Indoor League Match 2 Kelvin Hall 4^th January 2009

There was an excellent turnout and many fine performances for Central AC at the second indoor league match at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

The under 17 women fought hard to hold onto third place and a possible place in the final, in spite of only have three athletes on the day. Louise Anderson took an excellent 3^rd place in her first ever attempt at Triple Jump (9.88m), after producing good sprint performances in the 200m (29.7s) & 60m. Sarah Dick showed her team spirit taking valuable points in the Shot Putt (6.05m), 60m hurdles (10.79s) then had to go straight to the 300m.  Julie Cook also produced a good display in the 800m (2:55.2mins) to round off a fine team performance.

The under 17 men produced some excellent performance led off by Scottish age group champion Tom Watson.  Tom continued his winning ways easing to victory in the 800m (2:06.8) before setting a new lifetime best 400m (55.6s). Sanju Siriwardenu continues to mature at this level taking another 0.2s from his 60m pb to take 3^rd in 7.67s. Roddy Irvine grows in confidence with each run and produced indoor bests in the 800m (2:18.1) & 400m (60.4)

The under 15 girls were well represented taking 4^th place in the match. Caitlin Watson picked up third places in the Long Jump (4.15m) and High Jump (1.25m) and showed good sprint form in the 60m (9.06s). Agatha Williams-Kelly produced a new best in the Shot (6.67m) and hurdled to a useful 11.01s. Aimee Bilsland provided valuable points in the 300m (53.8s) and also filled in at the 800m (3:03.9mins).  Central were well represented in the sprint events with Sophie Brown (200m 30.7s), Stephanie English (60m 9.57s, 200m 32.4s), Kirsty Forsyth (60m 9.83s , 200m 33.4s) and Laura Nicholson (60m 9.94s, 200m 33.9s) showing the strength in depth the club has.  Laura also set a shot put best of 5.55m.  Stacey Hardman showed versatility contesting the 800m (3:01.3mins) and Long Jump (3.30m).

In the under 15 boys Billy Elliot showed fine sprint form taking 2^nd in the 200m with 26.4s and set a new 60m best of 8.20s. Carrick McLelland cleared a new High Jump best of 1.25m then sprinted to 9.13s in the 60m and 32.3s in the 200m. Sam Fraser also set a new indoor best in the 800m with 2:38.7mins.

The under 13 girls showed great all round ability in taking on a variety of events and were rewarded with a superb 2^nd place on the day. Laura Clarke leapt to third place in the Long Jump in a new best of 3.62m after running a fine 800m (2:51.6mins).  Eilidh Ironside took an excellent 3^rd place in the Shot (5.45m) and sprinted to 9.58s in the 60m. Lilly Cairns-Haylor set a new High Jump best (1.25m) to take 3^rd place then set another best in the 60m hurdles with 11.51s. She was closely followed in the hurdles by Hannah Worsley who took nearly a second off her best in 11.62s and showed versatility in the Long Jump (3.02m).  The club were well represented in the 800m with Roisin Bonucchi (2:49.9), Lisa Hardman (3:05.0mins) and Isla Burns (3:12.6mins).  After her 800m Isla showed all round form in the High Jump (1.20m) and 60m (9.81s). The younger team members Beth Gallagher (200m 34.1s, Long Jump 3.00m, Shot 4.46m), Jennifer Downie (200m 34.2s, Shot 4.04m) and Isla Davidson (60m 9.85s, HJ 1.00m) also demonstrated potential for the future contesting a variety of events. Beth and Jennifer have both moved up from the under 11 age group and Isla is a new recruit from the Run, Jump and Throw programme.

The under 13 boys all showed progress. Andrew MacNally took third place in the shot throwing a new best 5.84m and also showed good form in the 800m (2:28.9) and High Jump (1.10m).  Lewis Strachan (60m 10.57s, 200m 34.4s, LJ 3.03m) and Michael McCabe (60m 11.27s, Shot 3.96m) also showed improvement from the first match.  Malcolm English and Calum Pressland, another recent recruit from Run, Jump and Throw, contested their first match.  Malcolm took on the 800m (3:29.2) and Long Jump (2.49m).  Calum the 200m (33.1s) and High Jump (1.10m).

