Tayside Pentathlon, Dundee, 12^th September 2010

It was a successful day for Central athletes at the Tayside Pentathlon event held at Dundee at the weekend with 6 medals won, new club records and top class performances and a host of new personal bests.

The under 13 boys led the way producing 3 of the all-time best ever Scottish performances for a Central AC 1-2-3.  Stirling’s Callum Presland took the lead in the opening Shot event with 8.73m, closely followed by Euan Lambert from Dunblane (7.89m) and Balfron’s Tom Chandler (7.75m) with Liam Mcgregor of Bridge of Allan throwing 4.98m.  The next 75m hurdles event produced a dramatic result.  Callum was started as the top ranked Scottish hurdler this year with a season’s best of 13.01s however it was Tom who produced a surprise result storming to victory in a blistering time of 13.2s to finish ahead of Calum who ran 13.5s.  Tom’s time was not quite enough to knock Calum off the top of the rankings but was enough beat Calum on the day and lift Tom to 3^rd best in Scotland for the season.  Euan Lambert followed home in 13.7s to take him into the top 10 in Scotland this season and Liam Mcgregor won the second heat in 17.6s.  Callum fought back in the Long Jump to retake the overall lead with a new personal best 4.78m to lift him to 3^rd in Scotland this year for the event with Euan Lambert (4.52m, 6^th ranked in Scotland) and Liam McGregor (3.79m) also setting personal bests.

Calum extended his lead with a new Central AC club record 26.8s (3^rd ranked in Scotland) in the 200m closely followed by Euan (27.4s, 7^th ranked in Scotland) and Tom (28.1s) with Liam winning heat 2 in a personal best 30.0s.  Tom fought hard to catch the deficit in the final 800m event running 2:29.5mins to equal the club record score of 1735 points.  The record was short lived though as Callum finished 6 seconds behind in 2:35.4 mins to claim the gold with 1920 points.  Euan Lambert (2:49.8 mins) fought of Liam Mcgregor (2:50.4mins) at the 800m finish to score 1630 points to take bronze behind Callum and Tom and complete a Central clean sweep of the medals with Liam taking 6^th in 889 points.  To underline the dominance of the Central Athletes Callum Presland’s performance is the 2^nd highest ever in Scotland only 100 points behind the Scottish record for the age group.  Tom Chandler’s performance equalled the previous club record set by 2008 Scottish champion Sandy Semple with both athletes now joint 7^th best ever and Euan Lambert is now 11^th on the Scottish all time list for the age group.

Doune teenager Hamish Innes also shone in his first ever pentathlon taking silver in the under 15 boys age group.  Hamish ran well in his first ever 80m hurdles race (14.4s) then produced personal bests in the Long Jump (4.84m), 200m (25.5s), Shot (9.60m) and 800m 2:18.8 mins to score 2286 points.

Dunblane girl Caitlin Watson fought hard for bronze in the under 15 girls age group with a personal best in the 75m hurdles (13.2s) and good performances in the Long Jump (4.72m) and Shot (7.85m) to take 3^rd with 2237 points.  Rosin Bonucchi of Dollar set personal bests in the High Jump (1.34m) and 75m hurdles (16.4s) for 7^th in a best ever score of 1900 points.  Alloa teenager Agatha Williams-Kelly was also on good hurdles form with a new pb 13.5s and an excellent shot (8.50m) to score 1761 points.

There was another medal for Central in the under 13 girls with Dunblane’s Sarah Pearson going 2^nd in the Scottish 70m hurdles rankings for the year with superb 12.0s run and a new personal best High Jump of 1.30m to score 2125 points to take 3^rd place and a bronze medal.  Alison Todd, also of Dunblane,  set personal bests in the Shot (6.26m) and Long Jump (3.78m) to score 1510 points for 5^th and  Alva girl Jessica Stitt had an enjoyable day performing well in the High Jump (1.24m) and 70m hurdles (14.3) to finish 8^th in 1291 points.

The first heat of the 800metres at the DunRen Open Graded Meeting on Wednesday 8 September proved to be a high quality race for Central Athletic Club athletes.  Alastair Hay sped through to win in 1min 52.46secs finishing a few strides ahead of Under 20 Martyn Paterson reducing his personal best to 1min 52.9osecs with Tom Watson also cutting his best to 1min 54.26secs pulling him up to eighth on the Under 17 all time list.

Central AC Club Championships 2010 -  Grangemouth, 18 September 2010

The Central AC club championships provided the finale to what has been a hugely successful season for the club with victories in the Scottish Men’s league, the young athletes and Forth Valley league, and its highest ever finish in the Scottish Women’s league.  This time the athletes who had ben teammates all season were competing head to head against each other for the title of club champion and with so many quality athletes in each age category it was always going to be a high quality competition.

