Scottish Highland Games Association

Title contenders among the points at Blairgowrie

SHANE FENTON reports from Bogles Field

Bogles Field was the venue for the penultimate SHGA Games of the season at Blairgowrie.

Overcast conditions gave way to the odd blink of warm sunshine from time to time and a good crowd made their way along Lethendy Road for the various competitions which were taking place in and outwith the main arena.

The destinations of a few of the titles and place prizes in the various SHGA leagues are still undecided so it was no surprise to see a few of those in contention in action on foot and on bikes.

It's as you were at the head of the Women's league, prior tp Braemar the previous day, Samantha Turnbull,TLJT led Rebecca Burns,Edinburgh AC by 2 points, the latter had a good day at the Royal meeting where she amassed 7 points to take a 5 point lead. With only the Grand finale at Pitlochry to come this Saturday Samantha knew she had to have a good day at Bogles Field, and indeed she did with victory in he Open 90 metres handicap and finishing in third place in the 200 metres.

The final of the 90m saw current SHGA sprint league winner David Allan ,Clydesdale AC also make the 5 runner final where he just failed to overhaul Samantha finishing in second place and notching up three more crucial points in his quest for league glory. Third place went to the fast finishing Charlie Carstairs,Lasswade AC.

It was the kick-start of a good afternoon for the latter who went on to land the 200 metres/400 metres double. The evidence of the camera was required to determined the outcome of the 200 metres, and after a lengthy deliberation it showed Carstairs had prevailed by a whisker from David Allan and Samantha Turnbull.No photo was required for the 400 metres with Carstairs striding clear down the home straight to take the tape in 48.42 with David Allan once again chasing him home, Willie Bates,Tullibody,Chris Miller,TLJT and Colin Bruce ,Selkirk filled the minor berths.

Selkirk was well represented in the Youth events with a quartet of youngsters from the David Knox school in action, and they went away with a good share of the prizes. In the Youth 90 metres the duo of Hamish Simpson and Emma Currie finished second and third after being snared on the line by backmarker Sol Stewart,VP Glasgow who turned in an impressive performance to claim the first prize in 9.98 seconds from the 4 metres mark.Stewart was denied the double in the Youth 200 metres, giving away starts of up to 60 metres he finished runner up, after a brilliant effort he was just pipped on the line by Emma Currie,Selkirk with Esme Bowers also from the Borders town in third.

There was a terrific finish to the Open 1600 metres with three runners battling it out all the way down the home run, as they hit the line it was Sean Bates,Tullibody who took the tape edging out his dad Willie and Colin Lamont,Pitreavie AC. There was a Forfar first and third in the Open 800 metres handicap with Craig Bell now in his 41st year on the circuit taking the win in 1;58.88, Willie Bates chased him over the line with Scott Douglas,Forfar in third.

Colin Lamont produced a fine run run to win the 3200 metres handicap from triathlete Robbie Harrison ,Rattray and Sean Bates.

Hannah Steel Lothian RC was also on the quest for points to maintain her second spot in the Youth over-400 metres league, the West Calder athlete has performed consistently on the games circuit all season and came through from the backmark to win the Youth 800 metres handicap from Steven Bates,Tullibody and Esme Bowers,Selkirk.

Hannah's win recalled memories of her club mate Sarah Inglis who also at Blairgowrie became the first and so far the only female to win a mixed gender handicap race open or youth on the games circuit from the scratch mark when she won the Youth's 1600 metres as a 14 year old 13 years ago.
The Lothian runner had to settle for the runers up spot in the 1600 metres behind Steven Bates who won in 4:55.63.,brother and sister Rhys and Lucy Nuttal, Anstruther finished third and fourth.

The leading protagonists in both the Open and Youth cycle leagues were in action, open league leader Charles Fletcher,Grantown on Spey maintained his push for the title with wins in both the 3200 metres handicap and Deil tak the Hindmost.Ryan Kier,Newburgh had a good win in the 1600 metres with Paul Anderson,Perth racing home ahead of the field in the 800 metres.The latter picked up a total of 7pts which moved him up to 4th place – the final prize place- in the SHGA league. Paul Gallacher,Kirkcaldy picked up 8pts with two second places and a third, with only Pitlochry remaing the Lang Toun rider looks nailed on for second place in the standings behind Charles Fletcher.Dave Mathieson who produced his annual supply of Newburgh plums along with Martin Atkinson completed the cycle line up. 6 riders also contested the Youth races, the 800 metres saw Isaac Small,Grampian Tigers power through from the backmark to win the 800 metres from his club mate Reubens Thomson with Rory Thiel,Discovery Dundee in third.There was thrilling finish to the 1600 metres with Thomson forcing his bike over the line ahead of Thiel with Small closing rapidly in third.

There was a good field of competitors for the heavy events and not for the first time this season it was Lukasz Wenta,East Kilbide who dominated winning 6 of the 8 events.Lukasz who is on course to being the first athlete to rack up 1000 points in the SHGA league won the 16lb and 22lb shot putt, 56lb weight over bar and 56lb and 28lb weight for distance as well as the caber. Murdo Masterson,Dunbeg landed the 16lb and 22lb hammer double with Stuart Anderson Lochearnhead following up his good day at Birnam the previous week with four second places and three thirds at Blair.

The team from Strathardle were the victors in the Tug of War.

Published: 2018-09-02 21:43:21