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East District League - 5 December 2009.
Central Athletic Club picked up a fine series of team medals in virtually every category at the East District Cross Country Championships held over a wet Livingston Course on Saturday 5th December making it a highly successful outing.
Alastair Hay proved to be unassailable in the Senior Mens event setting off at a high tempo, establishing an early lead and extending that lead on each of the three lap 9.6 kilometre course to win by 45seconds in 31minutes 54seconds. With Central’s yellow and blue vests packing into the first twelve finishers there was never any doubt as to the destination of the Team Gold medals. Perhaps the only disappointment was Ross Houston missing out on an individual Bronze by one second after a magnificent effort that saw him through to his best run at this Championship (fourth with 32.48). Alasdair Anthony cast aside his normal cautious approach to finish seventh with 33.16 and with Scott McDonald (tenth with 33.41), Lewis Millar (eleventh with 33.44) and Alexander Hendry (twelfth with 33.58) all hitting good form the Team prize was secured. Indeed Scott and Alexander finished as first and second in the Under 20 race and teamed up with a strong run from Sandy MacLarty, finishing eighteenth in the Under 20 race, to lift the Under 20 Team Gold Medals.
Murray MacLarty had another classy run to finish 18th overall (34.26), as did Michael Wright in 31st (35.12). There was also superb back up from David Lindsay (54th, 36.57), David Eiser (76th, 38.01), Steve Laing (101st, 39.11), Ian McDonald (120th, 40.31), Gordon Adam (131, 41.19), Fraser Purves (134, 41.32), Liam McCabe (147th, 42.17), Philip Hendry (166, 44.01) and Jim Drummond (227, 55.28).
In the Senior Womens 6.4 kilometre race, the Central squad took Silver Team medals, but the main feature of the race was a local battle for the individual Bronze. Emma Raven and Catriona Buchanan ran toe to toe for the bulk of the race, with Emma finally taking the honours in the sprint for the line, in 24.49 and 24.50 respectively. Fiona Thompson was next home in 9th place in 24.50 and Ainsley Normand battling hard as she took the fourth counter spot (23rd, 27.23), for the team medals. Hazel Dean was next Central finisher 28th in 27.48, followed in by Claire Houston (41st, 28.41), Fiona Kelsall (50th, 29.15), Isla Campbell (53rd 29.25), Jane Waterhouse (58th, 30.03) and Katie Whitehouse (60th, 30.14).
The Under 17 Men also did the Club proud, coming home with Team Silver medals. Scott Green led home the challenge to lift the individual Silver with an excellent 22min 34secs effort over the undulating 6.4 kilometre course. David Hutchison continued with his superb Season to finish seventh in 24.13 and Tom Watson rounded off the Team scoring in 11th with 25.01. Ross Milne ran strongly throughout to come home 15th in 25.25 and Martyn Paterson continued with his endurance phase to record 19th with 26.11. Christopher Clarke (21st, 26.25), David McKinlay (23rd, 27.01) and David Lindsey (24th, 29.44) all did the Club proud in this tough race.
A trio of Central’s Under 15 Girls were well rewarded for their commitment as Molly Tweedle (20th ,20.06), Amy Hendry (22nd ,20.29) and Stacey Hardman (29th ,21.15) competed for every place to secure Team Bronze medals. In the Under 17 race over the same 4.2 kilometre course, Rachel Adamson (15th and 19.05) and Rosie Hastings (19th , 20.54) worked hard throughout.
Conor Kerr was Central’s top runner in the Under 15 Boys 4.3kilometre race, coming home in eighth place in 16min 18secs. With good runs from Alexander Semple finishing 17th, 17.23 and Josh Murchie 22nd, 17.43 the Team were awarded with Bronze Team medals. Sam Fraser cantered home in 25th with 18min 10secs and Gordon Milne came round in 34th with 19min 44secs. The Under 13 Boys showed good progress throughout their 3.2 kilometre challenge and were awarded with Team Silver through Iain Davies in eleventh, 13.14; Michael McCabe (16th, 13.49) and Cameron Taylor (18th, 13.54). There were excellent runs also from Kieran Potter (21st, 14.12), Cameron Harris (30th, 14.59) and Tom Marshall (34th, 15.24) all of whom will continue to improve as the Season progresses.
