3^rd Indoor Scottish Athletics Meeting , Kelvin Hall Glasgow 3^rd Feb 2008

Central Athletes saved the best for almost last at his latest meeting in Glasgow. Although the only team with a prospect of going on to the final of this series were the Under 11s , the other age groups all came out with the intention of making up lost ground. From 1^st timers to indoors like Stephanie English and Julie Cook to seasoned campaigners Martyn Paterson and Dee Henderson, all teams worked hard for every point available.

  Starting with the Under 11 girls and boys, Roisin Bonnuchi and Isla Burns ran well, Roisin gaining a new 600m pb. Emma Deerden and Gemma McDade had good finishing places in the 60m. Under 11 boys Scott Fleming and Jack Kerr gaining top three places, Stuart McNally hitting top form with a first in the 60m.

   Not to be outdone, the Under 13 boys Matt Smith and Andrew McNally both put in a good shift, Andrew coming in 2^nd in the 800 m, Matt 3^rd in the shot put. For the girls Caitlin Watson ran a 9.05 2^nd place in the 60m, Lily Cairns Haylor and Stephanie English starred in the 200m , Emily Greenan and Aimee Bilsland gained valuable points in all their events.

 The Under 15 age group kept up the pace with some top drawer performances. Rachel Adamson came in 1^st in the 800m with a time of 2.34s , Sophie Brown was back in top form, winning her age group with a 1m 50cm clearance. Laura McCauley won her shot put age group. Sarah Dick came top in her 300m heat and Louise Anderson had a top three place in the 60m . Niamh Callan ran a good time in the 200m , Julie Cook placed herself 4^th in her 800m, a terrific effort for her first indoors event.

  In the same age group the boys all ran and threw well. Sanju Siriwandena was well placed in his 60 and 200m, Ross Milne and Roddy Irvine getting into the top five in their events. Tom Watson ran a cracking 800 m to gain  2^nd , Connor Kerr running close behind in a time of 2 mins 26 sec.

  Next up was the Under 17 team , Martyn Paterson gaining a 2^nd place in his Long Jump competition. All the girls in this group put in a real effort , Lorna Cameron showing the way with a determined 300m performance. Hannah Smith threw well in the Shot Put and along with Katie-Marie King ran a good 60m . Georgia Quinn and Lily Eadie were also a welcome addition to this event showing fine form in the 200 and 300m.

  And finally it was good to have  Dee Henderson back in action, running well in her under 20 womens 200m.

 A great turn out of athletes on the day and a big thanks from Ian Brown and Gordon Paterson, the team managers, to all who have competed in this league and also officials, parents  and others without whom this would not have happened.    

Junior Cross Country Series - 9 February 2008

A superb turnout of 34 young athletes competed in the final race in Central Athletic Club’s Junior Cross Country Series held in excellent conditions in Kings Park, Stirling on Saturday 9 February.  With many of the Series prizes still up for grabs there were some outstandingly competitive runs throughout the age groups.

Under 15, Roddy Irvine put his speed to good effect to come home in first overall with a fine time of 4min 59secs for this one mile challenge.  A few strides behind it was Under 13 Conor Kerr, showing his usual commitment, who finished in 5min 2secs.  David MacKinlay continued his improvement in third in 5min 16secs with Rosie Hastings leading the Girls home in 5min 29secs. Gordon Milne was another to underline his progress as he finished in 5.29 ahead of the first Under11, Jack Gaiter, clocking an excellent 5.32. Philip Wright has been an ever present in the series and here came round in 5.47 to just pip Kelly Carruthers and Kirsty Buchanan (both in 5.49), with the first Under 11 Girl, Roisin Bonucchi, competing all the way to the line to finish in 5.50.

Under 13 Girls Amy Hendry and Emily Greenan crossed the line together in 5.52 with Sam Fraser just behind in 5.54. Shona Buchanan was another to complete the full Series and here finished in 6min 1sec just ahead of newcomer Cairey McNeil (6.02). Under 11 Girls Isla Burns and Tara Wells fought all the way to the finish with both recording 6min 3secs.  Domenic Angiolini has been another ever present and here finished in 6.13 ahead of a personal battle between Stacey Hardman ((6.16) and Lisa Hardman (6.17). Under 11’s Jack Kerr (6.20) and Abbie Lindores (6.22) both had encouraging runs as did Scott Fleming (6.35).  Charlotte Burns stuck well to her task to finish in 6.45 while another ever-present, Jennifer Downie, showed marked improvement to finish in 6.46. It was good to welcome a number of first timers to this race including Charlotte Tilley (6.49), Lauren Steele (6.50), Daisy Aitken (7.14), Helen Mitchell (7.14) and Jennifer Anderson (7.22), who all ran well.  Sean Dodd has been a good supporter of the races and here finished in 7.26 ahead of two more first timers Taylor Dearie (7.35) and Sara McKenzie (812) and while Emma Millar (9.21) brought up the rear on this occasion she showed enough resolve to prove she can make an impact in future.

