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Weekend Roundup 4 to 7 June
The final event in the Forth Valley Athletic Partnership’s Endurance Initiative was the Hill Race held at Cockleroy near Linlithgow on Friday 5th June, over an approximate distance of one mile. Scott Balloch showed maturity beyond his years as he sped home in a tasty 4min 36secs ahead of another good run from Sam Fraser (4.22). This was also Iain Davies’s introduction to this discipline and he showed good aptitude to finish in an excellent 4min 55secs ahead of a tasty tussle between Michael McCabe (5.01) and Gary MacFarlane (5.02). Shannon MacFarlane again showed good form and determination to finish in 5min 28secs and it was good to see Ailig Struthers finishing at speed to record 5.38. Daniel McGhee (5.45), Euan McKenna (5.49), Drew Meikle (5.54) and Lewis Sinclair (6.11) were all feeling their way in this new event and all came through with merit. Thanks are due to the great back-up to the Series from Willie Day and Willie Sharp from Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Derek Easton and Lewis Millar from Central Athletic Club.
The Polaroid Eyewear 10K Series reached its penultimate stage at Dumbarton on Thursday 4th June with Alison Docherty taking second place for the third successive week in a new personal best of 35min 53secs. Ross Houston also made his mark in third place in the Mens Race clocking an excellent 31min 1sec. Alex Milne also ran well to finish in 36min 59secs as did Hazel Dean with 39.16.
Alastair Hay continued his excellent Season with a 3min 45.63secs clocking over 1500 metres at the prestigious St. Mary’s Twickenham Meeting on Wednesday 3rd June, following his 3min 44.85secs timing the previous weekend.
Sarah Dick and Caitlin Watson performed with distinction at the Scottish Schools Combined Events Championships at Grangemouth on Saturday 6th June. Sarah put together performances of 13.55secs for 80metres Hurdles, 6.75 metres Shot Put, 4.07 metres Long Jump, 1.43metres High Jump and 2min 45.26secs for 800metres to take the Bronze medal in the 15 to 17 Age Group Pentathlon. Caitlin performed well in the Secondary One Triathlon recording a 1.39 metre High Jump, 7.79 metre Shot Put and 2min 1.64secs for 600 metres to win the Silver medal.
The Gargunnock Hill Race, organised by David Hay, was also held on Saturday 6th June in conjunction with the Gargunnock Show. Lewis Millar ensured the title came to a local runner with a strong run for an emphatic victory in 31min 43secs. Alex Milne finished sixth overall and third Veteran spot with 35.27 and a superb 35.40 clocking by Alexander Coubrough ensured the Junior Mens title stayed in Gargunnock with a time of 35.40 and eighth place overall. Ross Milne (36.57) in thirteenth was second Junior Man while Hugh Buchanan (37.57, 16th) and Robert Hutchison (38.10, 21st) also ran well. Catriona Buchanan was first Junior Lady and 23rd overall finishing in 38.39 with Isla Campbell (40.24, 27th), Katie Whitehouse (40.51, 29th), Bob Steel (41.24, 30th), Jane Waterhouse (41.41, 31st) and Fiona Kelsall (41.54, 38th) all well to the fore. Roddy Irvine finished 40th overall in 42.42 to take third Junior Man with Gordon Mine 53rd, 45.06 as fourth Junior Man and Sandy MacLarty 61st, 51.12 as fifth Junior Man. Simon Nash finished well in 49th in a time of 45.06 ahead of Stuart Anderson (48.15, 60th), John Dickson 64th, 52.56 and Jim Spalding 67th, 55.03.
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Weekend Action of 13 -14 June
Central Athletic Club’s Ladies swept to Team Gold medals in the Scottish 10 Kilometre Road Race Championships at Vale of Leven on Sunday 14th June. Over a tough course it was Alison Docherty who led the team home in 36min 59secs also winning an individual Bronze medal in the Scottish Championship Race and cementing her second place in the Polaroid Eyewear 10K Series. Both Fiona Thomson (39min 35secs) and Hazel Dean (41.10) ran determinedly to ensure that Central travelled home with the Gold medals.
Alastair Hay continues to chip away at his personal best times and brought his 1500 metres time down to 3min 44.43secs at the British Milers Club Meeting at Watford on Saturday night.
