2025 Atlantic International Challenge - Day One Report
Team Scotland have made a promising start to this year’s Atlantic International Challenge, currently leading the way in the men’s, women’s and para standings after three sessions of play were completed on day one.
Session One
Scotland made a strong start to the event as they secured six wins from seven matches against Ireland.
In the men’s disciplines, Scotland secured maximum points with both the singles and fours notching up victories. Darren Gualtieri led the way with a straight sets victory in the singles over Shane Leonard. Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Connor Milne and Grant Logan had a much tighter affair in the fours but got over the winning line 10-9 against Mark Foster, Ryan McElroy, Mark Wilson and Ian McClure.
The women’s team also followed suit by picked up two wins from their two respective matches. Caroline Brown hit the ground running to pick up a straight sets win against the experienced Sarah Kelly. In the fours, Dee Hoggan, Lorna Cameron, Natalie McWilliams and Gail Notman made a strong start to their campaign by overcoming Rachel Cochrane, Hannah Cochrane, Lara Reaney and Chloe Wilson 12-6.
Our para players brought home two wins from their three encounters. Ross Noble delivered an accomplished performance in the visually impaired singles to defeat Ireland’s Michael Reid in straight sets. Laura Cluxton, John Wardrope and Pauline Wilson saw off the challenge of Liz Thompson, Glenn Kaufman and Paul Smyth 13-9 in the physically disabled and visually impaired triples. Garry Brown and Stuart Stevens unfortunately couldn’t make it a clean sweep of victories for the Scots as they came up short 12-13 to Keith Tinney and Tom Evans in the physically disabled pairs.
Session One Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri beat Shane Leonard 2-0
- Men’s Fours – Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Connor Milne & Grant Logan beat Mark Foster, Ryan McElroy, Mark Wilson & Ian McClure 10-9
- Women’s Singles – Caroline Brown beat Sarah Kelly 2-0
- Women’s Fours – Dee Hoggan, Lorna Cameron, Natalie McWilliams & Gail Notman beat Rachel Cochrane, Hannah Cochrane, Lara Reaney & Chloe Wilson 12-6
SCOTLAND 12 – IRELAND 0
- Para Visually Impaired Singles – Ross Noble beat Michael Reid 2-0
- Para Physically Disabled Pairs – Garry Brown & Stuart Stevens lost to Keith Tinney & Tom Evans 12-13
- Para Physically Disabled & Visually Impaired Triples – Laura Cluxton, John Wardrope & Pauline Wilson beat Liz Thompson, Glenn Kaufman & Paul Smyth 13-9
SCOTLAND 6 – IRELAND 3
Session Two
The spoils were shared between Scotland and Canada’s men and women with both nations picking up two wins apiece across the four games contested. Meanwhile, it was déjà vu for our para squad as they chalked up another 6-3 victory over Ireland.
Darren Gualtieri lost out to Cameron Lefresne in a tie break in the men’s singles. However, our men’s fours team of James Hogg, Gary Prunty, Connor Milne and Grant Logan managed to avenge this defeat by getting the better of Erik Galipeau, Rob Law, Greg Wilson and Ryan Bester 13-3.
Caroline Brown also tasted defeat in the women’s singles, going down 0-2 to a brilliant display from Kelly McKerihen. Dee Hoggan, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams and Gail Notman picked up another win for the Scots in the fours, dispatching of Jackie Foster, Baylee van Steijn, Jordan Kos and Emma Boyd 15-5.
Pauline Wilson and John Wardrope clinched the first of two victories for our para team against Ireland. The Scottish pairing fought hard to overcome Glen Kaufman and Paul Smyth 10-9 at the last end. Garry Brown, Ross Noble and Stuart Stevens notched up a win of their own in the physically disabled and visually impaired triples, getting past Michael Reid, Keith Tinney and Tom Evans 9-7. Laura Cluxton gave a good account of herself in the visually impaired singles but sadly lost out 0-2 to Liz Thompson.
Session Two Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri lost to Cameron Lefresne 1-2
- Men’s Fours – James Hogg, Gary Prunty, Connor Milne & Grant Logan beat Erik Galipeau, Rob Law, Greg Wilson & Ryan Bester 13-3
- Women’s Singles – Caroline Brown lost to Kelly McKerihen 0-2
- Women’s Fours – Dee Hoggan, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams & Gail Notman beat Jackie Foster, Baylee van Steijn, Jordan Kos & Emma Boyd 15-5
SCOTLAND 6 – CANADA 6
- Para Visually Impaired Singles – Laura Cluxton lost to Liz Thompson 0-2
- Para Physically Disabled Pairs – Pauline Wilson & John Wardrope beat Glenn Kaufman & Paul Smyth 10-9
- Para Physically Disabled & Visually Impaired Triples – Garry Brown, Ross Noble & Stuart Stevens beat Michael Reid, Keith Tinney & Tom Evans 9-7
SCOTLAND 6 – IRELAND 3
Session Three
Scotland’s men and women rounded off day one in style by defeating USA 12-0. In the para disciplines, the Scots took a 6-3 victory over Canada.
Darren Gualtieri was pushed all the way by Daniel Gorelick in the men’s singles and brought home the points via a tie break win. Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Gary Prunty and Connor Milne completed a perfect first day in the fours by beating Tom Richeson, Chris Dodd, Corey Vose and Peter Ritchie 12-8.
Dee Hoggan had to dig deep in her women’s singles encounter to overcome USA’s Dee McSparran in a tie break. Our women’s fours team of Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams and Caroline Brown maintained their 100% record courtesy of an 8-6 triumph over Rachel Marcuson, Janice Bell, Joanne Hedgespeth and Anne Nunes.
Ross Noble picked up his second win of the day in the visually impaired singles, getting the better of Dave Ruckman from Canada in straight sets. Garry Brown and Stuart Stevens combined well together in the physically disabled pairs to take down Jack Smart and Andy Caldwell 15-6. Finally, Laura Cluxton, John Wardrope and Pauline Wilson were narrowly beaten in the physically disabled and visually impaired triples 11-14 by Louise McLean, Jean Stairs and Anne Hibberd.
Session Three Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Darren Gualtieri beat Daniel Gorelick 2-1
- Men’s Fours – Ewan Shearer, James Hogg, Gary Prunty & Connor Milne beat Tom Richeson, Chris Dodd, Corey Vose & Peter Ritchie 12-8
- Women’s Singles – Dee Hoggan beat Dee McSparran 2-1
- Women’s Fours – Lorna Cameron, Beth Riva, Natalie McWilliams & Caroline Brown beat Rachel Marcuson, Janice Bell, Joanne Hedgespeth & Anne Nunes 8-6
SCOTLAND 12 – USA 0
- Para Visually Impaired Singles – Ross Noble beat Dave Ruckman 2-0
- Para Physically Disabled Pairs – Garry Brown & Stuart Stevens beat Jack Smart & Andy Caldwell 15-6
- Para Physically Disabled & Visually Impaired Triples – Laura Cluxton, John Wardrope & Pauline Wilson lost to Louise McLean, Jean Stairs & Anne Hibberd 11-14
SCOTLAND 6 – CANADA 3