THE biggest purse in Scottish badminton history has tempted the

world's leading players, including Morten Frost, to return for the

Carlton Vauxhall Scottish Open championships at Meadowbank from November

23 to 26.

With prize-money of $20,000 on offer, Scotland's only grand prix event

has attracted a wealth of talent with England, Denmark, and Sweden well

represented.

Frost, seeded No.1, returns to the scene of four singles victories,

one of the most convincing being last year's 15-7, 15-5 trouncing of

England's Nick Yates.

If seedings go according to plan his opponent in this year's final

will be fellow Dane Jens Peter Nierhoff, although English pair, Steve

Baddeley, the current Commonwealth champion, and Anders Nielson, last

week's winner of the Canadian Open, may prove awkward customers.

Current champion Fiona Smith has been relegated to the three/four

category alongside another Dane, Kirsten Larsen. English No.1 Helen

Troke, the former European singles champion, is the top seed in the

women's singles despite never having won the Scottish title, while

Denmark's Pernille Nedergaard, Scottish champion in 1984, is ranked

No.2.

There are no surprises in the men's doubles with Denmark dominating

both halves of the draw. Mark Christiansen and Mikael Kjeldson are

seeded No.1 with Max Gandrup and Thomas Lund at No.2.

Scotland's Jenny and Elinor Allen are considered capable of reaching

the last four in the women's doubles. The Edinburgh sisters are ranked

three/ four beside Karen Chapman and Sara Sankey, the pair that beat the

Scots in the Bell's final only to lose to them in the Scotland-England

international in Shetland last month.

Gillian Gowers and Gillian Clark are favourites to take the title with

Danish pair Pernille Dupont and Grette Morgensen seeded to collect the

runners-up award.

In the mixed doubles Sweden's Maria Bengtsson will be looking for her

second successive Scottish title with new partner Jan-Eric Antonsson.

The Scottish team, which will try to avenge last year's 7-0 drubbing

by Sweden, has been announced with seven of Scotland's Commonwealth

Games team involved in the action. They take on the Swedes at Lochside

Leisure Centre, Forfar, on November 22.

Respective national champions, Anne Gibson and Anthony Gallagher, will

occupy the top singles places with Alec White and Dan Travers teaming up

for the first time in the first men's doubles.

Gallagher returns to the action in the second men's doubles partnering

Alan McMillan, the only member of the team not selected for Auckland.

The Allen sisters continue their Games' preparation in the women's

doubles with Elinor Allen also involved in the mixed doubles with Kenny

Middlemiss, who will also make an appearance in the second men's

singles.

Following the Scottish Open, a senior team will attend the triangular

international against Wales and the Soviet Union at Afan Lido, Port

Talbot, on November 28 and 29.

With several players unavailable, Alison Gordon has been awarded her

first full cap following her success in the national women's doubles

final. Auckland-bound Gillian Martin and Kevin Scott are also included

along with Travers, White, Gallagher, and Gibson. Surprisingly, Aileen

Nairn, Scotland's remaining Commonwealth Games team member, will not

play in either international.

Edinburgh's Audrey Brockie has been awarded her first under-21 cap for

the match against Ireland tomorrow night. She replaces Kirsten Thomson

in the women's singles.

At the SBU's half-yearly meeting at Stirling at the weekend, Alastair

Morgan has been reappointed as a Scottish selector. Morgan, who resigned

last year for personal reasons, replaces Frank Shannon, who has retired.