Scottish Highland Games Association

ENGLISH TRIO CREATE GAMES HISTORY AT PERTH

SHANE FENTON reports from the North Inch

A dry, warm and wind free day attracted a huge crowd to the North Inch for the annual Perth Highland Games.

There was good fields for the running, cycling and heavy events while outwith the main arena hundreds of highland dancers and almost 50 pipe bands entertained the crowds. Tug of War, Solo Pipng and a Drum Majors contest also took place.

On the running track highland games history was made when the first three postions in the 3200 metres handicap was occupied by non Scottish athletes. It is thought this is the first time this has occurred in any Open handicap race on the games circuit.

The race was won in impressive fashion by Alexander Short, Bedford & County AC, running from the backmark of 80 metres the Englishman's performance also won him the 'athlete of the day' award. Short strode around the track majestically before stopping the clock at 9m 09.01 seconds.

Following him over the line was his fellow countrymen Joshua Entwhistle, Felixstowe Road Runners and Peter Hodkinson, Stella Mountain Runners.

Earlier in the programme Short and Entwhistle finished runner up and third in the 1500 metres handicap behind Dean Whiteford, Innerleithen.

Rory Anderson,Hawick has performed consistently over the season and he chalked up another win with victory in the 800 metres handicap from Willie Bates,Tullibody and Corey Smith, Pitreavie AC.

The £200 first prize in the 90 metres handicap went to Tommy Finkle, Jedburgh who snared front marker Megan Shiel, TLJT on the line with Conor Gillon in 3rd place.

The all-scratch SHGA Scottish 90m championship was won in good style by Greg Turnbull,TLJT from Liam Halliday,Central AC and Cameron Grieve,TLJT.

Wallace McGown,Sauchie is currently in a fine vein of form, following a couple of wins in 800 metres events he dropped back in distance to win the 200 metres from Geoff Keen,Selkirk and Tam Bradley,Leith. The 400 metres provided Charlie Carstairs, Lasswade AC with his third victory of the weekend following wins over 200m and 400m the previous day at Inverkeithing.

The Youth's 90 metres resulted in a 1-2-3 for Jed AC runners with Aiden Bambrick winning from Shellee Fojick and Brodie Cowan. The Youth's 200 metres saw front marker Helen Dickson,North Shields hang on determindly to hold off back marker Kieran Halliday, Central AC, the latter was giving the victor a start of 52 metres!

There was further female front running success in the Youth's 800 metres with Ellie Cooper, Jed AC holding off all challengers to cross the finish line ahead of Alice Avey,Rushden and Bailey Todd, Kelso. The latter also finished runner up in the Youths 1600 metres after being out-sprinted by Sean Bates, Tullibody over the final 200 metres.

9 cyclists contested the five races on the North Inch and there were doubles for Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay and Charles Fletcher, Grantown on Spey. Following James Melville's win in the opening 800 metres Fletcher won both the 3200 and 4800 metres handicaps with Hardie triumphing in the Scottish 1000 metres championship and Deil tak the Hindmost.

There was a good field of competitors for the heavy events with Lukasz Wenta emerging as the overall winner. He had wins in the 16lb and 22lb shot putt, 28lb weight for distance and caber, Kyle Randalls won both the 16lb and 22lb hammer competitions with Sebastien Wenta the victor in the 56lb weight over the bar.

The team from Elgin were the Tug o War champions on the day with Moffat Builders second and Mount Blair third.

Results from all events are now on the results page.

Published: 2015-08-09 22:03:59