Scottish Highland Games Association

THORNTON REPORT, RESULTS AND VIDEOS

LOWIS 'GRADUATES' TO SPRINT TITLE AT SUNNY THORNTON

Shane Fenton reports from Memorial Park

Memorial Park was bathed in sunshine for the 161st Thornton Highland Gathering on Saturday.
Competition on the running track was also hot with some excellent racing.

The £200 prize for the winner of the Open 90 metres handicap stayed in Fife with Jon Lowis, Kirkcaldy who graduated the previous day, edging out Billy Martin ,Markinch and Graeme Armstrong, Edinburgh in 9.77 seconds, female athletes made up the remainder of the 6 runner final with Martha Douglas,Jedburgh, Sonya Pollard,Australia and Mhairi Henderson, TLJT finishing 4th, 5th & 6th respectively.

The Open 200 metres produced another humdinger of a finish with last weeks Ceres sprint winner Jack Wilson, Hawick snaring Graeme Armstrong and Martha Douglas on the line in 19.70s.
There was another Borders win in the Open 400 metres with Andrew Thomson, Jedburgh producing a strong run to come home clear of Willie Bates,Tullibody and Billy Martin, Markinch in 48.61 seconds.

The middle-distance races produced exciting finishes for the crowd, there was a field of 10 runners for the 800 metres handicap which was won from the backmark by Rory Muir, Dundee Hawkhill who timed his run to perfection to break the tape in 1 minute 52.64 seconds, Andrew Douglas and Willie Bates filled the minor berths.

With half a lap to run in the 1600 metres handicap anyone of four athletes could have won but it was16 year old Bradley Scott, Callander who prevailed in 4 minutes 26.44 seconds, on this showing and his run in the 3200 metres the Queen Victoria School, Dunblane pupil will be a welcome addition to the distance running ranks on the Games circuit. Scott looked to have the 3200 metres in the bag until Dean Whiteford, Innerleithen who is currently in a fine vein of form produced his trademark last lap burst to take the honours in 9 minutes 59.61 seconds with Scott only a couple of strides behind in second and Craig Bell in third.

Three of the four Youth races were won by athletes who had made the journey up from the Borders. In the 90 metres Jessica Wodehouse got the decision over her Leithenburn club mate Bryony Patterson in 9.47 seconds with Cameron Fisher, Jedburgh in third. The latter gained revenge in the 200 metres as he overhauled Wodehouse in the shadow of the winning post in 21.77 seconds with Aiden Bambrick, Jedburgh third.

There was further Leithenburn success in the 800 metres with Craig Angus racing to victory in 1 minute 53.70 seconds, Jack Amos, Jedburgh and Lewis Blair, Pitreavie AC followed him over the line in 2nd and 3rd place. Blair gave the Fifers something to cheer by racing to victory in the 1600 metres after getting the better of Sean Bates, Tullibody and Craig Angus in 4 minutes 28.89 seconds.

Due to other games being on at Luss and Forres and some riders being down in England to spectate at the Tour de France only a handful of cyclists contested the four races on the card, Lewis Oliphant, Edinburgh landed a treble with wins in the 1600 metres, 3200 metres and 4800 metres with Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay taking the concluding Deil tak the Hindmost.

Five competitors contested the heavy events with Kyle Randalls, Grangemouth and Heisi Geirmundsson, Iceland winning three events apiece, Randalls claimed first place in the 16lb and 22lb hammer as well as the 56lb weight over the bar with the Icelander victorious in 16lb and 22lb shot putt and Caber. Stuart Anderson, Lochearnhead was the victor in the 28lb weight for distance, and with 4 second places and two thirds he also emerged as the overall champion on the day.