Tayside Pentathlon championships, 13 September, Dundee

Central Ac athlete’s Lily Cairns-Haylor of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane’s Jonathan Fenn-Tye were both celebrating medal success at the Tayside open Pentathlon championships in Dundee.

Lily took an excellent bronze in the under 13 girls event with the 4^th best score in Scotland for the age group. She opened with a good High Jump (1.27m) then produced an excellent personal best 12.9s in the 70m hurdles, a time which ranks her as one of the top 10 hurdlers in Scotland for her age. Further personal bests in the Shot (5.56m) and Long Jump (3.94m) and a gritty 800m (2:55.2mins) saw her take third place overall with a score of 1814.

Jonathan came home with an excellent silver medal in the under 17 mens pentathlon. He knew he was up against it from the start when he realised he was facing Michael Downie of Arbroath, the current UK Decathlon champion in the age group, but Jonathan performed admirably setting a personal best in every event. Highlights were an excellent 24.8s 200m into a stiff breeze and a new Long Jump best of 5.19m as he finished on a new club record score of 2210 points.

Stirling 10k – 20 September 2009

The Stirling 10Kilometre Road Race was held in excellent running conditions on Sunday 20^th September with Alison Docherty and Ross Houston proving to be Central Athletic Club’s top finishers on the day. The event doubled up as the final event in the Stewarts Scottish Grand Prix Series and with Alison sitting in second place in the Series and double Grand Prix points on offer there was plenty of incentive for a fast run.  Alison pushed throughout the race to be rewarded with a personal best of 35min 48secs but once again had to give way to the Grand Prix leader, Toni McIntosh, who won the race in a classy 35.08 clocking. Alison led Central’s ladies to the Team prize with back up from Jennifer Emsley (ninth with 39.16), Hazel Dean (15^th with 39.48) and Claire Houston (24^th in 41.31).  Indeed Hazel’s run capped off an excellent Season ensuring she won the Masters prize in the Stewarts Grand Prix.  Another Central runner to catch the eye was Rosie Hastings who finished second in the Junior (Under 20) race.

The Mens race was dominated by Shettleston Athletic Club’s four Eritrean athletes, with Tsegai Tewelde’s 29min 07secs just setting a new course record. Central’s Ross Houston ran strongly to come home sixth in an excellent 30min 59secs with Lewis Millar capping off an excellent Season with a new personal best of 31min 48secs in seventh place. Andrew Butchart was another to post a significant personal best of 32.05 as he swept to ninth overall and second Junior Man and with David Lindsay coming home in his best time of the Season (33.19) for 19^th Central lifted the second Team place on the day.  Other Central runners to run with distinction included Michael Wright (24^th with 33.57), Murray MacLarty (27^th with 34.02), Ewan Jack (44^th with 35.43) and Chris McHardy (70^th with 36.54).

Thanks are due to Phil Williams, Race Director, for his efforts in ensuring an excellent event with 1,000 entries and 839 finishers and to his team of Club volunteers.

Commonwealth Mountain Championships – 25 September

Scott McDonald and Alex Hendry have been setting a high standard throughout the year and competed for Scotland on Friday in the Commonwealth Mountain Championships Uphill Race in Keswick.  The two Under 20 athletes had to compete with the Seniors but still gave a good account of themselves finishing 17^th and 25^th respectively

Track and Field Club Championships 2009

Central Athletic Club’s Track and Field Championships held at Grangemouth Stadium on Sunday 27 September provided some close competition, especially in the younger age groups. Points are awarded based on the Thistle Award Scheme with the best 3 events counting and each athlete having to compete in at least one track and one field event.

The Under 11 Girls provided the closest competition of the day with Bevhan Trevis and Megan Ely both scoring 55 points. Behvan’s efforts in 100metres (15.2secs), 800metres (2min 46.2secs) and Shot Put (5.27metres) were matched by Megan’s 100 (15.1), 200 (31.7) and Long Jump (3.42metres).  Sophia Baverstock and Emma Fitzimmons contested the Silver and Bronze positions with Sophia just prevailing while Jenna Innes, Rena Fleming, Taylor Deery and Blain Adams all showed great competitive attitude and will have learned much from this experience.

The Under 11 Boys were no less competitive and here it was Robert Burns who prevailed with an exceptional Shot Put effort of 7.51metres backed up with some useful sprinting and long jumping. Liam McGregor showed his sprinting prowess with 100metres (15.4secs) and 200metres (32.5secs) and Long Jump while Scott Fleming just prevailed over Ailig Struthers and Sam Polatajko for Bronze with Alastair Tweedie, Ryan McWatt, Angus Boermans and Anthony Eckersley all competing well.

Top performer in the Under 13 Girls was Lily Cairns-Haylor who tackled the 70metre hurdles (13.07secs), 200metres (30.3secs) and High Jump (1.30metres). Roisin Bonucchi stayed competitive with top points in the 1500metres (5min 33.71sec) and further good efforts over 800metres and in the Long Jump. Laura Clarke ran a confident 800metres (2min 44.7secs) and picked up more points towards her Bronze with 100metres and Long Jump performances.  Eilidh Ironside just fell short of a medal position with Eilidh MacCorquodale and Emily Batchelor also in close overall contention.

In the Under 13 Boys Callum Presland’s sprinting with 100metres in 14.1secs and 200metres in 28.6secs proved to be sufficient to hold off some strong performances from Jack Kerr, the pick of which being his 1500metres of 5min 17.4secs. Iain Davies also picked up good points from his 1500metres run of 5min 17.1secs as he slotted into Bronze position. Graham Bruce and Kieran Potter were the pick of the other athletes in a highly competitive age group.

Caitlin Watson’s jumping was a significant feature of her points haul in the Under 15 Girls competition with 1.40metres in the High Jump and 4.45metres in the Long Jump. Sophie Brown matched the 1.40metres High Jump and looked good with some speedy sprinting while Emily Greenan’s endurance qualities saw her take the Bronze medal ahead of Kirsty Forsyth’s quality sprinting.  Gordon Milne proved to be top of the Under 15 Boys age group with good points from the 800metres (2min 15.1secs), 200metres (25.6secs) and Shot Putt (10.14metres). Alex Semple continues to impress with points gathered from a range of events including a 4min 47.8secs 1500metres.  Third place in this age group went to Hamish McInnes who picked up his points from useful runs over 200 and 400metres and a highly competent Shot Put.

The Under 17 Womens competition was one of the best of the day with Sarah Dick picking up top points in the 300metres hurdles (51.6secs), 300metes (46.1secs) and an impressive High Jump clearance of 1.50metres.  Louise Anderson was only one point short of Sarah’s total with some impressive long and triple jumping and sprinting. Sprinters Chloe McGregor and Megan Jardine contested the Bronze medal with Chloe just prevailing. Kyle Henderson operated outwith his normal comfort zones of long and high jumping and sprinting but picked up good points in the Javelin and 400metres to take the Under 17 Mens title.  Jennifer Hutchison showed some of her talent in winning the Under 20 Womens title as did Niall Finlayson when taking the Under 20 Mens award. Robert Hutchison lifted the Masters title with some classy middle distance running with David Eckersley taking the Silver in this category.