Under 13 Kathryn Gillespie gave a controlled performance to win the East District title in a time of 12.58, just staying ahead of a chasing pair that featured Central’s Eilidh MacCorquodale who won a Bronze individual medal with a fine 13.13 clocking for the 3.2 kilometre course. Next home was Roisin Bonucchi who battled to take 13th place with 14.29, as third counter gaining the Team Silver medals behind an Edinburgh team. In 15th place Tara Walls showed further improvement with 14.45, while close on her heels Lisa Hardman and Isla Burns could not be separated on time with 21st and 22nd places in 15.10. Laura Clarke and Shannon MacFarlane showed the strength in depth with 27th and 28th places in 15.40 and 15.50.
Indoor Winter League Match 1 – 13 December 2009
Central Athletics club had a superb start to the indoor track and field season with their most successful day ever in the first indoor winter league match at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow last weekend. Every single age group hit the ground running to finish in the top places with Central making their presence felt across the board.
The under 13 boys team won the match helped by wins from Robert Burns in the Shot (6.99m) and a 1-2 in the 60m hurdles from Cameron Taylor (1st in 12.68s) and Ian Davies (2nd in 12.70s). Ian recorded two further top 3 finishes in the 800m (2:31.8) and Long Jump (3.53). Liam Mcgregor provided useful sprint points in the 60m (9.37s) and 200m (32.2) and further points were provided by Scott Balloch (800m 2:39.9), Lewis Strachan (High Jump 1.15m), Lachlan Brown (200m 32.0s), Andrew Gibb (60m) and Tom Marshall (60m and Shot).
Also on course to qualify for the league final are the under 15 girls who were runners up in the match. Kirsty Forsyth sprinted well in the 60m (8.85s, 3rd), 200m (29.3s, 4th) and 300m (48.6s, 5th). Agatha Williams-Kelly also placed well in the Shot (7.21m, 3rd) and hurdles (11.44s, 5th). Caitlin Watson produced modest performances by her own high standards but still placed well in the Long Jump (5th, 4.33m) and High Jump (4th, 1.35m). Emily Greenan ran an impressive 800m (2:38.0, 3rd) and Laura Clarke showed good sprint form (60m 9.29s & 200m 30.9s). Performing well on their debuts were Emily Batchelor in the 60m hurdles (11.77s, 6th), High Jump (1.20m) and Shot (5.72m), Iona Buick (Long Jump) and Natasha Lee (300m, 60m hurdles). The team were well represented with Roisin Bonucchi (long Jump & 300m), Eilidh MacCorquodale (800m), and Lisa Hardman (800m, 200m, Shot) all performing well.
The under 11 boys and girls are also on track for the league final with both teams finishing in the top 3. For the boys Keiran Hamilton (60m 10.08s) and Ross Downie (Standing Long Jump 1.64m) took 2nd places backed up by good performances from with John Paterson and Jack Houghton. The girls were well placed thanks to Erin Watson’s 4th place in the standing Long Jump (1.46m) along with fine performances from Blaine Adams and Jenna Innes.
Also placing third in the match were the under 15 boys, under 17 men and under 13 girls. The under 15 boys were led by Sandy Semple’s victory in the 800m (2:19.1) along with 3rd place finishes in the 60m hurdles (11.14s) and 400m (61.7). Carrick McLelland High jumped to a massive new personal best 1.47m to take a surprise 2nd. Also jumping to 2nd place was Hamish Innes (long Jump 4.34m), who also took 3rd in the 200m (26.4s). Neil McCallum (60m, 200m, Long Jump) and Callum Reay (800m) provided further points.
