There was an excellent turnout of Central Athletic Club athletes competing in the Celtic Nations and Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships at Ayr on Saturday 24 January.  With Robert Russell and 17-year-old Morag MacLarty in the Scottish Under 23 Team; Fiona Thompson in the Scottish Under 20 Team; 14-year-old Michael Gillespie in the Scottish Under 17 Team and a further nine of the Club’s runners representing the East of Scotland there was plenty local interest.

The Under 13 Boys race saw Matthew Gillespie give another fine front running performance over the 3200metre course to take the Inter District title (in 12min 17sec) and lead the East Team to triumph. Sean Reilly produced an improved performance for 8^th place (13.06), gaining good points for the East Team, while Anthony Gillespie's move into this quality company saw a highly competent run in 22^nd (13.34).

The Under 17 Womens race, over 4 kilometres, was contested by Rowena Bell Scott (27^th in 18.34) and Lauren McNab (30^th in 18.53), both continuing their improvement in East of Scotland colours.

Michael Gillespie had a superb run in the Under 17 Mens race, also over 4 kilometres, shrugging off the move up in age group with his normal maturity, finishing in 12^th place in 14.34 and first East District runner home.  Michael Wright, not quite running at his best at present, also competed for the East District, coming home in 32^nd (15.06).

The Womens race, over 6 kilometres, saw Central's biggest representation of the day. Morag MacLarty, in her first race following a long lay off with injury, showed she had lost little of her form with 12^th place overall (5^th Scot) completing the course in 25.22. Hazel Dean was another to produce an exceptional run, shrugging off her veteran status, to finish 16^th in 25.38 and, along with Morag, contribute to a winning Inter District Team performance. Jane McCrorie continues to make progress and finished 28^th overall in 26.38 while Fiona Thompson provided useful points towards the Scottish Under 20 Team's Silver medals, completing the course in 38^th place in 27.32.

The Mens 8 kilometre race rounded off the days competition and was run in heavy rain.  Robert Russell provided a front running performance for three of the four laps, and although fading to 7^th on the last lap, finishing in 28.32, he helped the East Team to first place in the InterDistrict race. Alasdair Anthony continues to produce competent performances and finished in 28^th with 30.44, while Lewis Millar also acquitted himself well with an excellent 43^rd place in 31.34.

The weekend of 17/18 January saw many of Central Athletic Club’s young athletes competing with distinction at the East and West District Indoors Championships at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.

The highlights of Saturday’s competition saw a debut Gold medal for Ryan Stewart in the Under 13 Boys East District Shot Putt with a fine throw of 8.16metres to set a new Championship Best Performance and a fine High Jump victory for Kyle Henderson with a personal best jump of 1.30metres. Excellent sprinting, over 60metres by Martyn Paterson (8.89secs) and Kyle Henderson (8.91secs), saw these two young athletes take Silver and Bronze medals in the Under 13 East Championships.

Natalie Doyle again showed superb sprinting form to take Silver in the East District Under 17 Women’s 60metres in 7.92secs while Stuart Chalmers’ excellent High Jump of 1.65metres brought home the Bronze medal in the East District Under 17 Mens event.

Kenny Pearson rounded off Saturday’s medal haul with a 3.70metre clearance in the East District Senior Mens Pole Vault for Bronze, while his leap of 1.80metres in the High Jump saw him just miss out on a medal in this event.

Others who just missed out on medals were fourth placed Dee Henderson in the East Under 15 Girls Shot Putt (6.52metres), Sarah Hay with 43.51secs in the East Under 17 Womens 300metres and Elayne Henderson’s run in the West District Senior Womens 60metres (8.14secs).  Jennifer Campbell’s run in the West Under 17 Womens 60metres of 8.53secs and Ian McDonald’s 7.60secs in the East Senior Mens 60metres rounded off Central’s contribution to Saturday’s competition.

Sunday provided another haul of medals and fine performances.  Natalie Doyle continued her superb record with Gold in the East Under 17 Womens 60metres Hurdles while Jennifer Campbell took Gold in the West Under 17 Womens Long Jump with a personal best 4.82metres. Elayne Henderson again underlined her progress with Gold medals in the West District Senior Womens Triple Jump 11.16metres and a personal best Long Jump of 5.65metres. Fiona Chalmers rounded off the medal performances with Bronze in the East District Senior Womens 800metres in 2.22.41.

Again a number of athletes just missed out with fourth places including Under 13 athlete David Hutchinson in the East 800metres, Jennifer Campbell in the West Under 17 Womens 200metres, Kenny Pearson in the East Senior 60metres hurdles and Ian McDonald in the East Senior 200metres.  Dee Henderson had a good run in the East Under 15 Girls 200metres, finishing in 29.9secs.

Central’s young athletes have also been competing with distinction in the Indoor League.  After two rounds of this competition the Under 11 Boys are currently in first place, taken there by excellent performances by Roddy Irvine (60m in 9.29 and Standing Long Jump of 1.78metres), Logan Bonner (600m 2.14.6, 60m 10.59, Standing Long Jump 1.60m) and Ross Milne (600m 2.12.5).

The Under 11 Girls are currently in fourth equal underpinned by useful performances from Megan McNab (60m 10.82 and 600m 2.28.2) and Lisa Watson (60m 10.78 and Standing Long Jump 1.46m).