Three of Central’s aspiring young athletes made the long trip to Snowdon on Sunday 14 June to compete in the European Mountain Running Championships Trial for the UK Team. Scott McDonald and Alex Hendry finished First and Second in the Junior Mens Race, hence guaranteeing their selection for the Great Britain team. They both dictated the race and although Scott opened a gap at one stage Alex fought back battling to the end with Scott prevailing by just 9secs with a large gap back to Robbie Simpson of Banchory in third and Ricky Challinor of Liverpool fourth. Catriona Buchanan was one of the youngest runners in the Junior Women’s race and found the course a bit short for her liking finishing eleventh overall but will have gained invaluable experience for the future.
Ross Houston was another to continue his successful Season with a tasty 24min 30secs in the Corstorphine 5mile Road Race on Wednesday 10th June breaking the previous course record in second place to Altrincham’s Andy Norman (24.28) but well ahead of the rest of the field.
The Dechmont Law 2.5K Trail Fun Run was held over an undulating course in Livingston on 14 June with the talented Roisin Bonucci taking first place in 8min 54secs. An improved run from Michael McCabe (8.59) saw him come through in second place while debutant Graham Bruce (10.23) also showed good form in third.
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Scottish Athletics Senior Championships 20-21 June
Central Athletic Club’s athletes competed with distinction at the held at Pitreavie over the weekend of 20/21 June.
Top billing went to an emphatic victory in the Womens 1500metres by defending Champion Morag MacLarty as she held of a gutsy challenge by Scottish Cross Country Champion Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC) to win in 4min 18.31secs.
Emma Raven (nee Waterhouse) won Silver on succeeding days in two of the toughest endurance races. Saturday’s 3,000metres Steeplechase time was 10min 43.94secs and Emma posted a tasty 17min 9.18secs on Sunday for her second Silver.
The Mens 3,000metres Steeplechase saw Central’s Alex Hendry and Michael Wright battling for the minor places behind Kirkintilloch’s Matthew Graham. Alex came through to take Silver in 10min 00.17secs with Michael lifting Bronze with 10min 4.63secs.
Kyle Henderson may only be 16 years of age but he is already mixing with the Scottish elite. Here, for the second week in succession, he cleared 2.00metres in the High Jump and had a fractional failure at 2.05metres. The clearance was however sufficient to give Kyle his first Senior Bronze medal. Kyle best effort in the Long Jump saw him sail out to 6.74metres for fourth overall in a classy competition.
Alastair Hay and Sean Reilly had to endure tough qualifying conditions in Saturday’s heats of the 1500metres posting times of 3min 49.43secs and 3min 52.28secs respectively to qualify for Sunday’s final and bringing a massive personal best for Sean. In the final it was guest Australian athlete Collis Birmingham who pushed the pace to break up the field and saw Alastair falling back on the third lap. With a strong effort Alastair strode purposely on the last lap to pick up places but had to settle for fourth (3min 48.29secs), a tantalising 0.16 seconds away from Bronze. Sean looked below par after his fine effort on Saturday and had to settle for tenth in the Final.
Jennifer Hutchison was another to compete on both days coming through her 400metres hurdles heats in 67.09secs to qualify for Sunday’s Final. The Final saw Jennifer produce her trademark full out performance to come home fifth in a useful 66.01secs.
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England Under 20 and Under 23 Athletics Championships and European Trials 27 and 28 June, Bedford
Four of Central Athletic Club’s young athletes tackled the Aviva England Under 20 and Under 23 Athletics Championships and European Trials in 28degree heat in Bedford over the weekend of 27 and 28 June. With quality fields throughout the competition this event takes the athletes on to a different level to that normally experienced in Scotland.
Michael Wright tackled the Under 23 3,000metres Steeplechase and had his best ever run at these Championships staying competitive throughout to finish fourth in an excellent time of 9min 50.09secs.
Andrew Butchart continued his impressive Season with a superb clocking of 15min 2.93secs in the Under 20 5,000metres to finish seventh in a quality field in his first exposure at this level.
Alex Hendry came home sixth in the Under 20 3,000metres Steeplechase, knocking some 20seconds from his personal best, to finish in a tasty 9min 31.38secs.
Sean Reilly tackled the Under 1500metres and was the only Central runner to come away disappointed on the day clocking an unexpected 4min 6.04secs, some 12 seconds outside his best to finish tenth in his heat.
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