That was the week that was for Bankier

It was an encounter that had added significance since both Bankier and Blair have opted out of the GB Badminton programme to return to basing themselves in Scotland. Beating an English pair who are currently more than 20 places above them in the world rankings only helps justify those decisions.

However, for Bankier, the success was all the sweeter because the week provided the most stringent of fitness tests for her heavily strapped right ankle.

"The physios have done an amazing job and it's not giving me any trouble at all," said the 26-year-old who discovered last weekend that she had ruptured an ankle ligament in training. "It was touch and go whether I would even compete this week or next, so it's remarkable that I've managed to play and we're just delighted to win."

Blair had previously pointed out that it was more than a case of picking up where they left off when they rekindled their partnership earlier this year because Bankier has matured so much as a player and their results justified that, albeit the 32-year-old is too experienced to express too much excitement.

"Today's opponents were quite an awkward kind of pair so it didn't have so much rhythm, but in the quarter-final and the semi-final we were playing quite well and we've had quite a good performance all week," he said.

Their win also ensured they will have good feelings about the venue when they return to contest next year's Commonwealth Games.

"It was my first experience of playing in the venue whereas Robert played here last year, so it's useful to have a hit in here, see the set-up and find out what it's going to be like. It's also good experience to play in front of a home crowd," said Bankier, who paid tribute to the organisers for generating an atmosphere that she rates among the best in Europe.

"It's another big event where you're playing under the pressure of the home support. There wasn't so much expectation on us as there has been before but, for me, it's more experience in the bank and hopefully we can take that forward to the Commonwealth Games next year.

"The support was really good. You just want people to be excited and happy and enjoying themselves."

Another who rose to the occasion throughout the week was Kirsty Gilmour. Although beaten in the women's singles final, she improved on her showing against the Spaniard Carolina Marin when they had met in the London Grand Prix final last month, forcing the match into a decider rather than losing in straight sets.

"It's kind of bittersweet," she said after her 21-14, 11-21, 21-13 defeat. "It was nice to live up to my seeding but I wanted to win. It was a good experience of the crowd, too. If I just jumped into the Commonwealths having a first experience of a big home crowd, it would be terrifying as there would be even more expectation, but I'll definitely have that more under control by the time the Games come around and be really ready for it.

"It's nice to hear your mum, dad and specific friends. It does give you that bit more encouragement rather than anonymous shouts. I would not be in a happy place if I hadn't played as well as I have, so I can't be too disappointed, but there's no pleasing an athlete unless it's the gold."

With eight different nationalities represented on finals day, unseeded Dutch pair Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek won the women's doubles, beating Malaysia's fourth-seeded pairing Hui Ern Ng and Hui Lin Ng in a tight three setter.

Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding took the men's doubles title on a walkover after compatriots Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Kim Astrup Sorensen withdrew due to injury, while Brice Leverdez of France beat Sweden's Henri Hurskainen in another hard fought match that went to a deciding set.