Youth Commonwealth Games & Saturday 4 December 2004. Central AC’s Morag MacLarty returned home this week from Bendigo Australia with her head held high and a smile on her face. Competing for Scotland in the Commonwealth Youth Games she returned as Scotland’s most successful track and field athlete with an individual gold medal in the 1500metres and a silver medal in the medley relay.

Despite recent injury concerns and overcoming the additional challenges of jet-lag and competing outwith the normal summer season, she rose to the challenge to outperform the best athletes in the Commonwealth.

Thursday’s 1500 metre final started a tactical affair with a South African girl taking the early lead.  Midway through the race Nikki Hamblin from England took over the initiative but Morag followed their every move and finished strongly for a comfortable win in 4minutes 29 seconds to claim her first major international title.

Friday’s medley relay final was a bonus as Scotland found themselves in fourth place after the opening two 200 metre legs and a 400 metre run by Dunfermline’s Gemma Nicol. Morag took over for the final 800 metres behind South Africa, Australia and England but after a blistering 2 minutes 6 seconds claimed the silver medals behind South Africa.

Scotland finished the multi sports event in fourth place in the medal table, Australia taking top spot ahead of England with South Africa in third.

But it’s back to training this week, the sunglasses packed away and the hard work continues as Morag strives for future International honours. With the World Cross Country in March, the European Junior Track and Field Championships in July and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Australia in March 2006 there is plenty to look forward to.

Morag’s Coach, Derek Easton, threw down the gauntlet to the younger athletes at Central Athletics Club, challenging them to a Cross Country Run in Kings Park, Stirling on Saturday 4^th December. Some fifteen of the Club’s young athletes completed the one mile challenge, all in fine style.

In a competition that covered various age groups it was Anthony Gillespie who came home first with an excellent 5mins 25secs run, closely followed by David Hutchison in 5.26. Lorna Cameron showed her class, coming home as first girl in 5.34, holding off a strong challenge from Rachel Hunter in 5.37.  The session was a great success with Roddy Irvine (5.40), Ross Milne (5.48), Becky Hay (5.50) all breaking the 6 minute barrier. Young Katherine Gillespie showed again that she will be one to watch for the future with a 6.03 clocking while Conor Kerr (6.13), Claire Tunaley (6.16), Neil Cameron (6.33), Megan McNab (6.37) and Fiona Cameron (6.42) all showed the Club has some fine back-up runners.  Gordon Milne and Sandy MacLarty fought all the way to the line, both finishing in 7.33.

With the Club hosting the East District Cross Country Championships at Stirling University on Saturday 11 December a good turnout of both athletes and helpers is required.

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East District Cross Country Championships, 11 December, 2004 at Stirling University.

Central Athletic Club’s stock rose higher following superb performances at the East District Cross Country Championships held at Stirling University on Saturday 11 December.

The role of honour reads first man, first lady, first under 15 boy, second under 17 man, first mens team, first ladies team, second under 13 girls team, second under 15 boys team, but this only tells part of the story.

The event began with the Under 13 Girls race over 3,200 metres, which saw Lorna Cameron challenging for a medal from the start.  .Lorna’s run saw her just missing out on an individual medal by the narrowest of margins, coming home in a highly commendable fourth place in 13.02.  With another year in this age group there is little doubt that Lorna will be challenging for gold in next year’s event. Disappointment soon turned to pleasure as Lorna’s team mates, Becky Hay (16^th in 14.23) and Mairi Gillespie (23^rd in15.14) came through with strong runs for deserved team silver medals.  The trio were well backed up by more than useful runs from Georgia Quinn (24^th in 15.18), Claire Tunaley (29^th in 15.44) and Dawn Kerr (37^th in 16.55).

The Under 13 Boys race was over the same 3,200 metre course and saw an excellent group of young athletes accept the challenge.  It was Anthony Gillespie who led the Club’s effort, finishing 17^th on this occasion in 12.57.  The rest of the team packed in well through David Hutchison (19^th in 13.02), Ross Milne (20^th in 13.08), Roddy Irvine (21^st in 13.11) and Christopher Clarke (23^rd in 13.13).  On this occasion the team had to settle for fourth place but with four of the boys available to run again next year, both team and individual medals are within their grasp.

