Scottish Highland Games Association

TREBLES FOR FLETCHER & BATES AT CERES

Shane Fenton reports from the Bow Butts

Despite the threat of a shower or two a good crowd surrounded the Bow Butts for the 702nd anniversary of the Ceres Highland Games. To add to the thrill, all the action takes place within the tight confines of a 200 metres circuit. A full programme of running, cycling, wrestling, heavy events, tug o war, highland dancing, solo piping and a pipe band kept everyone entertained.

The entry in the heavy events was boosted to nine competitors following to the unfortunate cancelation of the Drumtochty Highland Games due to a water-logged park.

The biggest prize of the day was the £200 which goes to the winner of the Open 90 metres handicap and it was won by Jack Beattie,Rosyth who broke the tape in 9.92 seconds just ahead of Tommy Finkle,Jedburgh and recent Hawick sprint winner Graeme Armstrong, Edinburgh who was also third 12 months ago.

The 200 metres handicap was won from the back mark by Lee Goodfellow, the TLJT runner who was second last year got up in the closing stages to collar Graeme Armstrong, and Geoff Keen,Selkirk in 23.11.

There was good fields for both the Open 800 metres and 1600 metres handicaps, The 800 saw a return to form for Colin Welsh,Kelso who turned in a sterling performance in working his way through the 12 runner field from the 25 metre mark before snapping the worsted in 1 minute 59.70 seconds, Euan Martin,Falkirk Victoria who has been a welcome addition to the games circuit this season finished 2nd with the consistent Rory Anderson,Hawick in 3rd.

The latter occupied the same position in the 1600m where victory went to Willie Rennie,Kelty who held off the late charge from Dean Whiteford,Innerleithen, the Scottish Lib-Dem leader is no stranger to the winners enclosure at Ceres following his win in the 3000 metres 12 months ago.Rennie's winning time from a handicap of 250 metres was 4:29.19.

The longest race on the card was the 3000 metres and it developed into a good contest with Dean Whiteford getting the better of Rebecca Burns,Edinburgh AC on the last lap with backmarker Craig Robertson,Pitreavie AC staying on for 3rd place. Whiteford stopped the watch at 8:44.21.

In the Youth races Sean Bates,Tullibody had a field day winning all three events on the card.

In the 90 metres he held on to edge out Samantha Turnbull,Peebles in 10.74 with 9 year old Lucy Nuttal,Anstruther in third. Bates was forced to run all the way to the line in the 200 metres to overhaul Gaspard Lecrivain,Aberdeen in 24.09, Samantha Turnbull was again in the frame with a third place finish.There was a similar 1 – 2 in the 800 metres with Sean crossing the line in 2:13.33, front-marker Lucy Nuttal held on to pick up her second 3rd place prize of the day.

Despite there being only five competitors there was some good races among the bikers, and this year, despite the slippy under-wheel conditions there was no spills which is unusual for the tight Bow Butts circuit. Charles Fletcher,Grantown on Spey is very much the man in form at present, he followed up his recent treble at Strathmore Games with another three wins here, the highlight being the Scottish Highland Games Association 1600 metres Championship where he powered home ahead of James Melville ,Dumbarton and Dan Clark,Newburgh. Fletcher also won the 3000 metres and Deil tak the Hindmost events but had to settle for second place in the 800 metres behind James Melville. Ian Hepburn,Cairneyhill and Davy Mathieson,Newburgh were also among the prizes.

There was some good competition in the throwing event with 9 competitors in action,as previously stated many had re-routed following the unfortunate cancallation of the Drumtochty Games due to water logging.

There was a three way tie in the 56lb weight for height between Sinclair Patience, Lorne Colthart and Kyle Randalls. Lorne Coltart took the shot putt with a throw of 53' 1''. and was also victorious in the traditional caber. The caber for distance as well as the 56lb for distance were won by Sinclair Patience. Jamie Gunn made the long journey from Halkirk worthwhile with victory in the Sheaf Pitching.

Full results:http://www.shga.co.uk/cms/upload/file/Ceresresults2016.pdf

Published: 2016-06-25 20:35:34