The under 11s all continue to show great potential for the future with excellent team performances with both the boys and girls team well placed to qualify for the league final.

The girls dominated their age group. Bethan Trevis was well clear in the 600m (2:05.0mins) then took second in the Standing Long Jump (1.69m) behind her team mate Megan Ely who won in 1.74m. Megan also took 3^rd place in the 60m in 9.92s.  Matilda Williams-Kelly (60m 10.98s, 600m 2:33.1mins) and Helen Mitchell (600m 2:17.4 mins, Standing Long Jump 1.28m) rounded off a superb match win to lift the team to overall third place in the league.

The boys were equally dominant.  Stewart MacNally took two second places in the 60m (9.77s) and Standing Long Jump (1.63m). Aaron Furzer also took second in the 600m (2:05.7 mins) and produced a respectable 1.45m Standing Long Jump.  With further excellent performances from Rory Watson (60m 10.54s, 600m 2:27.3mins), Rory Strachan (60m 10.31s, SLJ 1.38m), Jack Bauchop (60m 10.74s, 600m 2:26.0) and Scott Fleming (600m 2:15.3, SLJ 1.50m) the B team won the match to move to third in the league and the A team placed third which was enough to hold on to the league lead. This leaves both A and B teams well placed to qualify for the league final.

East of Scotland Indoor Championships - Kelvin Hall 17^th & 18^th January 2009

Central AC athletes had a successful weekend at the 2009 East of Scotland Indoor championships at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, winning a total of 5 medals including 2 golds.

Sophie Brown jumped to new heights in winning the under 15 girls High Jump.  Her clearance of 1.58m was not only a personal best but was good enough to set a new club record.

Kathryn Gillespie was also on winning form in the under 13 girls 800m. The Dollar youngster cruised to victory by a huge 10s margin taking the title in another club record performance of 2:29.37mins.

Louise Anderson has shown great improvement in Long Jump over the last year and was rewarded with a silver medal in the under 17 age group jumping 4.97m.  She also showed her sprint form in the 200m setting a season’s best of 29.0s in her heat.

Caitlin Watson was also on fine Long Jumping form taking a bronze in the under 15 age group with a final round personal best jump of 4.44m. The 12 year old Dunblane girl then showed her all round potential with another personal best on the shot (6.87m) to place 4^th, narrowly missing out on another medal then rounded off a busy day sprinting to a seasons best 9.04s in the 60m.

Isla Burns rounded off the medal winners.  The Dollar girl was delighted to take a surprise bronze in the under 13 girls shot with a personal best throw of 5.45m. She then set another best in her 60m heat of 9.83s.

Sarah Dick showed great form in the 60m hurdles and 300m reaching the finals in both events. She took 5^th place in the 300m in a personal best 45.71s then took 5^th place again in the 60m hurdles in another best time of 10.24s.

Also performing well in the under 13 girls events were Lilly Cairns-Haylor and Eilidh Ironside.  Lilly won through to her first ever track final in the 60m then ran a personal best 9.24s to place 5^th.  Eilidh narrowly missed out on the 60m final but was still rewarded with a personal best 9.53s in her heat. In the Long Jump Eilidh managed to get into the top 6 with an excellent jump of 3.56m narrowly ahead of Lilly who took 7^th with a personal best of 3.52m.

Central AC had 2 athletes in the under 15 girls 800m.  Emily Greenan, ran a respectable 2:48.61mins in her heat and Imogen Burnell also produced strong run in her heat to place 4^th.

Also being contested at the weekend were the Scottish closed senior championships. Central ACs only competitor, Kyle Henderson, turned down the opportunity to win gold medals in his own under 17 age group instead choosing to gain valuable experience against the best seniors in Scotland. He produced some excellent performances taking 4^th in the Long Jump and 5^th in the High Jump (1.85m).

