Scottish Highland Games Association

RED ASH SPRINT GLORY FOR LAURA writes Shane Fenton.

16 year old Laura McCracken, East Kilbride AC recorded her first win in Open competition by blazing up the red ash track at Inverkeithing Highland Games to take the £250 top prize in the Open 90 metres Handicap.

Running from a mark of 17 metres Laura eliminated New Year Sprint winner Martyn Paterson in her heat breaking the tape in 9.31 seconds.
The only female in the six runner final she improved her time to 9.23 seconds, and she needed to, to hold on by a whisker from Graeme Armstrong, Edinburgh and Lee Goodfellow, Earlston.

Armstrong, now 55 holds a unique record of having played more Scottish football league matches than anyone else.

There was local success with Pitreavie AC's Lewis Hunter landing both the 200 metres and 400 metres Handicaps.

One of the races of the day was the scratch Jim Fraser Memorial Mile, it developed into a three way battle between Andrew Chrighton, Edinburgh, Lachlan Oates, Shettleston AC and Borderer Colin Welsh, it was Chrighton and Oates, who less than 24 hrs earlier had ran at the Metric Mile meeting at Scotstoun who dictated the pace with the powerful Welsh waiting in the wings.
All three were still in contention at the bell, however when Welsh upped the anti in the back straight Oates was first to crack and dropped off, as they turned for home the Kelso man also staved off the re-newed challenge of Chrighton before going on to snap the worsted in 4 minutes 27.20 seconds.

Consolation awaited the minor placed runners with Oates taking the £110 winners prize in the 800 metres Handicap with Chrighton gaining similar reward in the 1600 metres Handicap.

Top prize on offer for the youth atletes was the £100 on for the winner of the Tom Oliver Memorial 200 metres Handicap and it went to 13 year old Lauren Thomson, Fife AC, Lauren is the grand daughter of 1964 New Year Sprint winner Bill McClelland, East Wemyss, a great competitor in his day with over 300 competion wins in both running and jumping.

It was a good day for the female competitors with 12 year old Eve Huxley, Innerleithen taking the Youth's 90 metres Handicap in a time of 10.15 from the 19 metres mark.

Lothian Running Club's Iain Horsburgh went home £90 richer, the 12 year old landed an 800 metres [2m 04.71 sec] and 1600 metres [4m 36.78sec] double.

With nine Highland Games taking place on Saturday there were only four heavy event competitors but there was still some top class throwing and it was a joust between Poland and Scotland.

The overal winner with four firsts and two equal firsts was Sebastien Wenta who won the 22lb shot putt, 28lb and 56lb weight for distance, 22lb hammer, he also shared the top spot in the Caber with Gregor Edmonds and the 56lb for height again with Gregor and also his brother Lukasz.
Edmunds and Wenta also had individual wins in the 16lb hammer amd 16lb shot respectively. Willie Falconer took 4th place in all the events.

Inverkeithing Games is unique on the SHGA circuit in that it is the only red ash track and the cyclists love whizzing around it.
Tim Allan, Glenrothes showed his liking for it by taking the Scottish 6400 metres Champioship as well as the 800 metres Handicap, there was also a double for Gordon Murdoch with wins in both the 1600 metres and 3200 metres handicaps.
Craig Hardie Dalgety Bay took the concluding Deil tak the Hindmost.