Scottish Highland Games Association

TRIPLE DEAD HEAT-BIKERS HITTING THE DECK-LIB-DEM WIN IN N.E. FIFE, IT WAS ALL HAPPENING AT CERES

Glorious sunshine saw the biggest crowd in a number of years surround the Bow Butts for the 701st anniversary of the Ceres Highland Games. To add to the thrill all the action takes place within the tight confines of a 200 metres circuit. A full programme of running, cycling, wrestling, heavy events, tug o war, highland dancing, solo piping and a pipe band kept everyone entertained.

The biggest prize of the day was the £200 which goes to the winner of the Open 90 metres handicap which was won by David Brand, Dunfermline Track Club who burst through from the back mark to break the tape in 9.45 seconds from Ryan Houten, Cardrona and Graeme Armstrong, Edinburgh. - Also here video of 90m Final https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zrOaTswiSY

Rory Muir, Dundee Hawkhill ha been prolific over all distances this season and chalked up another win with victory in the 200 metres handicap, swooping late to edge out Lee Goodfellow, TLJT and Wallace McGown, Sauchie in 22.61s

12 months ago Kobe Stevens, Moorfoot won the anniversary 700 metres handicap and he once again showed his liking for the Bow Butts by producing a well timed run to win the 800 metres handicap in 1:58.74, frontmarker Amy Armstrong,Edinburgh stayed on strongly for 2nd place with Rory Anderson,Hawick in 3rd.

Running from the scratch mark in the 1600 metres handicap Scott McDnald, Central AC thrilled the crowds as he worked his way through he field before going on to snap the worsted in 4:28.42., the previous weeks Newburgh winner Dean Whiteford took 2nd place with Jordan Taylor, Hawick in 3rd.

McDonald was thwarted in his bid to land a double when he had to settle for he runners up spot in the 3000 metres handicap behind none other than LIb Dem leader Willie Rennie, the latter, who was receiving a start of 600 metres from the backmarker battled on gamely to hold off all challengers, the rapidly closing McDonald finished 2nd with Amy Armstrong in 3rd. One local worthy added ''it's a long time since there was a Lib Dem win in North-East Fife''!

An occasion of unprecedence occurred in the youths 90 metres handicap, Keiran Halliday, Central AC was the clear winner in 10.32s, however the photo finish equipment had to be utilized to determine the minor placings, and following a lengthy deliberation from the judges the decision was a triple dead heat for 2nd place between Samantha Turnbull,Peebles, Gary Goodfellow,TLJT and Jake Houten Cardrona. In all my years of involvement on the games circuit i can't recall this ever happening before. If my memory serves me correct i can recall a horse race in USA when this occurred, a 6 furlongs maiden race at Evangeline Downs saw the noses of three horses strike the wire in unison and a triple dead heat was announced. At one time it used to be a rule that all dead heats had to be run off, but not anymore.

The Youths's 800 metres was won by recent Cupar winner Campbell Downie, Pitreavie AC from Jake Houten and Adam Canavan, Sauchieburn. Following two seconds young Houten finally got his head in front with victory in the 200 metres youths handicap, holding on from back marker Keiran Halliday and Natasha Turnbull, Peebles.

Six cyclists entertained the crowds in four bike races, the feature race was the Scottish 1600 metres championship which was won in good style by Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay from Gus Gillies, Peebles and Steve Jackson, Glasgow. Hardie was also the victor in the concluding Deil tak the Hindmost. The opening 800 metres handicap went to Ian Hepburn, Cairneyhill with James Melville Dumbarton the victor in the 3200 metres handicap.It wouldn't be Ceres if there wasn't an incident of a rider...or two coming off their bikes on the tight track, and it came in the penultimate lap of the 300 metres with Gus Gillies slithering to the ground and bringing down Paul Gallacher, Kirkcaldy.

There was keen competition in the heavy events with Neil Elliot, Bruce Robb, Stuart Anderson and Icelandic duo Heissi Geirmundsson and Thor Gylfasson keeping the crowds entertained, Results now on results page.