Club track and Field Championships 13 September 2003. Grangemouth Stadium was the venue for Central Athletics Club's 2003 Joint Club Championships, along with athletes from Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Kirkintilloch Olympians, ensuring a good standard of competition throughout the age groups.

The Under 11 Girls competition saw some fine sprinting from Katie Campbell and Stephanie O'Neil, while Mhairi Gillespie showed good pace judgement for a new personal best of 3 mins 0.9 secs in the 800 metres. Both Katie-Marie King and Emma Chalmers scored consistently across their disciplines to provide a good set of results.  However it was Rachel Mills who produced the best results in this age group with a fine 15.7 secs for the 100 metres.  The Under 11 Boys saw a close competition between Martyn Paterson and Kyle Henderson. Both boys showed fine sprinting form with Kyle winning the 100 metres in 14.6 secs and Martyn producing the faster time in the 200 metres (30.5 secs). Roddy Irvine also put together a useful set of performances with strong sprinting and good form in the 800 metres.  David Hutchison used his blistering finishing speed to great effect to win a highly competitive 800 metres race in 2 min 44.6 secs.  There is little doubt that David Scott could have made an impact in this age group, however he only contested the 200 metres (30.8 secs).

Jennifer Hutchison proved to be the strongest competitor in the Under 13 Girls with 12.7 secs for 70 metre hurdles being her best performance.  Hillary Warkentin showed a high level of competence across a range of events and looked very comfortable in her 800 metres (2 min 41 secs).  Dee Henderson showed some fine sprinting form on her way to collecting a large haul of points. Gemma Milne was another to tackle a variety of events, looking strong throughout and Kelly Natella was not far off the pace in her 200 and 800 metre races. Rosie Rogers could perhaps have made an impact in this age group if she had tackled more than one event. In the Under 13 Boys competition Matthew Gillespie showed some of his ability which has taken him to Scottish titles on the track, road, cross-country and hills, winning the 800 metres in 2 mins 22.4 secs. Both Sean Reilly and Anthony Gillespie put in some very competitive performances while Richard Holley, Ryan Stewart and Jamie Urquhart were all posting excellent performances over a range of events.

In the Under 15 age group Natalie Doyle's hurdling and sprinting caught the eye, winning the 75 metres hurdles in 11.9 secs and posting the fastest time in the 100 metres (13.1 secs). Amy Pearson was another to show good running form to put together a useful set of performances.  Tammy Breingan's sprinting was very able and her long jump of 3.92 metres was a key element in her points collection.  Mhairi Alexander was not far off the pace in the sprints, also producing a useful shot putt of 6.69 metres.

Matthew Gillespie was the class of the Under 15 Boys age group, his middle distance performances accumulating an vast collection of points.  Michael even found a sprint finish to take him to victory in one of the most keenly contested races of the day, taking the 800 metres by the narrowest of margins in 2 mins 12.5 secs.  Calum Johnson and Michael Wallace both showed they had much to offer the Club with good performances from 200 to 800 metres and a discus throw by Michael of over 26 metres.

In the Under 17 age group Elayne Henderson showed why she has been representing Scotland at Multi Events with excellent results across her range of events - 100m in 13.3 secs; 300m hurdles in 47.8 secs and Triple Jump of 10.95 metres. Lauren McNab had more than useful performances in the 200 (27.6 secs) and 800 metres (2min 29 secs) while Sarah Hay also showed excellent form in her chosen events, 100 (13.3) and 200 (27.0) but lacked the back-up from a field event performance. Fiona Chalmers also showed good running form, especially in the 300 metres (44.2 secs) but needed a field event performance to really make an impact in these Championships. Dione Milne was another to put together a useful set of performances to show she is not far off the pace over a range of events. Michael Wright, performing in the Under 17 Mens events had an excellent 1500 metres run of just under 4 mins 20 secs, competetly backed up by a long jump of 5.17 metres.  It was good to see Stuart Chalmers back competing again and he showed he can still make an impact in this age group with a clearance of 1.62 metres in the high jump and some decent sprinting. Jamie Cramond and Richard Holley also showed good sprinting form in their contribution to the Championships.

Fiona Thompson had no opposition in becoming Under 20 Womens Champion with her performance of 2.23.4 over 800 metres being sufficient to clinch the title - this was just a warm-up for her win in the Under 20 Section of the City of Stirling 10k on the following day. Although Alastair Hay's performances were a little adrift of his personal bests following his first week at University they were still sufficient to take the Under 20 Mens title. However if Ewan Laing had completed all his events he could have mounted a significant challenge. Craig Campbell made an appearance over 100 metres but withdrew after this due to injury.

