Inverness Royal Academy pupil and Sea Cadet who swapped badminton for standard bearing is Royal British Legion Scotland champion all over again
She used to set the highest standards with a badminton racket in her hand.
These days Abi Barrie’s graceful movements and trademark precision come with the swing of a ceremonial flag.
The Inverness Royal Academy pupil and Inverness Sea Cadet recently won the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) Youth National Standard Bearing competition for the third year in a row.
Having moved away from badminton, where she represented Scotland at youth level, all focus has been on cadet activity and honing her skills in her new preferred pursuit.
The RBLS hold local and area heats before the winners and runners-up of each area go head to head in a national contest held at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh, alongside the adults competition.
Abi, who has just turned 17 and is in the midst of sitting her Highers, told us: “I was just really enjoying cadets, and the opportunities that I was being offered through cadets were really interesting to me - especially the Trafalgar Day Parade in London.
“I’ve also loved all the events I’ve enjoyed since through the War Widows Association.”
After winning the RBLS Youth National Standard Bearing for the first time in 2023, Abi was asked if she would carry the standard on behalf of the War Widows Association.
It was an incredible honour and she has since represented them at a whole variety of commemorative and remembrance events in Edinburgh, including the recent 80th VE Day event at the Usher Hall.
This year, for the first time, Abi was the only female competitor in the youth section.
“It takes a lot of hard work. It does get quite tiring sometimes. We usually train for one hour a week for four weeks, up until the date of the competition.
“It is definitely physical. The standards do weigh quite a lot. Then there is all the equipment that goes with it, your buckle and your belt.”
Uniform, which must be spotlessly ship-shape, is one part of the standard-bearing competition with competitors inspected by high-ranking armed forces personnel and then, as the second part, scored on their manoeuvres.
Adults and youths carry out the same routines on the day, carrying and performing varying manoeuvres with the standard at the quick march, slow march and stood to attention.
It is a demanding pursuit physically and mentally, but all the more satisfying with a win.
Abi added: “I was delighted to win a third time in a row. The competition standards in all three years have been really high.
“After the first year I won the competition, the War Widows Association asked me to carry their standard so, the following weekend, I got sworn in to carry it for them.
“Since then, they have been inviting me to lots of different events, with a busy summer ahead!”