The under 17 men’s team all performed consistently well. Ross Milne set a new club record in the Shot (10.16s) to place 4th and also took 4th places in the 800m (2:10.1) and 60m hurdles. Top 5 finishes came from Adam Innes (60m 7.83s, Long Jump 5.20m) and Sanju Siriwardenu (200m 25.3s, 400m 57.9s). Ryan Calder (60m 7.90s, 200m 26.4s, Long Jump 4.88m) and Gordon Milne (800m 2:20.9, Shot 9.38m) completed the line up with valuable performances.
The under 13 girls are well placed with Isla Burns narrowly failing to win the High Jump clearing the same height as the winner (1.25m) but losing out on countback. She then sprinted to 33.4s in the 200m and Long jumped 3.51m. Bevhan Trevis had strong displays in the 800m (4th, 2:49.7) and Shot (5.62m). Megan Ely was impressive in the 60m (4th, 9.28s) and Long Jump (3.70m). And there was some good hurdling from Beth Gallagher (12.45s), Sophie Parson (12.84s) and Jennifer Downie. Alison Todd impressed in the 60m (9.45s) and Shot (5.45m) and Anna McCallum also Shot putted well.
The under 17 women were missing some key athletes but still kept themselves in the race with 4th place. Led by Louise Anderson who placed in the top 5 in the 60m (8.60s), 200m (28.4s) and Long Jump (4.66m) and backed up with Chloe McGregor who also placed well in the High Jump (1.30m), Shot (5.75m) and hurdles (10.96s). Laura Nicholson (300m & 800m) and Stacey Hardman (800m) provided vital points.
Junior Cross Country 19 December 2009
The Laighhills in Dunblane played host to the third of Central Athletic Club’s Cross-Country Series on Saturday 19th December. The frosty underfoot conditions required a slight alteration to the course and a field of sixteen hardy young athletes accepted the challenge. Scott Balloch continued his winning sequence in the Series with another assured run, coming home in 4min 17secs having been challenged all the way by Sam Davidson (4.22). Under 11 Stewart MacNally produced a strong challenge to finish in 4min 23secs ahead of Eilidh MacCorquodale, who has been first Girl throughout the Series (4.26). Gary MacFarlane sustained his improved form as he came through in 4.35 with Alastair Tweedle, continuing to lead in the Under 11 Series (4.56). Shannon MacFarlane (5.00) was another to underline her consistency while Alastair Shaw had another strong run with 5.04 ahead of a strong challenge from Ailig Struthers (5.09). Liam McGregor produced his trademark sprint finish for 5.19 to edge out Scott Fleming (5.22) while first timer Craig Fingland (5.29) had a highly competent run. Jennifer Downie stuck well to her task to finish in 5min 46secs, as did Rory Watson (5.55), Cameron Forster (6.03) and Ross Downie.
New Recruits for Central benefit from LDC Sponsorship
Earlier in the month Central Athletic Club hosted induction evenings in Stirling and Balfron with youngsters moving through to the Club from Active Stirling’s Run, Jump and Throw Clubs. The Club recruitment initiative has also been supported by the sponsorship deal between scottishathletics and LDC, the private equity arm of the Lloyds Banking Group. Central Athletic Club has also been working in partnership with Active Stirling over the last six months in starting up a satellite group in Balfron. The first three coaches from this group have now passed their Level One Coaching Award with funding from the same LDC initiative ‘Club First’ which encourages all aspects of the development of the sport from grass roots level.
The Club’s Coach Development Manager, John McDonald expressed his pleasure on the exceptional assistance from Athletics Development Officer, Alison Grey from Active Stirling and the financial backing from the Lloyds Development Capital’s Club First initiative in assisting with the essential areas of Coach Education and athlete recruitment. John advised that this had been a busy period in underpinning the new project in Balfron but there had been strong support from the local community from the outset and with some forty children coming along each week plus the support of newly qualified coaches, Lyn Buchanan, David Eckersley and Robert Steel and further assistance from parents this had been a superb success story.
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