Scottish Juniors duo thrilled by workout with Olympian BADMINTON: Erin Waddell (Carolside Primary School) and Sarah Sidebottom (Glasgow School of Sport) are both members of the Scottish Junior training squad and they had a moment to savour when they got the chance to hit shuttles with Scottish Olympian Imogen Bankier at the Badminton Carnivals, run in conjunction with the Scottish International Championships. Staged in the centre area of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome at the Emirates Arena, the Carnivals welcomed 10,000 school pupils over the four days of the Championships. "We had sports coaching students from Cardonald College and Glasgow 2014 Apprentices helping out with the coaching and there were kids from Primary 4 to Senior 1 stage," said John Shearer, Badminton Scotland's coach and development officer. They came from as far away as Crown Primary School in Inverness to Carrutherstown Primary in Dumfriesshire. There were ten skill stations and we ran competitions and beginner level tests. Bankier still fondly remembers her Carnivals days. "I was about nine or ten when I went along to the Kelvin Hall and it was great fun," said the former High School of Glasgow pupil. My school was also very supportive of my badminton. I was allowed to miss hockey and go and practise my own sport. Susan Egelstaff, the recently-retired Olympian, also had the chance to give back at this year's Carnivals. "I remember going to the Kelvin Hall when I was a pupil at Kirkhll Primary School," said the six time Scottish singles champion. "I think the Carnivals are a really good way to promote the sport, and a great link with the Commonwealth games coming to Glasgow in two years" time. Scotland is dominated by football, but if we can get kids interested in the other sports then there is a chance they will find something they really enjoy. For Sarah and Erin, whose older brother, Greg, is also in the Scottish Junior squad, getting the chance to be on court with Bankier was a real thrill. "I love badminton and really want to go on and do well," said 11-year-old Erin. I play as much as I can. It was great to be on court with an Olympian.