The Under 13 Boys, currently in second equal place, look as though they may be on the way to the Finals of the competition but will need high quality repeat performances from Kyle Henderson (60m 9.06 and 60m Hurdles 11.61), Martyn Paterson (200m 29.8 and 300m 49.8), David Hutchinson (200m 31.9 and 800m 2.50.5), Alan Bennie (800m 2.46.7) and Ryan Stewart (Shot Putt 8.42metres).

The remaining age groups who look destined for Final appearances are the Under 17 Womens Team, currently in first equal place, and the Under 20 Womens team which is currently in first place.  Top performers in the Under 17 Women were Natalie Doyle (60m 7.98 and 60m Hurdles 8.95), Nicola Laing (60m Hurdles 9.72 and 1.45metres High Jump), Sarah Hay (200m 27.90 and Shot Putt 4.88metres) and Lauren McNab (800m 2.38.0). Excellent performances by Elayne Henderson (60m Hurdles 10.46, 200m 27.30, Triple Jump 10.41metres and High Jump 1.45metres) and Fiona Chalmers (60m 8.55, 400m 61.50 and Shot Putt 6.88metres) provided the top spot for the Under 20 Women.

There is some vital experience and good performances being picked up throughout the other age groups.  The Under 13 Girls Team saw Emma Chalmers achieve 10.49 for 60metres and 2.90metres long jump, Becky Hay 3.03.8 for 800metres and 1.10metre high jump, Rachael Mills 32.20 for 200metres and 4.91 shot putt, Hillary Warkentin 2.59.0 for 800metres.  The Under 15 Girls saw Jennifer Hutchison achieve 8.98secs for 60metres and 11.01 for 60metres hurdles, Amy Pearson 29.90 for 200metres and 3.39metres long jump, Dee Henderson 30.10 for 200metres and 6.38metres shot putt, Emma Bonner 800m in 3.27.0 and Gemma Milne with 1.10metre high jump and 13.04 for 60metre hurdles. The league performances from the Under 17 Men saw Stuart Chalmers compete over 60metres (8.03secs), high jump (1.65metres) and shot putt with 8.09metres while Jamie Cramond achieved 25.3secs for 200metres.

Experience was also the underlying requirement for the athletes who competed at the Glasgow Indoor Open Graded Meeting on 14 January.  Good performances were posted by Martyn Paterson (Under 13 200metres) in 30.23secs; Jennifer Hutchinson (Under 15 60metre hurdles) in 10.92secs, Gemma Milne (Under 15 Girls Shot Putt) of 7.26metres, Natalie Doyle (Under 17 60metre hurdles) 9.30secs and Jennifer Campbell (Under 17 60metre hurdles) 10.67secs and 29.01secs for 200metres. Ian McDonald (Senior 200metres) 24.60 secs, Frank Houston (Senior High Jump) 1.70metres and Robert Hutchison (Vets 1500metres) 4.53.18 also posted useful performances.

The Gillespie brothers made it a family celebration as all three of them took gold medals at Callendar Park, Falkirk. Matthew Gillespie (below centre), the reigning champion, held onto the under 13 championship with his usual apparently effortless style to win by over 30 seconds in 11m 12s. With younger brother Anthony (pictured right) running bravely into 7^th place (12m 16s) and Sean Reilly (pictured left) finishing twelfth (12m 24s) with a strong final 600 metres, the Central boys were rewarded with the team championship ahead of City of Edinburgh and Falkirk.

Michael Gillespie followed on to win the under 15 championship title by a similar margin to that of Matthew, an improvement in his silver medal place of the previous year. Under 17 Michael Wright was somewhat off the good form he showed before Christmas and was disappointed with tenth place (22m 49s), and Steven Guscott in 22^nd place showed promise (26m 10s).

Under 13 girls, Becky Hay, Jennifer Hutchison and Gemma Milne  gave their all to place in 29, 31 and 35^th places and  gain seventh team place. Lauren McNab (10^th in 19m 51s) set off with enthusiasm in the under 17 race but lost places towards the end, having been overtaken by team mate Rowena Bell-Scott who set off conservatively to finish in seventh (19m 12s).

Central’s senior teams had high numbers of quality runners to clinch team medals in both ladies and men’s events.  The ladies team took second team place behind a very strong team from Carnethy and individual winner Liz McColgan continuing to show she has the capability to return to the international stage. Jane McCrorie (9^th, 24m 34s) just pipped Hazel Dean (10^th, 24m 36s) to be first Central runner home. Fiona Thompson placed 21^st (25m 42s) and took the junior championship (under 20) title followed in by Claire Waterhouse (28^th, 26,04s), Ainsley Normand (29^th, 26m 12s), Jane Waterhouse (35^th , 26m 39s), Helen Winton (50^th, 27m 56s) and Mary Kerr (69^th, 29.25s).

In the men’s race, bronze team medals were the reward for a large Central contingent.  Alistair Anthony was first club runner home (11^th in 33m 30s), overtaking Alistair Hay in his first year in senior racing with an excellent 13^th place and third junior. Ross Houston continued in improving winter form with 22^nd place (34m 14s) ahead of Ewan Gault (30^th, 34m 48s). Steve Laing was 48^th (35m 45s), with Alex Milne finishing fast in 51^st place and 35m 53s. Other Central finishers were Lewis Millar (58^th, 36m 9s), Craig Walker (97, 38m 14s), Robert Hutchison (120, 39m 14s), Ian Beattie (145, 40m 36s), Cameron Campbell (160, 41m 52s), Bill Gault (196, 44m 53s), Alan Gall (197, 44m 57s), David Hay (230, 48m 48s) and Jim Drummond (239, 53m 14s). Full results.