The Under 15 Girls race was a tough challenge over 4,400 metres and saw Rachel Hunter make further progress with a fine run in 15^th place in 18.57. Gemma Milne showed fantastic character, coming back from illness to clock 23.30 in 38^th place.  The same race included the Under 17 Ladies and it was good to see Rowena Bell Scott making a strong challenge, but having to settle for fifth place in 18.13.

Matthew Gillespie proved once again to be the quality athlete in the Under 15 Boys race over the 4,400 metre course. Matthew was challenge early on but soon pulled away from his older opponents to finish in a fine 14mins 29secs to take the individual gold medal. Some excellent running by Sean Reilly (12th in 15.48) and, debutant David Kee (15^th in 16.19) was sufficient to take home deserved team silver medals.

The Under 17 Mens race proved to be one of the races of these Championships with a great head to head between last year’s Under 15 Champion Michael Gillespie and AAA’s Under 17, 1500metre Champion Chris Gauson. Neither was prepared to give way as they battled round the 6,400 metre course and it was only in the sprint to the line that Michael finally relinquished first place, still finishing in 17.33, only 4secs away from gold but some 37secs ahead of the bronze medallist.  Graham Harvey is another making progress and his run brought him home in 25^th place in 21.52. Craig Lawson made his competitive debut for the Club and showed some good form before overstretching himself and pulling out late in the race.

The Senior Womens race also saw a fine head to head challenge between Hill Running Internationalist Lyn Wilson and Central’s recently crowned 1500 metre Youth Commonwealth Games winner, Morag MacLarty. Morag always looked in control over the 6,400 metre course and used her track speed to good effect to pull away in the latter stages for a fine win in 19.28. Superb running by fourth placed Toni McIntosh (20.20) and fifth placed Hazel Dean (20.23) saw the Club take the team gold medals and Hazel the veteran’s silver.  Anneliese Heard made had her first venture in Club colours and kept good form throughout to finish in a useful 14^th place in 21.04. Ainsley Normand had an improved run for 21^st in 21.34 while Claire Waterhouse (24^th in 21.43) also looked strong throughout.  Jane McCrorie was another who looked well with a28th place in 22.08 while Jane Waterhouse (37^th in 22.45) and Fiona Thompson (38^th in 22.50) pushed each other round for useful places. Mary Kerr had a good run for 77^th in 26.50 while Louise Harris kept going well throughout for 94^th in 33.27.

Robert Russell has been running well recently in Scottish colours and it was good to see him out front in the yellow and blue of Central. Although Robert came home first by some 13 seconds this was no easy outing, with the field including Scottish University Champion John Newsom and Scottish, Welsh and Irish internationalists.  However it was Robert who swept to victory in fine fashion as he came home to take the winners gold medal in 26.33.  Alasdair Anthony looked in good form as he worked through the field for sixth place in 27.42, while Ross Houston continues to run well with 17^th place in 28.39. The remaining team counters were Under 20 Michael Wright (31^st in 29.39), Alex Milne (41 in 29.54) and Lewis Millar (48 in 30.20), bringing the first six counters through for fantastic team gold medals.

Once again there was some good back-up performances with David Armour (53^rd in 30.34), Murray MacLarty (54^th in 30.38) and Steve Laing (58^th in 30.54).  Robert Hutchison had an improved run for 82^nd in 32.21 while Phil Williams (107^th in 33.02), Fraser Purves (118^th in 33.33), Ian Beattie (133^rd in 34.13), Stephen McNally (165^th in 36.10), John Miller (175^th in 36.42) and Alan Gall (176^th in 36.47) should all be pleased with their runs. Hugh Kerr (182^nd in 37.05), Ewan Bell-Scott (198^th in 38.12), David Hay (199^th in 38.12) and Jim Drummond (227^th in 41.26) also completed the course in good style to wrap up a great day for the Club.

This was a true Club effort with a wide range of helpers building the course and marshalling the races, so many thanks to all those who gave their time to make the day such a success, in particular Tony Waterhouse and Alex Milne.

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