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Just champion as Charles lands SHGA title double at Inverkeithing
The sun shone on the Ballast Bank for the Inverkeithing Highland Games, the final event of the season on the Fife circuit.
On the track it was cyclist Charles Fletcher who was in sparkling form as he added the SHGA Scottish 6400 metres and 4800 metres titles to his haul for the season which now stands at five following wins in the 8000m at Markinch, 1500m at Ceres and 3200m at Alva. The only title he missed out on was the 800m at Halkirk last Saturdaya race he didn't contest as he was competitng down South in the British Championships. The Grantown on Spey rider was pushed all the way on the red ash track at Inverkeithing, in the 4800 metres Gavin Shirley [Castle Douglas] only went down by the length of a bike with the previous years winner Stewart Burke[Limekilns] close up in third. There was another close finish to the 6400 metres with this time Burke second and Shirley third
Ther latter again chased Fletcher home in the Deil tak the Hindmost with Craig Hamilton[Edinburgh] thuird.Hamilton recorded a rare win with victory in the opening 800 metres from Paul Gallacher[Kirkcaldy] and Stewart Burke. Another close finish came in the 1600 metres handicap, veteran Ian Grant Grant[Glenrothes] looked like he was going to record his first ever win on the games circuit only to be snared in the shadow of the winning post by James Melville [Alexandria], Stevie Jackson[Strathaven] who was returning to action following a bad injury to his finger earlier in the season finished in third place. Three riders contested the three Youth bike races on the card. The SHGA 800 metres championship was won by Reubens Thomson [Grampian Tigers], Declan Sangster [Grampian Tigers] took the 1600 metres handivap with Ross Easthaugh[Grampian Tigers] the victor in the one lap handicap.
Top prize in the running events is the £250 which goes to the winner in the 90 metres handicap. Following a photo finish nothing could seperate last years winner Fraser Neil[Kelso] and Alistair Moriarty[Pitreavie AC]and a dead-heat was called, John Fleming[Kelso] completed the podium prizes. There was local success in the Youth 90 metres with Ross Voss, [Dunfermline Track Club] coming through from the backmark to pip Lewis Fleming[Kelo] and Kyle McFarlane[Pitreavie AC].
There was a female 1 – 2 in the 200 metres handicap with TLJT duo Nina Cessford and Natasha Turnbull coming home ahead of Daniel Paxton, [Hawick Kyle McFarlane continued his fine form in sprint events racing to victory in the Youth 200 metres from Lewis Fleming and Ross Voss. There was a good field for the 400 metres which saw Daniel Paxton power down the home straight to take the tape ahead of Colin Welsh[Kelso] and Aiden Quinn[Glasgow].Colin Welsh produced a fine performance from the backmark in the 800 metres but again had to settle for the runners up spot behind Sean Bates [tullibody] Jordan Taylor[Hawick won the battle for 4rd place. The 1600 metres handicap saw John Thomson[Glenrothes] follow up his win at St Andrews from the previous week, front marker Kevin Wood[TLJT] finished runner up with back marker Ron Loewen [Canada running a great race to finish third, but similar to St Andrews found the handicap just too mich to make up.
The Youths' 800 metres saw Jason White[TLJT] spreadeagle the field to cross the finish line well clear of Connor McLeod[Hawick RP] and Lucy Nuttal[Anstruther]. In the Youth 1600 metres, Rhys Nuttal the brother of Lucy defended his title but was made to battle all the way to the line to hold off the rapidly closing backmarker Thomas McCaskill[Hawick] with Mattie Fleming[Kelso] in third.
A field of six competitors contested the heavy events and similar to Airth Games the previous week the man in foerm was Dan Carlin, Renfrew who won seven of the eight disciplines. The only one to elude him was the 56lb weight for distance which was won by Craig Winslow[Dumbarton].
Published: 2019-08-03 22:13:11
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