Mhairi Charlton has reached a crossroads in her career. The good news for Scottish Squash is that our top junior player is still determined to head in the right sporting direction.

Having just completed her sixth year at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen, Mhairi is set to take up a degree in Anatomy at Glasgow University in the autumn, and her move to the central belt has delighted Scotland’s National coach, Roger Flynn.

“I’ve been coached by Alistair Gorrie at Aberdeen Squash Club and he’s been great, but now I’m going to switch and start working with Martin Woods in Glasgow,’” said Mhairi. “I’m going to put in a good summer of training and have already started working on some significant swing changes that should make me a better player.”

Mhairi, the Scottish Under-19 Champion, will take a break from her summer slog on the training courts next month to head the home challenge at the Heriot-Watt University Junior Open on July 17-18.  She is bound to be one of the favourites for the Under-19 championship. 

At present, she has one session a month at Heriot-Watt working under Flynn as a member of the Academy squad. She has nothing but high praise for the legendary Australian who includes former world No.1, Sarah Fitz-Gerald among his long list of successful clients. 

“Roger is great,” says Mhairi. “He’s not only a good coach, but gives great feedback. When I come to Glasgow, I’ll hopefully be able to spend more time at Heriot-Watt.”

As she ploys her conversion from leading junior to an accomplished senior player, her initial task is to turn her slightly ‘loopy’ swing into a better action – and build on her strength to make even greater use of her natural talent.

Recently, Mhairi received some advice from one of the world’s best ever players – Peter Nicol. The former world No.1 hails from Inverurie – though the former Scottish Champion did defect and play for England – but he is back living in the north-east.

“I was voted Grampian Junior Player of the Year and one of the awards was a training session with Peter,” she explained. “It was a great experience.”  

A member of the Scottish Under-19 team that finished a very creditable ninth at this season’s European Championships, Mhairi’s big goal is to step up to the Scottish senior team. But, set to turn 18 in July, she still has another season in the junior tournaments.

Flynn definitely reckons she could soon be knocking on the door for a first full cap. “Mhairi has been a little isolated in Aberdeen and I’ve really just been waiting for her to come down south,” he said. “She’s one of the best athletes in our squads.

“At the moment, we have a terrific squad of senior women – Frania Gillen-Buchert, Alex Clark, Lisa Aitken, Lauren Gray, Senga Macfie and Claire Kidd.  Mhairi makes the number up to seven and it’s going to become even more competitive to make the Scottish team.”

A runner-up in the Under-17 event at the 2008 Scottish Junior Open, Mhairi will be a serious threat to win the main Under-19 title in her final appearance in the world-class tournament at the end of this year. The last Scot to win the title was Pam Nimmo way back in the mid 1990s.

“I certainly want to continue to make the most out of squash,” concluded Mhairi. “I’m looking forward to the move to Glasgow and the new opportunities that will come with it.”

EB
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