkshire in August.

Coach Jamie (27), who tutors both the boys in private sessions at Esporta in Hamilton and also under the Lanarkshire Lightning Badminton Club, said: “I think they’re future champions and for their age their commitment is great and the skill level is really high.

“Alex already has shots in his repertoire that adults don’t master and has been showing promise since he was about six or seven, while Darren is very powerful, fast and fit for his age.

“They’re decent all-rounders but are also very good individually.

“I think they can eventually reach the national team and that should be their goal.

“They’ve both got a bright future but just because they’re doing well just now doesn’t mean they’ve cracked it. It doesn’t mean they will definitely progress to under-16, under-17 and beyond unless they continue to work hard.

“They’re off to a great start, but they need to grab the ball and run with it and not getting complacent is really important.”

Jamie has been impressed with the progress of both players.

He added: “Darren came to me three years ago as part of a come and try session and has made a rapid improvement. He’s now ranked fourth in the country.

“Alex won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the North East Open in Aberdeen in February and is really just miles ahead of everybody else in his age group.”

Jamie is delighted that both players are starting to receive recognition and reckons it’s good for the sport in Lanarkshire as a whole.

He said: “It’s really positive to have both of them here at Esporta and it’s great for badminton in Lanarkshire.

“The squads tend to train at the same time, at the same venue, and they can see how well some players are doing.

“Even some of the older players can see how well Alex and Darren are doing and it’s good for them to see these guys coming through as well. It’s positive for the county to have a highly ranked pair like this, and it’s ultimately a team event so it’s good to have such strength and depth to the squad.”