Claire Waterhouse and Ainsley Normand contested the Senior Women's title with Claire's runs over 1500 metres (5.14.16) and 3000 metres (10.58.7), scoring slightly higher than Ainsley's runs over 800 metres (2.33.6) and 1500 metres (5.07.97). Kenny Pearson took the Senior Mens event with consistent performances in the High Jump (1.75 metres) and 400 metres hurdles (61.5 secs) before sending the javelin out to 46.33 metres. Martin Crawford mounted a strong challenge in this age group with excellent runs in the 400 metres (53.3 secs) and 800 metres (2.03.2), backed up by a 5.42 metre long jump.  Richard Coombs showed his strengh over the longer distances with runs over 1500 metres (5.04) and 300 metres (!!.04.5) on the same afternoon.  Robert Russell warmed up for his City of Stirling 10k victory on the following day with a strong run in the 800 metres (2.03.6) and Alex Milne also had an excellent run in this event (2.07.5)..

Jane Waterhouse's performances in the 1500 metres along with a solo 11.32.5 for 3000 metres and a personal best in the shot-putt of 7.40 metres, allowed her to take the Veteran Womens title.  The Veteran Mens competition was, as always, a well-contested event with strong running taking Roger Greenaway to the title.  Derek Easton took time out from coaching duties to produce good runs over 800 and 1500 metres. George McHardy used his throwing ability to good effect in racking up excellent points and Robert Hutchison had an excellent 800 metres run backed up with good points from the triple jump. If Gordon Paterson had posted a field event performance he could well have featured in the medals. Steve Laing proved to be the class in this age group, winning the 800 metres in 2.08.9, but then withdrew to save himself for a fine run for second veteran's prize in the City of Stirling 10K. John Millar was another with an excellent run in the 800 metres.

Congratulations are due to all athletes who took part to and thanks to the many Officials, parents and friends who helped to make the day a great success.

Throwing across America by Margery Swinton

This year I did not go to the World Championships in Puerto Rico, opting instead for several throwing competitions at different places in the United States.  Staying with American throwing friends made for an enjoyable holiday, training and competitions. The first competition was in Lancaster, PA organised by the Long, Strong, Throws club. There were the 4 throws events, weight and super weight (25lbs for all age groups women)  The weather was so searingly hot. I love the heat so temperatures of 32 to 40c was wonderful. This was my last competition as W55 and I went out with a bang, season’s best in everything except javelin and winning all 6 events. Even improved my British masters weight record.

Training for this competition and the next one up near Boston, was carried out at 6.30am in a public park in Flushing, New York. We did shot and discus from off the tarred walkways around the park onto grass, not lawns with ‘keep off’ signs, just rough grass for public use.  Other people were jogging, power walking or practising Tai Chi.  Temperatures at this time were around 25c. We returned home at 8am when the park was getting busy and there was a danger of folk getting hit!! In the afternoons we went out to C.W. Post university campus on Long Island, for hammer training. An unbelievably fast circle, with a cement area for drills in front. As the temperatures were up in the 35c+, the tree beside the cage provided welcome shade for our seats.

The journey to the college campus in Springfield, near Boston was not very interesting.  Springfield is an industrial town where Smith & Weston guns are manufactured, amongst other light industry.  The campus facilities, like almost all in the US, take your breath away, if you are British. Eight lane all weather tracks are the norm with all the facilities of local authority stadia in Britain. Most are open  to public through term and holidays.  In addition to javelin on the infield, hammer, discus and shot were held on the out field, beside the track. Imagine 2 cages, one a dedicated hammer circle, the other hammer or discus, and 2 shot circles. No shade here and temperatures were up to 40c. This competition was the Eastern Regional championships.  That w/e all over America the regionals were taking place.  This time only the 4 throwing events, my first competition as W60 and 4 wins. The hot, hot weather suits me.  My fellow competitors were visably wilting around me. This last 2 weeks I have never drunk so much water and Gatorade.

After returning to NY for 2 days we flew to Reno, to be met by Joan, a W50 thrower, who lives at Lake Tahoe. We stayed there for 3 days, doing our altitude (5000m) training! at the local middle school ground.  Glad I am not a runner as the visiting geese have fairly messed up the track!  The scenery around Lake Tahoe is breathtakingly beautiful and we went for walks in the early evening, before their midgies got busy. There is a long distance walk or trail around Tahoe, known as the Tahoe Rim Trail and it is 165 miles long. It goes along the ridge tops, through the state land parks, national forests and wilderness areas. Whilst there the fire alert was high and not many people were trail walking.  Joan is only a 5 minute drive from Heavenly, one of the many good ski areas around her home.

