The Aberdeen trio of Mhairi Charlton, Hannah Anthony and Lindsay Ackers did Scotland proud by making it into the semi-finals of the under-17 event at the Scottish Junior Open at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

It is ten years since a home player won a title at a tournament that attracts entries from all around the globe – the hope is that one of the Grampian girls can end the drought. 

In the quarter-finals, Mhairi, the No.1 seed, beat Jackie Shea (USA) 6-11 13-12 14-12 11-8 and now meets South Africa’s Alexandra Fuller for a place in the final.

Hannah scored a close 11-5 6-11 11-8 4-11 11-4 victory over Argentina’s Paulina Perez-Gonzalez to set up an all-Scottish clash with Lindsay, who comfortably beat South Africa’s Samantha Kleynhans 11-9 11-4 11-6.

In the under-19 boys’ championship, Waverley’s Chris Ferguson was the No.1 seed, but was unlucky to lose a five set thriller to Nicholas Sachvie. The Canadian won 6-11 11-8 6-11 11-8 13-11.

Ian Jubb (Tyne) also went at the last eight stage by 8-11 2-11 6-11 to Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio, while Claire Gray (Perth) and Lisa Aitken (Montrose), who won the under-11 championships ten years ago, both lost at the quarter-final stage of the girls’ under-19 championship.