Series Champions

Under 15 Girls – 1^st Rosie Hastings; 2^nd Shona Buchanan

Under 15 Boys – 1^st Roddy Irvine; 2^nd David MacKinlay; 3^rd Kelly Carruthers

Under 13 Girls – 1^st Kirsty Buchanan; 2^nd Amy Hendry; 3^rd Emily Greenan

Under 13 Boys – 1^st Gordon Milne: 2^nd Philip Wright; 3^rd Sam Fraser

Under 11 Girls – 1^st Roisin Bonucchi, 2^nd Isla Burns, 3^rd Tara Walls

Under 11 Boys – 1^st Domenic Angiolini, 2^nd Scott Fleming, 3^rd Sean Dodd

Central AC’s Club Cross Country

Central Athletic Club’s Annual Cross Country was held at Queen Victoria School on Saturday 16 February with a good turnout of the Club’s athletes along with some young guests. Steve Laing had once again provided a testing and interesting course including three burn crossings that proved, as always, to be the main focus for spectators.

Roisin Bonucchi, who had secured the Club Cross Country Series the previous week, led home the Under 11Girls race held over 1.25 miles, winning in a time of 7min 37secs. Isla Burns also had a good run to lift Silver with a 7.59 clocking and it was Lisa Hardman, who has supported the Club well all winter, who lifted Bronze in 8.18.  Jennifer Downie (9.01) and Jennifer Anderson (9.03) both had improved runs and it was good to see Mairi Bell finish the course in 10.59. There were very useful guest runs from Tara Walls (8.06), Abbie Lindores (8.22), Hannah Cleland (9.40), Fiona Keith (9.53), Helen Mitchell (9.58), Isla Keith (10.18), Mairi Keith (10.35) and Jane Tobin (12.05) with many of the girls attempting cross country for the irst time. 

The Under 11 Boys race was held over the same 1.25 mile course and this proved the most thrilling of the day with Domenic Angiolini and Jack Kerr sprinting to cross the line together in 8min 7secs. Nine year old Scott Fleming (8.39) stuck well to his task to lift Silver and it was good to see Michael McCabe (9.46) coming away with Bronze. Again a number of guest athletes caught the eye with speedy runs from Jack Gater (7.10), Daniel Stansfield (7.19) and Stuart MacNally (7.31).  Hugo Richards (9.21) and Robert Burns (9.22) also looked the part as they finished their runs in style.

Kathryn Gillespie has dominated the Under 13 Girls Scottish Cross Country scene all Season so no surprise that she lifted the Central Trophy covering the 1.75 mile course in a tasty 9.34 clocking. Kirsty Buchanan also showed good form to lift Silver in 10.58 while Emily Greenan underlined her resurgence in form to take Bronze with 11.11.  Amy Hendry had another very useful run with 11.31 and was followed home by good runs from Maeve Weldon (11.43), Cairy McNeil (11.57), Stacey Hardman (12.04), Lauren Steele (13.13), Charlotte Burns (13.34) and Ruth McCabe (13.35).

Conor Kerr always gives his best for the Club and here sped round the 1.75 mile course to win the Under 13 Boys title in 9.16.  Gordon Milne continued his improvement to take Silver with 10.23, an almost two minute improvement from last year.  Sam Fraser showed great perseverance to take Bronze in 10.48 while Philip Wright was only a few strides behind in fourth (10.52) and guest runner, Callum Heirs (9.42), added to the quality of the race.

The Under 15 Girls race was held over 2.5miles and it was Rachel Adamson who added Gold to the previous year’s Under 13 title. It is fair to say that Rachel didn’t get her own way here and there was a strong challenge from Rosie Hastings (14.36) and a good steady run from Lorna Cameron in third (15.31). Julie Cook (16.16), Shona Buchanan (16.23) and Lorna Gater (16.37) all showed good endurance over this extended course.  Catriona Buchanan also moved up an age group to go from top Under 15 in 2007 to top Under 17 in 2008 with another flowing run to win in 13.37.  While Lily Eadie was never in contention for the title she showed improved style and fitness to lift Silver in 18.40.  Alison Doherty took time out from her National Cross Country and Inverness Half Marathon preparations to lift the Senior Womens title with one of her hallmark charging runs in 13.24.  Student Jennifer Emsley had to settle for Silver on this occasion (15.13) while Tracy McInally stuck well to her task for Bronze in 20.55. The Masters Women’s race was one of the closest of the day with Ainsley Normand carrying  off the Masters Trophy in an excellent 13min 40secs run with Hazel Dean (13.43) once again showing her class.  Andi Buchanan’s 16.40 run ensured the Bronze medal ahead of an energetic Alison Hastings (17.07) while Val Shatwell (19.28) showed good progress from 2007 and Louise Harris ran steadily to record 23.08.

