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Rain stays away as Stirling enjoys a successful Games
SHANE FENTON reports from Stirling Sports Village.
Apart from a brief shower midway through proceedings the weather remained dry and mild and a good crowd turned up at the Games Park within Stirling Sports Village for the annual Stirling Highland Games and associated events.
Thankfully for the competitors there was no repeat of the previous year when the running/cycling track turned very muddy in places.
There was an excellent turn out of competitors for all the track and field events. The final of the Open 90 metrres handicap produced a thrilling finish with Scottish Pole Vault champion Jax Thoirs VP Glasgow edging the top prize by inches from recent St Andrews sprint winner Ryan Elliot,Hawick with Praise Olatoke,Kilbarchan who was runner up the previous week in the Scottish Athletics 100 metres championship close up in third.
Ryan Elliot has had a successful spell on the circuit in recent weeks and that continued with a fine victory in the Open 200 metres handicap when he got up close home to deny SHGA points league leader David Allan,Cldesdale with Samanthe Turnbull,TLJT in third, the latter currently leads the Women's league.
Edouard Lecrivain,Aberdeen AC who was running at his penultimate games of the season continued his recent fine vein of form to win the Open 400 metres producing a strong run to hold off Luke Traynor,Giffnock North and David Allan.
There was a good field of 13 runers in the Open 800 metres and it was won by Willie Bates,Tullibody who was following up his recent Bridge of Allan win over the same distance, he just held on as David Allan would have snatched victory in another stride, Matthew Fleming,Kelso was just behind in third.
In the Open 1600 metres a marking error probably cost backmarker Luke Traynor his third victory from three runs over that distance this season, games debutant Ben McMillan Central AC was unsure where his mark was I told him 125m just behind Fraser Logan and Gaspard Lecrivain, it wasn't until the race was underway we noticed something wasn't right and he had actually started 125m from the start/finish line, which was in front of where he should have been. Despite a gallant effort from Luke who was runner up there was no way he was going to reel in the winner. An unfortunate inincident, but sometimes these things happen.
There was a good turn out of Youth athletes despite the Scottish Athletics age group championships taking place in Aberdeen.. The 90 metres was won by Josh Landers,Innerleithen who got the verdict over Leah Denholm,Clydesdale and Tiegan Gibb,Leithenburn. There was success for the latter club in the 200 metres with victory going to Lauren Nightingale who held on gamely from backmarker Eric Escala Central AC and Thomas Beck TLJT.
The 400 metres and 800 metres were both won by Mattie Fleming Kelso, the Border youngster has been in fine form and wasn't winning out of turn, in the 800m he came home ahead of Steven Bates,Tullibody and Grace Linton,Leithenburn. Despite running from a reduced mark in the 400 metres he strode out well to hold off Bridge of Allan winner Lily Simon Pitreavie AC and Josh McDonald,Leithenburn.
There was an excellent Long and Tripl;e Jump competition. The Triple Jump was won by Scotland's top ranked high jumper Allan Smith with a jump of 43' from Jax Thoirs and Praise Olatoke, the latter was the victor in the Long Jump leaping out to 19' 7'' Thoirs was again second with Smith third.
The cyclists enjoyed much better under-wheel conditions than 12 months ago, the man in form was Kirkcaldy rider Paul Gallacher who landed a treble, In the 800 he held on by half a wheel from Paul Anderson,Perth with Ryan Keir,Newburgh in third. The latter won his first race of the season with victory in the 1600 with Gallacher runner up and newcomer Cameron Watson,Stirling in third. The latter was again third in the 3200 metres which Gallacher won from James Melville. The Lang Toun rider completed his treble with a comfortable win in the Deil from Paul Anderson and James Melville.
There was an enthralling heavy events competition with 9 throwers keeping the crowds entertained all afternoon. Emerging as the overall winner was Kyle Randalls Falkirk who won the 16lb and 22lb shot putt and 16lb and 22lb hammer competitions as well as the 56lb weight over the bar. Jamie Gunn Halkirk was successful in the Caber with Craig Sinclair,Banchory the victor in the 56lb weight for distance. Completing the 'heavies' field was Murdo Masterson,Dunbeg,David Colthart jnr,Blair Atholl,Gordon Tanner,Glasgow,Chris Beetham,Tullibody and Dumbarton duo Craig Winslow and TJ Graham.
Published: 2018-08-18 22:37:47
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