East District Cross Country - Match 3 - 18 January 2009

The cold, windy and muddy conditions at the final East District Cross Country League Meeting in Dunfermline on Sunday 18^th January did not blunt the enthusiasm of the Central Athletic Club athletes taking part. As always the Programme started with the Under 11 Race, held over 1.6 kilometres, with Isla Burns proving to be Central’s most determined performer to come home sixth in 7min 58secs.  Megan Ely also showed good form in ninth (8min 30secs) with Charlotte Tilley (14^th; 8.58), Jennifer Downie (15^th; 9.03) and Helen Mitchell (24^th; 10.06) all making progress as Central finished second Under 11 Girls Team on the day.  Amongst the Boys, Scott Fleming sped into 26^th place in 8.51, with Kieran Potter not far behind in 28^th finishing in exactly 9minutes.

The Under 13 Race was held over 3 kilometres and it was Roisin Bonucchi who again caught the eye as she worked through the field to sixth in a tasty 14min 36secs. Laura Clarke also showed good form in 15^th with 15.20 as did Tara Walls in 17^th with 15.43 as the Girls finished third Under 13 Team on the day.  Michael McCabe showed excellent progress as he finished 25^th in the Boys race in 16min 1sec. The Under 15 Boys Team were shooting for the League title and Tom Watson showed some strong running to win the race, covering the 4.2 kilometre course in 15min 55secs. Ross Milne also ran strongly in fifth (16.52) and Roddy Irvine was the Club’s third counter in eleventh (18.53) to ensure the Boys won the Team title on the day and brought home the League Trophy.  Gordon Milne (13^th; 20.25) and Sam Fraser (20.49) provided the back-up showing good form in the deteriorating conditions. Rachel Adamson was the pick of the Under 15 Girls finishing third in 18.07 followed home by Kirsty Buchanan in eighth with 19.59; Julie Cook (15^th; 21.04) and Shona Buchanan (17^th; 21.20).  Catriona Buchanan continued her path back to full fitness as Central’s sole Under 17 Woman finishing third in 18.56 over the same 4.2 kilometres.

The Under 17 Men raced with the Senior Women over 6 kilometres in the most difficult conditions of the day and here it was Andrew Butchart who strode through to fourth in an excellent time of 22min 17secs and it was good to see David Hutchison running strongly to finish 13^th with 24.40. Hazel Dean showed good judgement to work through to fifth in the Womens race (25.56) and with Sarah Wiseman in seventh (26.30) and Jennifer Emsley (20^th; 28.27) the Women finished third in the League. Katie Whitehouse (24^th; 29.23), Isla Campbell (28^th; 30.00) and Kayleigh McGurk (38^th; 31.12) rounded off Central’s effort.

The Mens race was held over 8.6 kilometres and the Club’s intentions were set from the start with five yellow and blue vests taking the pace.  Alistair Hay carried on his strong form from the previous week’s victory in the Inter District Cross Country to win with a high quality run in 30min 8secs.  Alasdair Anthony looked to have claimed a certain second but Under 20 Alexander Hendry had different ideas as he pulled back the yards over the run in to take second in a dip finish with both runners finishing in 31min 10secs. Sean Reilly finished as second Under 20 and fourth overall with 31.39 and Lewis Millar made it five in five for Central with a strong run for 32.01. Robert Wiseman also had a solid performance as Central’s sixth counter in fourteenth (33.04) as Central won the Team race on the day and swept to the Senior Mens League title. Michael Wright finished in a handy 25^th (34.32) with Will Hensman (58^th; 37.38), Fraser Purves (63^rd; 38.48), Andy Turnbull (64^th; 38.08), Alex Milne (66^th; 38.18), Chris McHardy (83^rd; 39.42), Hugh Buchanan (85^th; 39.51) and Phil Hendry (94^th; 40.25), all finishing in the top hundred.  Robert Hutchison (104^th; 41.27), Stuart Watson (125^th; 43.27), Cameron Campbell (132; 44.01), David Hay (144; 44.49), Alan Gall (149^th; 45.38) and Jim Drummond (181^st; 54.59) rounded off another successful day for Central. Special thanks are due to the fine work by Team Manager David Hay who found time from his hectic day to compete.

Earlier in the day a Team from Central had competed in the Veterans Road Race Relays over four legs of 3.7miles in Strathclyde Park.  The Team of Ewan Jack (21.38), Robert Hutchison (22.24), Steve Laing (22.56) and Alex Milne (22.40) came eleventh overall and with Robert and Alex also competing in the afternoon’s Cross Country Race it underlined their commitment to the Club.

