![\"Anna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AnnaMcBride-1200x630.jpg\")
\nAnna McBride won her fourth singles title and third doubles title at the Australian Open Intellectual Disability Championships.<\/p>\n
The University of Stirling\u2019s high-performance tennis programme has enjoyed a successful start to 2026 \u2013 with its players triumphing in major competitions and its coach winning a top award.<\/p>\n
Anna McBride scooped her fourth singles title in a row \u2013 and her third doubles title in four years \u2013 at the Australian Open\u2019s Intellectual Disability Championships, while the Men\u2019s First Team retained the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) National League title.<\/p>\n
In further success for the programme, Lead Coach Scott MacAulay was crowned Performance Coach of the Year at the Tennis Scotland Awards 2026.<\/p>\n
\nAnna McBride won her fourth singles title and third doubles title at the Australian Open Intellectual Disability Championships.<\/p>\n
David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, Scotland\u2019s University for Sporting Excellence, said: \u201cIt has been an incredible start to the year for our high-performance tennis programme, with major wins in prestigious competitions and a well-deserved award for Scott.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Anna to win her fourth consecutive singles title, and her third doubles title in four years, at the Australian Open\u2019s Intellectual Disability Championships, is a phenomenal feat \u2013 we are delighted to see her continued dominance at this major competition. We are also very proud of our Men\u2019s First Team who have retained their BUCS National League title \u2013 reaffirming Stirling\u2019s place at the top table of university sport in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder Scott\u2019s leadership, the high-performance tennis programme continues to go from strength to strength, and these latest successes illustrate what can be achieved when you combine athletes\u2019 talent and dedication with our top-class coaching and world-leading training environment here at Scotland\u2019s University for Sporting Excellence.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Scott to be recognised by his governing body for his contribution to performance sport in Scotland is brilliant \u2013 and we send him our congratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna McBride at the Australian Open<\/p>\n
The Intellectual Disability Championships at the Australian Open is in its fourth year. Anna won the inaugural women\u2019s singles and doubles trophies in 2023, and successfully defended both titles in 2024. She won the singles again in 2025, but was unable to make it three-in-a-row in the doubles.<\/p>\n
At this year\u2019s event, held in Melbourne, third-year student Anna put in another impressive performance to win the Women\u2019s Intellectual Impairment-1 (II1) singles, beating Eva Blanc 6-2, 7-6 in the final, before winning the doubles with her Australian partner Kelly Wren.<\/p>\n
Anna said: \u201cThis event continues to be a real highlight of my year \u2013 competing at such a prestigious event, alongside so many talented athletes, is always incredibly special and inspiring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud to win the ladies\u2019 singles title for the fourth consecutive year, and to claim the ladies\u2019 doubles title alongside Kelly \u2013 my third doubles title. To achieve this success four years in a row is truly amazing, but it\u2019s the experience itself and the incredible atmosphere that makes it even more special.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompeting at the Australian Open, surrounded by world-class athletes, is an unforgettable experience \u2013 being so close to some of the best players in the world is incredibly inspiring and motivates me to keep pushing myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI would like to say a huge thank you to the Lawn Tennis Association, Trefoil, Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, and Tennis Australia for their funding and support. Without their generosity, opportunities like this would be very difficult to make possible. I am incredibly thankful for their continued support, as well as for all my friends, family, and everyone back home who encourage me every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
BUCS National League title<\/p>\n
After winning last year\u2019s BUCS National League title, the Men\u2019s First Team put in a steadfast defence of their trophy across the 2025\/26 season, and, after nine matches, it culminated in a winner-takes-all match against Nottingham at the weekend (Sunday, 15 February).<\/p>\n
The Stirling team \u2013 Nemanja Malesevic, Liam Hignett, Rob Cowley, Cameron Fryer and Kyle McKay \u2013 emerged victorious from the crucial tie, winning 4-2, which saw them crowned champions, two points ahead of second-placed Nottingham. It also meant that they finished the season unbeaten, having won eight matches \u2013 with home and away victories to Bath, Nottingham, Durham and Leeds Beckett \u2013 and drawn twice with Loughborough.<\/p>\n
![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ScottMacAulay-1200x630.jpg\")
\nScott MacAulay won Performance Coach of the Year at the Tennis Scotland Awards 2026 (credit: Tennis Scotland)<\/p>\n
Scott was celebrated at the prestigious Tennis Scotland Awards 2026, where he was recognised with the Performance Coach of the Year award. The accolade was presented following Scott\u2019s unprecedented achievement in securing the \u2018quadruple crown\u2019 of national BUCS titles and Anna\u2019s performance at the Australian Open 2025.<\/p>\n
Speaking afterwards, Scott said: \u201cI am incredibly honoured. Success in tennis is never a solo effort \u2013 this award is testament to the hard work, discipline and resilience of the players that I\u2019m lucky enough to work with every day. Watching these players grow and compete at the highest level has been the real reward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chief Executive of Tennis Scotland Blane Dodds said: \u201cCongratulations to the winners and the finalists at this year\u2019s Tennis Scotland Awards, all of whom make an extraordinary contribution to tennis and padel across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so grateful to volunteers, coaches and officials for everything they do, and for giving up their time to support players, events and venues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s University for Sporting Excellence<\/p>\n
At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, unrivalled outdoor space, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites. In addition to its coaching and facilities, Stirling\u2019s International Sports Scholarship Programme \u2013 one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK \u2013 offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 \u2013 with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n
Core sports include tennis, football, triathlon, golf, swimming, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.<\/p>\n