Two Black Isle squash stars have seen their places at this summer’s Commonwealth Games confirmed.
Greg Lobban from North Kessock and Alan Clyne from Munlochy have both been announced as being in Scotland’s squad to go to Birmingham.
The former Fortrose Academy pupils have both experienced a Commonwealth Games before, with Lobban representing Scotland in the Gold Coast four years ago as well as in Glasgow in 2018.
Greg Lobban will make it a hat trick of Commonwealth Games appearances for Scotland in Birmingham this summer. Picture: Jeff Holmes/Team Scotland
Clyne, meanwhile, was at both of those tournaments as well as Delhi in 2010, and is the most experienced player in this year’s selection.
The 35-year-old reached the quarter-finals in the men’s singles draw in Australia, losing a five-set thriller to Welshman Joel Makin, who eventually finished fourth.
Lobban fell one stage earlier, losing to Englishman Daryl Selby in four sets, but since then has become Scotland’s number-one ranked player.
As a pair, Clyne and Lobban made it to the bronze medal match in the Gold Coast, but an agonising straight sets defeat to English duo Declan James and James Willstrop sent them back home without a medal.
Earlier this year, the pair were split up for the World Doubles Championships, but both still tasted a good level of success.
Lobban, teaming with Rory Stewart, made it to the final before losing to the same team that beat him in Australia back in 2018.
Alongside Douglas Kempsell, though, Alan Clyne won the third place play-off this time around, defeating England’s second seeds Daryl Selby and Adrian Waller.
Alan Clyne will represent Scotland in Birmingham for his fourth Commonwealth Games appearance. Picture: Jeff Holmes/Team Scotland
Both Stewart and Kempsell will make their Commonwealth Games debuts this summer.
It remains to be seen, then, whether the pairings from April’s World Championships will be used again in Birmingham, or whether Clyne and Lobban will be reunited.
The rest of the Scotland squad includes Lisa Aitken and Georgie Adderley.
Aitken maintains parity with Lobban with her third Commonwealth Games appearance, while Adderley who will be making her debut.
Confirmation of the squad came as part of a Team Scotland announcement featuring 50 athletes to mark 50 days until the opening ceremony yesterday.
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Source: https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/sport/squash-duo-called-into-team-scotland-277657/
