COUNTY badminton ace Robert Blair brought down the curtain on a glittering career by announcing his international retirement this week.

The announcement on Tuesday comes just three months after he and Imogen Bankier won their third successive mixed doubles title at the Yonex Scottish National Championships.

That marked Bankier’s last competitive match and now Blair has called a halt after helping rising star Adam Hall reach the quarter-finals in the 20-year-old’s first European Championships just over a week ago in France.

The Longniddry ace, a bronze medallist in Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014, felt now was the right time to go out.

He said: "It’s nice to be able to do that and pass on my experience.

"I've been helping Adam this year and the Europeans was a great opportunity for him.

The 34-year-old, who won 54 international caps for England before changing allegiance and winning 19 with Scotland, will now take up a coaching role with BADMINTONscotland.

Anne Smillie, chief executive, was delighted he would remain in the game to help young players, as he has with Mauchline ace Hall.

She said: “Robert has done so much for Scottish badminton and has been too good a player for us not to tap into his skill and experience.

“We are delighted he has agreed to join our coaching staff and to work with the talented crop of young players coming through our junior ranks.”

Blair, meanwhile, was looking forward to his new role and admitted retirement has been on the cards since he stepped on the podium in Glasgow, little under two years ago.

The county star said: “I wanted to put something back into the sport. Most people thought I had already retired but I had made up my mind in recent weeks. It’s about my fifth retirement!

“I suppose the Commonwealth Games would have been the natural point for stopping.

"However, I thought it only fair to give Adam the chance to experience the Europeans before I called a halt. It was a nice transition and a nice way to finish (by winding down) rather than just stopping.

“I have been working with the young Scotland players for a while but now it is on a formal basis.”

Blair can look back on a highly successful career with 2006 a key year as he won European bronze with Anthony Clark before they went on to win an outstanding world silver medal while he represented England.

He formed successful partnerships with both Chris and Gabby Adcock, Natalie Munt and, most recently, Bankier.

Together, Blair and Bankier won three Scottish Open Grand Prix titles and three Yonex Scottish National titles to go with his three men’s doubles titles with Gordon Thomson, fellow Longniddry ace Paul Van Rietvelde and Hall.

He also won a Scottish Open men’s doubles title with David Lindley.

Blair, who had begun playing when eight at his mum Irene's badminton classes, said: “I enjoyed success with both Gabby and Chris and, of course, had a long journey with Imo with us both effectively finishing together.”

“Winning the bronze medal with Imogen at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was special because it was a chance for my family and school friends to share my success.

"That made it really satisfying."

Robert’s Career Highlights

2001 and 2002 Scottish Open mixed doubles title with Natalie Munt

2006 European bronze and World silver men’s doubles medals with Anthony Clark

2007 Scottish Open men’s doubles title with David Lindley

2007, 2013 and 2014 Scottish Open mixed doubles title with Imogen Bankier

2014 Commonwealth Games mixed doubles bronze with Imogen Bankier

Yonex Scottish National titles

2013, 2014 and 2016 men’s doubles champion with Gordon Thomson, Paul Van Rietvelde and Adam Hall respectively

2014, 2015 and 2016 Mixed doubles champion with Imogen Bankier

International caps

54 for England

19 for Scotland