The Under 15 Boys race saw seven of the Club’s youngsters battling out their 2.5 mile race and it was Scott Green who proved his class to win in 12min 13secs. Tom Watson matched his Scottish Indoor 800metre Silver medal from the previous week with second place here in 12.38. David Hutchison proved to be the ‘best of the rest’ with a very useful run to take Bronze in 13.15. Martin Hall (13.39), David MacKinlay (14.46), Logan Bonar (14.59) and Roddy Irvine (15.21) all proved their fitness with good runs in this tasty company.

Alexander Hendry looked strong throughout the 4 mile Under 17 Mens race finishing with an excellent 20.57 timing.  Andrew Butchart was another to show excellent form taking Silver in 21.12 and it was good to see Sandy MacLarty supporting the race to take Bronze with 31.06.  Scott McDonald is another to have had a successful Cross Country Season and here there was never any doubt about his class as he won the overall Mens race and was rewarded with the Under 20 Trophy and Gold medal.  Graham Harvey also showed full commitment as he finished in 24.01 to take Silver in the Under 20 age group.

Murray MacLarty had a strong run to lift the Senior Mens title in 21.13 with previous winner Jamie McDonald, making something of a return to fitness, taking Silver in 23.01. Ian McDonald (24.15), taking a winter away from sprinting, used his new found endurance to lift Bronze ahead of another improved run from Steven McArthur (25.39).

As always the event was well supported by the Masters Men with Alex Milne taking the Trophy in a very useful 21.42. Robert Hutchison (23.21) was involved in a good race for Silver holding off Gordon Adam (23.26) and Liam McCabe (23.39). Hugh Buchanan also looked strong as he strode round for a 24.13 clocking ahead of Stuart Watson (24.22) and Steve Laing (24.25).  It was good to see Chris Gater (25.15) taking part while Phil Hendry (26.22), Cameron Campbell (26.40), David Hay (27.16), Allan Gall (27.34), Domenico Angiolini (30.21) and Jim Drummond (32.25) all adding to an enjoyable and memorable day.

The leading runners in the two handicap races were:- Ladies/Under 15 Boys Race Race - Catriona Buchanan, Martin Hall, Julie Cook; Mens Race – Ian McDonald, Graham Harvey, Andrew Butchart.

DM Hall Scottish Indoor Pentathlon Championships

Central Athletic Club’s Ross Milne was crowned Under 15 Scottish Indoor Pentathlon Champion at the Kelvin Hall Indoor Arena on Saturday 16 February. Ross had to compete outside of his normal comfort zone in the first three events - long jump, high jump and 60m hurdles proving quite a challenge and leaving Ross in fifth place of the seven competitors after these first three events. A talented all-round athlete from Kilbarchan, Jack Lochans, took an early lead with excellent performances in each of these disciplines, the highlight of which was a 1.60metre high jump. The last two events, shot put and 800metres, saw Ross in more familiar territory and with a new personal best in the shot put (11.03 metres) he not only started to claw back the points but moved through into second overall, with Jack still leading by 133 points. Everything then depended on the final event, the 800metres, with all the Boys running together on the track.  Ross showed his endurance ability as he sped round for a winning time of 2mins15secs, while Jack, in one of his weakest events, finished in 2.28. The point system for pentathlon events is complex, and it was nail-biting time until the final points were announced.  Indeed the medalists were called to the podium before the final points tally was known.  It was only when Jack was called forward to receive the Silver medal that the smile appeared on Ross’s face and he climbed to the top of the podium The final points totals showed that Ross had collected 2090 points and won by the slender margin of 41 points ensuring the spectators had a thrilling competition to watch right through to the end.

Four of Central’s young athletes competed in the Under 13 Girls Pentathlon on Sunday 17 February, a new experience for all, and although there were no medals on this occasion there was still excellent effort from all the Girls. Caitlin Watson was the most successful on the day finishing in an eye catching fourth place with 1900 points, Agatha Williams-Kelly (1451 points) finished seventh with Lily Cairns-Haylor (1314 points) in eight and Aimee Bilsland (1286) in ninth.