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Fifers to the fore at a wet Inverkeithing
FIFERS TO THE FORE AT A WET INVERKEITHING
SHANE FENTON reports from the Ballast Bank
The curtain came down on the final Fife games of the season at Inverkeithing on Saturday, unfortunately so did the rain. The only consolation was, that it kept the dust from flying from the Ballast Bank 400 metres red ash track.
There was an unusual occurence in the running events, for the first time on the games circuit in as long as i can remember there was six Fifers in the final of a 90 metres handicap.
Victory and a prize of £250 went to backmarker David Brand, Pitreavie AC who powered through from the 6 metres mark to snap the worsted in 9.80 seconds to edge out Jack Beattie, Rosyth with former New Year Sprint winner Graeme Lister in 3rd, Glenn Murray, Cairneyhill, Nick Mitchell, Glenrothes and Sarah Ross, Pitreavie AC made up the Fife sextet.
In contrast to the 90m it was the frontmarker who triumphed in the 200 metres with Keith Redpath, East Kilbride AC holding off all challengers to cross the finish line in 21.87 seconds. Lister finished runner-up with Graeme Gibson, Pitreavie AC in 3rd.
Graeme Lister finally got into the winners enclosure with victory in the 400 metres, a win that also clinched him the Fife Games points league title, Rory Muir, Dundee Hawkhill chased him home in 2nd place with Australian visitor David Wood in 3rd.
Innerleithen's Dean Whiteford is enjoying another good season on the games circuit and that continued with wins in both the 800 metres and 1500 metres handicaps. In the short race he burst clear of the field to win in 1m 55.05s with Rory Muir and Kobe Stevens, Moorfoot filling the minor berths. There was a three way tussle in the 1600 metres with Whiteford again prevaling to stop the clock at 4m 24.35s with Willie Bates, Tullibody and John Thomson, Glenrothes 2nd and 3rd.
There was a close finish to the Youth's 90m handicap with Connor Gillan, Kelso winning for the first time on the Highland Games circuit, running from a start of 8.5 metres he broke the tape in 10.10s from Jake Houten, Cadrona with Samantha Turnbull, Peebles in 3rd making it a Borders 1-2-3.
The Youth's 200 metres produced a thrilling finish with Jake Houten all out to hold off the fast finishing Eve Huxley, Innerleithen in 23.57 seconds with Billy Doyle, Pitreavie AC in 3rd.
Sean Bates, Tullibody who currently leads the SHGA league for youth distance events put more points on the board with a win in the Youth's 800 metres, his time of 1m 53.06 seconds saw him home ahead of games debutant Campbell Downie, Pitreavie AC and Olivia Rodden, Innerleithen. Bates had to settle for the runners up spot in the 1600 metres where victory went to Euan Hood, Moorfoot in 4m 27.79s.
There was a big field of 12 cyclists in the Open races with the highlight being the Scottish 6400 metres Championship which was won in a thrilling finish by Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay who only had a bike length to spare over Charles Fletcher, Grantown on Spey in 2nd with Dougie Shaw, Edinburgh close up in 3rd. James Melville , Dumbarton showed his liking for the red ash with wins in both the 1600 metres and 3200 metres handicaps he also finished runner up in the Deil tak the Hindmost behind Neil Withington, Carlisle who was making his seasonal debut on the circuit. Edward Fletcher, Grantown on Spey took the opening 800 metres.
Both the Youth cycle races were won by Dylan Lindsay, Glenrothes.
There was an international field in the heavy events with Sebastien Wenta, Poland emerging as the overall winner from his brother Lukasz. Also competing was former Olympian Scott Martin from Australia who is the coach of the New Zealand throws squad which won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Martin who won the shot putt at Inverkeithing hopes to compete at five games over the next week before returning home.
Interview with Scott Martin (Australia)
Published: 2014-08-02 18:46:08
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