News Archive
GAMES ACTION THRILLS THE CROWDS AT SUNNY BRIDGE OF ALLAN writes SHANE FENTON.
A huge field of competitors enjoyed perfect conditions to compete in front of a crowd of near 10,000 people for prize money of £17,300 at the 159th Bridge of Allan[Strathallan Meeting] Highland Games on Sunday August 8th.
Quite a number were athletes competing at highland games for the first time and certainly not the last as they lapped up the unique atmosphere as the crowds cheered them on as well as all the other games regulars.
The £600 top prize in the Open 90 metres handicap saw Jedburgh's Iskan Barskanmay race to victory in a time of 9.38 seconds to edge out the veteran Jimmy Beattie from Kelty and Sean Harris Crosshill.
There was also a Borders first two in the 200 metres where 16 year old Craig Gillan got up in the shadow of the post to pip Ross Borthwick Hawick to take the £125 prize in 20.75 seconds.
There was a female 1-2 in the 800 metres with American athlete Natalie McKenzie and Lothian Running Club's Mhairi Inglis who had won over the distance the previous day at the Inverkeithing Games duelling over the last 200 metres, it was the Yank who prevailed in the closing stages to land the £150 prize with Inglis [£60] having to settle for the runner-up spot with Craig Bell Forfar in third.
There was nearly a man and wife 1-2 in the 1600 metres handicap with Andy Brown Edinburgh who was giving his wife Joanna [Ross] Brown a start of 195 metres looking set to land the spoils however a late surge by Lachlan Oates Shettleston saw him snatch second behind Andy with Joanna close up in third in a race that had the big crowd on their feet.
Oates gained consolation in the 3200 metres handicap, throughout the race he and SHGA 3200 Metres champion Robert Inglis Lothian Running Club matched strides before the Glasgow athlete pulled clear over the last 1000 metres to take the £100 prize with Inglis [£50] in second place and Fifer Kenny Anderson running on through beaten runners for third.
There was over £1000 prize money for the youth under 16 events [see results page for all the winners] who also all received a trophy.
The junior boy athlete of the day was Jacob Lineen son of Scots rugby internationalist Sean with Nicola Kellock Lothian RC the junior female of the day.
The cycle events thrilled the big crowd with backmarker Craig Hardie their hero the Dalgety Bay biker was giving away big starts to all his rivals but still managed to win three of the four races with the other being won by local Andy Turnbull from Stirling.
Anthony Daffrun won both the long jump and triple jump events which earned him £120 while in the heavy events Polish brothers Sebastien and Lucas Wenta had the upper hand over their Scottish couterparts with the overall title going to Lucas by half a point over his brother Seb with Gregor Edmunds Glasgow in third.
SHANE FENTON
Published: 2010-08-09 22:17:57
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our Sponsors
