A RECORD turnout of pupils stepped onto the court and served up a thrilling day's play of badminton last Thursday.

A total of 144 children, representing 26 primary schools, converged on Carnegie Leisure Centre for the event, which was organised by Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council, with support from Dunfermline Badminton Association, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and Active Schools Fife, and there were net gains for Cairneyhill and Donibristle.

Singles events for both girls and boys were held and it was Maeve Lawes and Rory Cameron who held the aces for their respective schools as they finished top of the class.

Cairneyhill pupil Maeve finished the girls' event in first place ahead of runner-up Amy Candlish, of Torryburn, while Jemma Young, of Limekilns, and Emma Mackie, of Townhill, placed third and fourth.

That was the first part of a double success for Maeve who, alongside her schoolmates, collected the Donibristle Shield Trophy, which is awarded to the best team on the day after all players' scores are taken into consideration from the main draw onwards.

In the boys' event, Donibristle pupil Rory finished ahead of schoolmate Thomas Wilson to win while a third Donibristle boy, Robbie Gorn, placed fourth behind Townhill's Christopher Anderson, who was third.

Also up for grabs were gold, silver and bronze medals for the top performing large and small schools, and Cairneyhill and Limekilns took top honours in each respectively.

Donibristle and Torryburn won silver, while Townhill/Limekilns and St Serf's collected bronze.

Pam Turner, of Dunfermline Badminton Association, said: "The festival was a big success especially as this was the biggest number of competitors we have had.

"There were many close games, especially in the latter stages, and everyone enjoyed their day.

"Throughout the season, most of the schools have had some input on badminton coaching organised by the sports council, in conjunction with the Dunfermline Badminton Association and Carnegie Badminton Club."

The festival was one of several, across a number of sports, organised by the sports council throughout the year.

After each event, points are awarded to the top-performing schools and are put towards final totals that will determine the winners of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust Primary School Award, presented annually at the sports council's awards ceremony (see pages 56-57).