Scotland’s men, seventh last year, beat Ireland then lost to Germany in the final tie to rise one place to No.6 at the European Team Championships in Malmo, Sweden. 

Against the Irish, Alan Clyne (3-0) and Chris Small (3-1) both won, while Stuart Crawford (1-3) and Jamie Macaulay (0-3) both lost. The Scots scraped through 120-116 on points.

In the final play-off against Germany, Harry Leitch joined Clyne, Small and Crawford but none managed to win a point. Scotland won the title in 1992, and this was a great effort considering the side was minus former world No1. John White, who was a late withdrawal.

Scotland’s women - Frania Gillen-Buchert, Lisa Aitken, Alex Clark and Claire Kidd – also climbed the rankings. Seeded No.12, the team beat Wales 2-1 and Spain by the same score in the final match to finish ninth.

Kidd and Aitken won the points against Wales, with Scottish Champion Gillen-Buchert and Aitken clinching the victory against Spain. In a dramatic finale, Aitken, from Montrose, won the deciding tie 14-16 11-6 11-7 5-11 12-10 against Spain’s Morgaux Moros.