REPRESENTING Scotland on the international stage is a nerve-wracking experience in itself to cope with.
Zack Paton will be competing at the European Mixed Team Championships in Prague. Picture: Will Clark
But having to sit your higher maths exam in a hotel room in a foreign country, with just one other person watching you the entire time, the same day you are playing in the European Championships can only add to the pressure.
However, Zack Paton is confident he has the formula to pass his examination and then go on to have a successful tournament at the European Mixed Team Under-17 Championships in Czechia.
The competition starts in Prague on Thursday, which is the same day as higher maths exams are taking place that morning for school pupils across Scotland.
Arrangements have been made to allow fifth year pupil Paton (16) to sit his examination 1352 miles away from Nairn Academy that morning while going on to represent Scotland on the same day.
The fifth year pupil says sitting one of the most important examinations of his life so far, on the same day he is representing his country, is something he is calmly taking into the equation.
He is confident he can make the grade by passing his exam and having a successful tournament with Scotland.
He said: “The situation is beyond weird.
“It is going to be odd and I am hoping it takes nothing from my preparation for the competition because I am worrying about my maths exam.
“I will get it done on the morning of the first day of the tournament taking place.
“In the hotel room, it will just be me with one of the coaches watching as an invigilator. One of the other players in the team will be doing his National 5’s the day after and a couple of girls in the squad are also taking their exams.
“But I am just going to have to get it done so I can enjoy the tournament.”
Zack Paton will be competing at the European Mixed Team Championships in Prague. Picture: Will Clark
Paton is recognised as one of the top teenage squash players in Scotland and has represented his country on the international stage previously.
Last year, he represented Scotland at the European Mixed Team Under-17 Championships in France and said it was one of the best experiences of his life.
He is looking forward to once again testing himself against top opposition from across the continent.
He said: “The experience in France was awesome. There was a huge amount of shouting and cheering where the crowd had a lot of passion for the sport. It was a lot of fun to play in.
“When we played against France, you could only hear their supporters and as much as Scotland tried, all their fans outdid us.
“We finished in seventh place and I am looking forward to the tournament and we are aiming to reach at least the quarter finals.
“The standard will be really high and there are some very strong teams taking part.”
Paton was encouraged to get involved in squash at an early age through his father Alan.
He has won a number of tournaments during his career which has caught the attention of national selectors.
Playing in his final year at under-17 level, he wants to make a real impression before moving up an age group.
He said: “I won the junior nationals when I was at under-11 level. I have had a couple of bad injuries during my career, but getting some big wins having come back from that is something I am really proud of.
“This is my last year at under-17’s and I want to get as many wins as I can for the team in Czechia.”
Inverness Squash Club has played a huge part for Scottish squash in international competition in recent years. Notable players include Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban, who are former World Doubles champions and Alasdair Prott who has achieved international success.
Paton hopes he can be the next player on the Inverness conveyor belt to go on and test himself against the best in the world.
He said: “I want to make the Scotland team for the world under-19 Championship in Canada later this year.
“It would be incredible to make that team as it would be the biggest tournament I have ever played in.”
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