Scott McDonald was representing Scotland in the Under 20 Celtic International Cross Country in Cardiff, his third placing helping to ensure that Scotland retained the Team Title.

Alison Docherty came home second Woman in the Jack Crawford Springburn Cup 10 kilometre race on Saturday 17 January in a time of 36min 40secs while Hugh Kerr finished 47^th overall in 38min 59secs.

Junior Cross Country – Part 4 – 24 January 2009

The fourth race in Central Athletic Club’s Junior Cross Country Series was held over a tough course around Alva Woodlands featuring a testing uphill run to the finish. However the high quality group of twenty one young athletes all passed the test presented to them.

Sam Fraser returned to winning ways as he continued at the head of the Under Boys rankings when winning in a time of 6min 23secs. Roisin Bonucchi ran strongly to come home second overall and consolidate her leading position in the Under 13 Girls Series to finish in 6min 33secs.  Laura Clarke also ran well to finish as second Under 13 Girl (6.52) with Tara Walls showing good form for third in this age group (6.59). Emily Greenan found the final run in to be ‘a bridge too far’ after her fine run in the mid week Schools races and here finished fourth in 7.22 and with Farren Parkins ran in strongly in  fifth (7.36).

Jack Kerr continues to grow in confidence and here had a strong run to lead home the Under 11 Boys in an excellent 6min 54secs. Lewis Strachan was another to show improvement as he finished second Under 11Boy (7.05) and newcomer Kieran Potter looked good as he finished third (7.16). Rory Strachan (fourth with 7.40), Ailig Struthers (fifth in 7.50) and Liam McGregor (sixth in 9.20) should all be proud of their runs. Charlotte Tilley was another to have a confident run as she finished first Under 11 Girl (7.37). Beth Gallagher was a welcome addition and had a sound run for second Under 11 Girl (7.41) with Bevan Trevis also showing good form in third (7.49). It was also good to welcome Jennifer Anderson to the Series, finishing fourth (8.10) with Jennifer Downie (fifth 8.18) and another newcomer Isla Davidson (sixth 8.19) all proving their credentials.

Domenico Angiolini bounced back from his previous week’s ankle injury to win the Under 13 Boys category in a very useful 6min 56secs.  Michael McCabe continued his good form in second (7.22) while yet another newcomer, Sean Webb, proved a useful addition finishing in 7min 34secs.

The Series now moves on to the Club Cross Country Championships on Saturday 14 February at Queen Victoria School.

4k National Cross Country Champs – 25 January

 Central AC took another series of national cross country medals in the national shortcourse championships, the 4K National Championships, at soggy Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. The men made it silver and ladies bronze for the team championship titles, with Alistair Hay picking up a bronze individual medal. Whilst, the course was flat, yet again the desperately poor drainage of this park and a morning of rain made the going tougher than it should be for fast racing in the two race programme.

Defending champion Alistair Hay had to settle for third place with a time of 12m37s. He locked horns with a Shettleston Harriers’ trio of Eritrean runners for most of the race but in the last quarter had to drop off the lead to finish three seconds back from  Tsegai Tewelde and Tewoldeberhan Menghis as they took the higher medals and contributed towards the Shettleston club’s winning team award. Scott McDonald won out a close battle with team-mate Robert Russell that ended with them fifth and seventh in 12.50 and 12.55. Fourth team counter was Alex Hendry with 13^th in 13.17 with another strong performance that took the Central squad to silver team place. Sean Reilly was 17^th in 13.36, Lewis Millar 23^rd with 13.54, Alex Milne 52^nd with 15.37 and Robert Hutchison 65^th in 16.17 in a quality field. To add further spice, Scott MacDonald clinched third place over Alistair Hay in fourth by a single point in what was the final race in the Stewarts Cross Country Grand Prix series.

For the ladies, Freya Murray for Edinburgh AC set off in dominant form to win the race comfortably but behind her a strong field battled for the minor places and team standings. Alison Docherty led Central to team bronze medals as she worked up the field to finish 9^th in 15.45s, with Emma Waterhouse 14^th in 15.53, Fiona Thompson 20^th in 16.35 and Hazel Dean in 26^th with 17.03 as they took bronze medals behind Edinburgh AC and Victoria Park City of Glasgow.