Bank of Scotland Under13 & Under15 Scottish Athletics Championships - Grangemouth 6 July, 2003

There may have been a  low number of young athletes representing Central Athletic Club at the Bank of Scotland Under13 & Under15 Scottish Athletics Championships but those that did compete had a high level of success.

Natalie Doyle (right) looked her normal assured self as she hurdled to a gold medal performance in the Under15 Girls 75metres hurdles in 11.62secs. Natalie also showed excellent sprinting ability to take silver in the 100metres in 12.66secs, missing out on gold by the closest of margins.

Michael Gillespie continues to produce mature performances and again cut his personal best to 4min 23.76secs in a high class run for silver in the Under15 Boys 1500metres.

Matthew Gillespie was Central's star turn in the Under13 Boys 800metres, showing astute pace and racing judgement to win gold in the excellent time of 2mins 20.66secs.

Jennifer Hutchison rounded off Central's medal performances with a confident and determined silver medal run in the Under 13 Girls 70metres hurdles and another personal best of 12.88secs. Jennifer is starting to reap the benefits of hurdles coaching sessions with Fiona Laing.

Dee Henderson showed some good sprinting form in the Under13 Girls 100metres (14.41secs), but fell just short of the qualifying standard for the final.While Central's young athletes again showed that they can compete alongside the best in Scotland the Club should have been better represented in this age group Championships and it is hoped that Scottish Athletics will move future year's Championships away from the first week of the school holidays.                                                                                                      back

National Junior Relay Championships- Scotstoun 12th July, 2003

Silver medals were the reward for Central AC’s Under 17 Ladies in the National Junior Relay Championships at Scotstoun.  The quartet of Lauren McNab, Sarah Hay, Fiona Chalmers and Elayne Henderson held onto an exceptional team from City of Glasgow and pulled themselves to a season’s best in Central colours of 51.25s. Earlier the Under 13 team of Hilary Warkentin, Jennifer Hutchison, Becky Hay and Dee Henderson just missed out on medals with a fourth place in 58.9s.                                                                                 back      

Sunday Mail Scottish Senior Championships - Scotstoun 11th and 12th July, 2003

Central athletes fell just short of medals in the Senior Championships but good performances were posted by Robert Russell – fourth in the 5000 metres in 14.41.92; Calum Laing – fourth in the 110 metres hurdles in 15.57 and Kenny Pearson – seventh in the pole vault 3.70 metres.                                                                                                                    back

IAAF World Youth Championships- Sherbrooke, Canada 9-12th July 2003

Seventeen year old Morag MacLarty (below) had her first taste of the very top international competition at the weekend representing Great Britain Juniors in the 800 metres in the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada.  Having broken her personal best earlier in the summer to achieve the difficult qualifying standard, Morag was one of only two Scots in the GB team. Morag seemingly eased through the heats and semi-finals with second places in both her races with reaching the final a remarkable achievement.  However, the final was a blast from gun to tape between two top class young Russians and two other eastern European girls and Morag could not match their pace.  The race was won by Maria Chnapaeva of Russia in a new Championship record of 2:03.4s.  Given that all the times in the final were faster than the winning time at the weekends Scottish Senior Championships, Morag must have learned a lot from the experience of competition at this level.                                                          back

Alva Highland Games -12th July 2003

Club stalwart Martin Crawford showed his usual versatility by competing in the Alva Highland Games on Saturday. Running off a handicap of 70m, he turned in an impressive time of 1m 54s in the 800m handicap race to take the silver medal position, only 5m behind the winning athlete who had started off a handicap of 130m.

He had better luck however in the  400m handicap race when a time of 50s, off a 31m handicap.saw him take a comfortable first place about 5m ahead of the second placed athlete.

Martin reports that the games offered a good day out and recommends this type of event  to anybody interested in trying out a different type of racing.                             back

Hardrock Hundred mile Endurance Race 11th - 12th July 2003

Not content with achieving his first sub 24 hour finish in  the West Highland Way Race on the weekend of 19 & 20th June, “Mad” Jim Drummond showed how he earned his nickname by following this at the weekend with an even more impressive exhibition of stamina  in  Colorado in the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run on 11-12th July. Jim was 45th finisher (12th over 50) from a starting line up of 112, from which 79 finished within the 48 hours allowed for this gruelling event. The route goes through the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado: 101.7 miles, 33,000 feet total elevation gain, 11,186 feet average elevation, low point 7,680 feet at Ouray, high point 14,048 feet at Handies Peak. (Dumyat is only 1,373 feet high.!!!) Jim said it was 'very hot' and was heard talking about taking up carpet bowls. Surely not! Well done Jim - keep on running!

Roger Greenaway also finished under 24 hours in the West Highland Way Race. Roger was supported by Robert Stott. Jim was supported by Ivor Campbell. Great teamwork from CAC endurance section!                                                                                               back