Two hours driving took us down to Sacramento where the Pan Pacific Games were taking place. The dry heat here was easily 40c and again no shade at the stadium.  The 4 throwing events took place over 3 days so there was time to explore the city and its surrounds.   The ’49 gold rush started here and part of Old Sacramento still remains. It is a great tourist attraction.  The old buildings, hotel, saloon, fire station and stables, shops, wooden covered pavements all like the towns in cowboy films.  Ships bringing gold prospectors arrived at the pier and the railway took them up to the various prospecting areas in the surrounding hills.  One day after an early competition we went up the gold mining route to some of the small towns. Many grew to be successful towns, others are ghost towns but interesting to visit.

After the final competition (2 firsts, 1 second and 1 third) we drove back to Lake Tahoe to prepare for the US Masters championships in Eugene, Oregon.  This was to be a beautiful but long 10.5 hour drive.  The mountains in the distance were still snow covered and the tinder dry grass plains gave way to slopes and then everywhere was tree covered, we were in green Oregon. The next day we registered, met up with friends and checked out the circles. The famous Hayward track was home to Bill Bowerman, who invented the Nike shoes, and has seen many great meets and star international athletes.  It is the throwing equipment men who are the unsung heroes. Never have I met such helpful and knowledgeable men. They stripped down a hammer and showed me how to sort a problem spindle and what was needed. If you have a throwing implement that is under/over weight or has some other problem, they can and will sort it for you.

Competition here is good and standards are high. The weather was good but cooler, being around 30c but the events were challenging.  Had best discus throw for 5 years 23.16, taking me from 6^th to first in the 5^th round.  I then had to sweat it out to see if anyone would knock me off gold. The only person likely to was Kathy Jager who had been lying first (Remember the gender bender lady from Gateshead who was banned for drugs?) She is back.  She did not manage to improve on her distance I am glad to say as that victory was most sweet.  Managed 2^nd in shot, 3^rd in hammer and 6^th in javelin.

Next day it was back to Reno where we were dropped off for flight to NY the next day. I had one more day in NY and then flew home, arriving in Edinburgh on the morning that NY suffered its power shutdown. I had a great time, great competition and successes but also had a holiday and training with like minded friends. Now to plan next year’s trip!!!

Margery Swinton

A Visit to a Discus Factory

Eugene, Oregon is not only known as Track town but is home to OTE equipment. OTE stands for Oregon Training Equipment and this company produces some of the world’s finest discs and javelins. The javelins here are all designed by Dick Held who is world renowned for his work on tail flight.  All javelins are hand built here as are their discii. I have bought equipment from them in the past and this time I was offered the chance of going around the discus factory. OTE was sold to Gill Athletics who sell their own discus as well as OTE, Hollowood and Obol amongst others.

The man in charge is the only man in the USA who builds discii by hand.  If you purchase an OTE disc it can constantly be rebuilt if you choose to keep wrecking it. Other discs have a limited rebuild life.  The metal rims are bought in.  They look like metal quoits.  They come in the different sizes according to the different weight discs. They have to be shaped ie the rim curved, on a lathe.  The wood for the centres is American wood that  has only been slightly seasoned. It is shaped by hand on a lathe like a solid saucer, then hollowed out.  These are then dried further in a kiln.  The top coverings are plastic, aluminium or fibreglass laminate, the differences depending on the type of discus and its quality. Some discs are wooden topped. These are made slightly differently. 

Once the wooden frames are ready, they are glued together. The metal rims are tooled to give them a thread on the inside and they are screwed onto the wooden frame. Once this is done the outer coverings are fitted into place and the centre screw inserted.  The discus is weighed. OTE allow up to .8g over weight to allow for wear on their discs. The outer rim is given final trim and weighed again to ensure it comes within specifications. The entire disc is then polished.

In addition to discii being different weights, they are weighted differently according to the ability and competence of the thrower. The weight distribution can vary from 75% in the rim to 85% or 95%. This allows the disc to spin more times per  second and therefore fly further. Prices reflect this. OTE do low movement, high movement and very high movement. 

The factory will do rebuilds and repairs, so if your rim gets badly dented, or a top/bottom is cracked or dented, all is not lost.  Whilst we were touring around, the man himself said he had just completed an emergency order for Susi Powell. All 6 of her various weight discii had been stolen from her car and she needed replacements for preparing for Paris.  She uses under / over and different rim weighted discii.  The order had just been completed.  On asking Mr Discus how long it took to make a single discus, he found it difficult to say as he might spend one day doing rims, another day doing the wooden frames, another day fixing rims to discs etc. It was a very interesting visit and I would not hesitate to send my discii back to the factory if the need arose.

Margery Swinton

JSB PLUMBING FORTH VALEY LEAGUE - PRESIDENTS SELECT MEETING. 6 SEPTEMBER 2003

A number of Central Athletic Clubs young athletes were selected for the President's Select Match that traditionally brings down the curtain on the JSB Plumbing Forth Valley League.

