Scottish Highland Games Association

ROSNEATH ROUND UP TWIN REPORT FROM SHANE FENTON & CRAIG DUNBAR

ROSNEATH ROUND UP By Shane Fenton

Former New Year Sprint winner Graeme Lister , Dalgety Bay raced to victory in the 90 metres handicap at the Rosneath Peninsula Games on Sunday[20th July].Lister broke the tape in 10.07 seconds to snatch the verdict over Tommy Finkle, and Jack Wilson, Hawick, the latter also finished in a similar position in the 200 metres where victory went to front marker Keith Redpath in 22.70s, Martin Barr made it an East Kilbride AC 1 - 2 finishing runner up.

Rory Anderson, Hawick staved off the challenge of Dean Whiteford, Innerleithen and Wallace McGown, Sauchie to win the 400 metres handicap in 50.26 secs.

There was a clean sweep for Border athletes in the 800m handicap with Stewart Fraser coming home ahead of Hawick duo Kenny Short and Rory Anderson in2:01.95.
Fife redressed the balance in the 1600 metres handicap with victory going to Fergus McGaw, Dunfermline who crossed the finish line in 4:19.92 with Jordan Taylor, Hawick and and backmarker Matthew Turner, Shettleston filling the minor berths.

Similar to the previous day at Balloch, Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay landed a 3200 metres and Deil double, Conor Nally, Yorryburn won the 800 metres with Charles Fletcher, Grantown on Spey sussessful in the 1600 metres.

Scott Rider who retained his World title the previous day at Loch Lomond once again emerged the overall winner in the heavy events. Rider who will represent England at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games won three events at Howie Park, the 16lb Hammer, Caber and 28lb Weight for Distancs. Lukasz Wenta won both light and heavy shot putts and shared first place with his brother Sebastien in the 56 over the bar, Sebastien also won the 22lb hammer.

Games Report (2) by Craig Dunbar

What a difference a day makes, as the sun shone throughout the day on the Howie Park for the 2014 Rosneath Peninsula Highland Games. With its biggest entry of athletes in recent memory, the games were blessed with both good competition and good weather. As predicted, a number of the runners had stayed over from the previous day’s meeting on Loch Lomondside and came along to swell the numbers taking part. The local heavyweights were also up in number and quality with TJ Graham taking the overall prize.

As a portent of things to come, Craig Hardie of Dalgety Bay took the first cycle event of the day, the Dunbartonshire 1000m cycle championship and received the Babcock winner’s sash from Site Director Peter Merriman after his winning performance in a time of 1min 56.73 seconds. He went on to win the 3200 metres and the Deil – possibly his best event but Connor Nally – also cycling in Hardie colours - took the 800 metres handicap and Charles Fletcher the 1600 metres to ensure that the Hardinator did not have it all his own way.

Rory Anderson from Hawick won the Hill Race – just – in just over 24 minutes in his first attempt at this event. The Open Sprint had a close finish with former New Year Sprint Winner, Graeme Lister of Dalgety Bay (7m) breaking the tape in a time of 10.07 seconds. The 200 metres was won by that wily veteran, Keith Redpath, who has been covering himself in quite a bit of glory in the 1600 metres races in the Borders this year with 3 wins under his belt. Dropping back to the 200, albeit on front mark, seemed to pose no issues for him. Fresh from his run on the hill, Rory Anderson took the 400 metres from a field of 14, one of the best seen at Rosneath for this race. Stewart Fraser, originally from Hawick but now serving with the forces ion Paderborn in Germany, took the Open 800 metres, going one better than his performance the previous day at Innerleithen, in a very respectable time of 2 minutes 01.95 seconds. Fergus McGaw from Dunfermline won the Open 1600 metres and also received a Babcock sash for his efforts, his winning time being 4 minutes 19.82 seconds. And after all this, a 6 team relay thrilled the crowds albeit the winning team did seem to do so with perhaps too much ease!!!!

A quality field of heavyweight athletes including newly re-crowned SHGA World Champion Scott Rider entertained the crowd for almost 5 hours. He narrowly won the overall points prize as the Best Heavyweight of the Day by just 2 points. On his way to victory though, he won the individual events in light hammer, weight for distance and caber with a perfect 12 midday toss. He is going to represent England in the shot putt at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this month and is apparently reserve for the steeplechase. Not sure I immediately see the connection, but we wish him well!!!

Craig Dunbar.

Full results:

http://www.shga.co.uk/downloads/Rosneath%202014%202.pdf

Published: 2014-07-20 21:15:40