Scottish Open Badminton: Ciara Torrance & Julie MacPherson eye success in Glasgow

Julie MacPherson, left, and Ciara Torrance will be second seeds in the women's doubles this week

Ciara Torrance and Julie MacPherson have a story - a 'together story' - born on a tennis court in Moffat and rekindled years later on badminton courts around the world.

It is a tale of togetherness and partnership, of hard work and of a change of direction. And of tattoos - but more of that later.

This week they will team up again as second seeds in the women's doubles at the Scottish Open at The Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

They will dream of success on home soil, cheered on by family and friends.

On this occasion, they will not have to raise themselves from their slumbers in the middle of the night to watch a stream of them in action on the other side of the world. But it has not always been this way.

"We've both got a story... it's a together story," says Ciara, at 24 the junior member of the partnership by two years.

"We both started off playing tennis," interjects Julie.

"She beat me 6-0, 6-0 at a tournament once," Ciara recalls. "It ruined me. I came off thinking I played really well!"

When asked where this memorable encounter took place, they answer in unison: "I think it was at Moffat."

'You think people won't believe you'

Torrance was a promising tennis player. At the age of 10, she was working with Judy Murray. Then one day, while playing with her dad, she was spotted by former Scotland national coach Dan Travers.

"He asked if I'd ever thought about playing badminton," she recalls. "I said no, then went home and cried to my mum that I didn't want to play tennis anymore. She had to break the news to my coach, who was absolutely fuming. But I don't regret it."

MacPherson's tale is similar. A journey that led her to ditch one type of racket for another. She too has never looked back.

Their natural talent identified them as ones to watch and they were soon breaking into the national set-up. In 2019, they teamed up for the first time and have gone from there.

"We fight all the time," Torrance says mischievously. "We know how to have down time. I think we're both quite chilled."

"We're lucky, we get on," MacPherson adds. "It would be very difficult if we didn't."

Four years after they were first paired up, they are together in a back office of the Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre in an incongruous factory setting in Govan.

The duo are looking ahead to the Scottish Open and reflecting on their performance at the world championships in Copenhagen last month, when they exited in the second round. Previous to that, there was a trip to Indonesia.

"You just walk about with a badminton bag and the fans are like 'Oh my God!' Even if they don't know you, they know you play badminton and they say 'can I get a picture'. You wouldn't get that walking down the street in Glasgow," Torrance says.

Recognition could come this week, when focus turns to The Emirates Arena, where they are seeded to reach the final. Perhaps others outside their family and friends might also take notice.

"When you get in a taxi and they ask you what you do, you think 'they're not going to believe me'," Torrance says.

"When you say you're a full-time badminton player, they're like: 'Oh I loved playing badminton at school'. But you wonder why are more people not watching it if they love it.

"That's another thing that is quite tough - the exposure side in the UK. We were talking about Asia - it's like night and day."

'I didn't think we'd be where we are today'

Clearly the pair are different characters. No partnership truly works if both are the same - every yin needs its yang.

Torrance's arm-length artwork speaks of her colourful character. There is a tattooed quotation. "I'm sure we're taller in another dimension," it reads. The words are the lyrics of a song by American rapper Frank Ocean.

There's a manta ray, her favourite animal, and tributes to her grandparents. There's even a nod to Prestwick, where she grew up. One senses, however, that the most treasured symbols are of violets and lavender.

"They are quite symbolic of the lesbian community, so it is important to me," she says.

And, with that, it is back to the training, the endless hours of hitting and weight sessions - another step on the journey towards keeping their dream alive.

"I didn't really think we'd be where we are today at all," Torrance adds. "If someone had told me 10 years ago that we'd be up to 31 in the world, I'd have cried."