The Under 11 Girls saw excellent performances from Rachel Mills for the Division 1 Select Team.  Rachel picked up silver medals in the 200 metres (32.5secs) and Shot Putt (5.46 metres) as well as finishing fourth in the 100 metres (15.4secs) and helping the Division One 4x 100metres Relay Team to gold medals.  Emma Chalmers performed well for the President's Select Team with a fourth place and personal best in the long jump (3.22 metres) and a good run in the relay.

Sprinters Kyle Henderson and Martyn Paterson were star turns in the Under 11 Boys sprint events.  Kyle had a fine win for the President's Select Team in the 100 metres (14.4 secs) and backed this up with third place in the 200 metres (31.7 secs) also assisting his 4x100 metres relay team through to second place. Martyn came away with a full set of medals from his efforts on behalf of the Division 1 Team - Gold in the 200 metres (30.6secs), silver from the 100 metres (14.8secs) and bronze in the high jump (1.10 metres).  Martyn then rounded the day off by helping his team to relay victory.  David Hutchison had a good run for third place in the 800 metres (2.47.4) while Roddy Irvine showed he is another fine prospect with a classy finish in this race, almost catching David on the line and being credited with the same time.

The Under 13 Girls Division 1 Team were ably represented by Dee Henderson and Becky Hay. Dee picked up an individual bronze medal with her fine run in the 200metres (29.5secs) and a gold medal in the winning relay team. Dee rounded off her afternoon with fourth place in the 100 metres (14.5 secs).  Becky showed good form in the Long Jump and came away with a able performance of 3.48 metres.

Sean Reilly, competing for the Division 1 team, moved down from his normal middle distance events and found the 100 metres a bit fast for his liking, coming home in fifth place (14.7 secs). However Sean's stamina told in the 200metres where he picked up a deserved silver medal in a personal best 29.1secs.  Ryan Stewart (President' Select) underlined his potential with silver in the Under 13 Boys Javelin (24.94 metres).

Linda MacAdam proved to be the unluckiest of the Club's athletes on the day, pulling a hamstring in the Under 15 Girls 200 metres, but bravely finished the race to gain points for the Division 1 team.

Daniel Jackson was the Club's sole representative in the Under 15 Boys age group.  Competing in the President's Select Team, Daniel had excellent silver medal runs in the 100 (12.2secs) and 200 metres (25.6secs).  Daniel also had the honour of anchoring home the winning 4x100 metres relay team in the final event of the day.

Overall the Girls and Boys President's Select Teams managed to hold off the challenges from both the First and Second Division Teams.

Junior Hill Running Championships - Dreghorn - 6 September 2003. Central’s Matthew Gillespie, the current Under 13 Scottish Road Race and 800 metres Champion, showed his all-round versatility by easily winning the Under 14 Boys Race in the Junior Hill Running Championships over a testing course at Dreghorn on 6th September.  Alasdair Anthony and Jamie McDonald finished second and third respectively in the Senior Mens Hill Race held in association with the event.

Home Countries Combined Events International, Deeside, North Wales, 6^th & 7^th September 2003

Club all rounder Elayne Henderson (right), has finished her season with an impressive display for Scotland in the annual home countries combined events international.  The event was held recently in North Wales and features the top senior and junior multi event athletes from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

Competing in the Junior Heptathlon event she opened with solid performances in the 100m Hurdles (16.34s) and High Jump (1.63m) then launched the Shot Putt out to a new personal best 8.80m.  A thunderstorm and stiff headwind prevented any fast times in the 200m but she ran a gritty 27.9s to end the first day. She started the second day with an excellent Long Jump (5.38m) then produced respectable performances in the Javelin and 800m (2:44mins) to finish on a total score of 3998 points. This placed her 12^th overall against the senior athletes but more importantly 4^th out of junior (under 20) athletes which is an excellent performance against an international field especially as at 16 years of age she was one the youngest in the competition.

Elayne’s performance helped the Scotland team to second overall narrowly losing out to a strong England team. She will get a chance for revenge over the English soon though.  The fifth year pupil at Alva Academy, has been selected to represent Scotland in the indoor Schools Pentathlon International in Glasgow this December.

This brings to an end a hugely successful season for Elayne where she has won the Scottish under 20 Heptathlon title, Scottish under 17 Triple Jump title and is one of the few Scottish athletes to win two AAAs medals this season (under 17 Triple Jump silver and under 17 Heptathlon bronze).

Elayne’s coach, Central A.C. member, Kenny Pearson, was also representing Scotland in North Wales as the Scotland team coach.  This is the first time he has held this position though he has competed as an athlete for Scotland at this event several times in the past.