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TRAYNOR SIGNS OFF WITH IMPRESSIVE WIN - RANDALLS LANDS TREBLE AT HIS LOCAL GAMES
Shane Fenton reports from The Wilderness
Despite the non-appearance of the sun conditions were still warm and the 145th Airth Highland Games once again attracted a good crowd.
There was a good field of 10 competitors in the heavy events while on the track there was some thrilling finishes in both the running and cycling events.
The Open 90 metres handicap saw the judges consult the photo finish to determine the first three places and it showed Kieran Halliday,Central AC[12.5m] had just edged out Glyn Desport,Hawick[10m] and Cameron Smith,Central AC.[10.75m] in 9.70 seconds.Geoff Keen,Selkirk,Tony Daffurn,Airdrie and John McCallum,Falkirk Victora completed the line up for the final.
The Open 200 metres was another close run affair, Geoff Keen [38m]who was denied victory at Burntisland Games earlier in the week when he fell a couple of strides from the line, once again had victory snatched from him when he was collared on the line by Cameron Smith[32m] with Ewan Dyer,Pitreavie AC[27m] in third.
Glyn Desport[38m] produced a fine piece of running to win the Open 400 metres in 46.65s with backmarker Ewan Dyer[27m] finishing strongly to take second place with Donald McLeod,Stornoway [41m]in third.
There was good fields for the middle distance races headed by Giffnock's Luke Traynor and Central AC duo Aiden Thomson and Conan McCaughy from Northern Ireland.
The 800 metres was one of the races of the day, backmarker Luke Traynor[45m] was giving starts to all of his 13 rivals, and with 200 metres remaining still had most of them to pass, a power-packed finish however saw him pick them off one by one, despite being roared on by the crowd he failed by one stride to catch Zaynah Aziz,Selkirk[185m] who ran a courageous race from the front to take the win in 1:52.07, Willie Bates,Tullibody[100] held on for third in a bunch finish.
The 1600 metres handicap was won by Northern Ireland's Conan McCaughy, the games debutant who ran from a start of 190 metres spread-eagled the field to win in a very quick 4:11.87, as the time suggests, don't expect to see the classy Central AC man starting from such a generous handicap again anytime soon. Dean Whiteford,Innerleithe beat off the remainder of the field to take second with Zaynah Aziz[315m] in third.
The 3200 metres handicap saw a hugely impressive piece of running from the back mark of 30 metres from Luke Traynor, the Giffnock athlete who heads back to America at the end of the week stopped the watch at 9:20.43. second and third places went to Conan McCaughy and Aiden Thomson respectively who both started from the 80 metres mark. Traynor had won a 5k in the morning before competing at the games.
The Youth's 90 metres handicap was boosted by 10 runners from the Larkhall club and it saw a pair of them finish 1st and 2nd with victory going to Alexander Young[10m] who edged out his club mate Sol Stewart[13m] with Euan Smith,Central AC[13.5m] in third.
Connor Allan,Pitreavie AC[220m] came through the field in fine style to win the Youth's 1600 metres, Allan who won over the same distance at Markinch earlier in the season clocked 4:32.70. Sean Bates,Tullibody[270] and Euan Smith[220m] took 2nd and 3rd with Donald McLean,Giffnock,Hannah Steel,Lothian and Steven Bates,Tullibody 4th,5th and 6th.
Conditions for the cyclists was on the soft side, it didn't appear to deter Stevie Jackson from Glasgow who claimed three firsts with victory in the 1600m,4,800m and Deil. Davy Mathieson,Newburgh won the other race on the card the 3200 metres. James Melville,Dumbarton,Paul Gallacher,Kirkcaldy,Ian Hepburn,Cairneyhill and Alan McLean,Renfrew completed the cycling field.
There was a big field of 10 heavy event athletes, many of whom who have been competing for most of the week.Kyle Randalls,Grangemouth landed a treble at his local games with wins in both the hammer contests and the 28lb weight for distance. Lukasz Wenta,East Kilbride won both the 16lb and 22lb shot putt events with throws of 55' 5'' amd 43' 9'' respectively. Sebastien Wenta,Poland won the 56lb for height and was first equal in the caber with Craig Sinclair,Drumoak.
Published: 2016-07-23 21:54:40
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