In the under 17 womens category Scottish Schools Triple Jump international Louise Anderson from Gargunnock was always going to be tough to beat.  Fresh after her 5^th place finish at the UK Schools Games 2 weeks ago Louise showed her class with an excellent 11.12m in the Triple Jump backed up with impressive performances in the Long Jump (5.02m) and 100m (13.2s) to comfortably take the title.  The battle for second place was much closer with Bridge of Allan hurdlers Chloe McGregor and Kirsty Mitchell battling it out.  Chloe who only took up hurdles in February was already 6^th in Scotland but Kirsty who came into the event only in May has also been fast improving.  Chloe took the early lead but Kirsty raced back to her with Chloe taking victory by the narrowest of margins.  Both athletes were timed at an impressive 13.1s which for Kirsty was a personal best and lifted her to 11^th in Scotland.  It was in the 100m that Kirsty pulled ahead of Chloe recording another personal best 13.5s to Chloe’s 13.9s and this performance along with a 4.23m Long Jump was enough to secure 2^nd place.  Chloe also performed well in the High Jump (1.35m) and took 3^rd place overall ahead of Megan Jardine who set personal bests in the 100m (13.4s), 300m (44.7s) and Long Jump (4.17m) for 4^th and Sophie Brown who cleared a season’s best 1.50m in the High Jump (12^th in Scotland) on her way to 5^th.

The under 17 mens event was a straight fight between Stirling training partners Sanju Siriwardenu and Ryan Calder.  Sanju opened with an 11.27m Triple Jump which Ryan matched with a 5.45m Long Jump but it was in the sprints that Sanju took the title with victories in the 100m (11.8s, Ryan 12.0s) and 200m (24.1s, Ryan 25.0s).

The under 15 girls event proved to be the closest battle of them all.  Dunblane’s Scottish schools pentathlon medallist, Caitlin Watson, was up against fast improving sprinter Kirsty Forsyth of Clackmannan.  Caitlin opened with an excellent personal best 13.0s in the 75m hurdles to take her into the top 20 in Scotland.  Kirsty responded with a big personal best Shot of 7.64m then superb personal bests in the 100m (13.1s, 10^th in Scotland) and 200m (27.3s, 14^th in Scotland).  Caitlin then produced further excellent displays in her strongest events, the High Jump (1.43m) and Long Jump (4.67m) which proved just enough take the title but Kirsty can be proud of breaking through to the top 10 in Scotland for the first time.

Alva’s Laura Clarke took 3^rd place with personal bests in the 800m (2:28.5, 20^th in Scotland), 1500m (5:10.90, 20^th in Scotland) and Long Jump (4.22m) narrowly ahead of  top ranked thrower and hurdler Agatha Williams-Kelly of Alloa (Discus 20.51m 9^th in Scotland, shot 8.46m, 75m hurdles 13.7s).  The strength in depth of the club was demonstrated in this age group with further excellent performances by Dunblane’s Emily Batchelor (75m hurdles 13.1s, 20^th in Scotland), Eilidh Ironside (100m 14.0s) and Emily Greenan (800m 2:41.2), Balfron’s Emma Boyle (100m 13.8s) and Roison Bonucchi from Dollar (1500m 5:16.1).

The under 15 boys produced a bigger margin of victory with Doune teenager Hamish Innes, a Scottish 400m medallist, performing well in the 100m (12.6s), 200m (25.3s) and Long Jump (4.93m) to take the title ahead of Liam Halliday (Triple Jump 10.16m 17th in Scotland, 100m 14.1s, Long Jump 4.15m) and Lewis Hetman (Long Jump 4.15m, 400m 64.5s, 1500m 5:13.26).

The under 13 girls had some outstanding performers.  The opening 70m hurdles event had a high quality field.  Dunblane girl, Sarah Pearson took the victory (12.1s, 2^nd in Scotland) ahead of Sophie Parsons from Thornhill (12.5s, 7^th in Scotland).   Amy Gullen (13.7s, 29^th in Scotland), Jessica Stitt (13.8s, 30^th in Scotland), Beth Gallagher (14.1s) and Emma Berrie (15.1s) all followed in personal best times.  Sarah continued her domination in the 100m (13.9s, 12^th in Scotland) and Long Jump (4.19m) for victory.  Isla Burns produced an excellent High Jump (1.35m, 7^th in Scotland) along with a strong Shot (6.89m, 30^th in Scotland) and 1500m (5:33.53, 13^th in Scotland) for second with Megan Ely taking 3^rd (100m 14.5s, 200m 30.0s, Long Jump 3.74m).  Beth Gallagher produced a stunning 8m javelin personal best of 18.28m to lift her to 11^th on the Scottish rankings and take the club javelin thrower title for girls and there were further good performances from Alison Todd (100m 15.1s), Shannon MacFarlane (1500m 5:53.52), Shamsa Scott-Angell (800m 2:45.7) and Bevhan Trevis (Javelin 15.12m, 19^th in Scotland).

The under 13 boys was always going to be high quality.  Dunblane’s Iain Davies produced excellent displays in the 1500m (4:52.4, 6^th in Scotland) and 800m (2:24.1, 9^th in Scotland) but Calum Presland of Stirling responded with superb new club records in the 100m (13.0s, 2^nd in Scotland) and 200m (26.5s, 2^nd in Scotland) to take victory.  Dunblane boy Euan Lambert took 3^rd with impressive displays in the 200m (27.5s, 5^th in Scotland) and 100m (13.5s, 10^th in Scotland), Cameron Taylor from Kinross finished 4^th (75m Hurdles 14.4s 13^th in Scotland, 800m 2:42.4), Stirling’s Gary MacFarlane 5^th (1500m 5:24.98, 800m 2:40.1) and Dollar’s Robert Burns 6^th (Javelin 22.23, Shot 8.41m).

In the under 11 girls Kate Gallagher won with a 4.47m Shot and 2.94m Long Jump ahead of her twin sister Evie (800m 2:54.4), 200m 35.6s.

The Under 11 boys was won by George Stanger (800m 2:43.2, Shot 5.42m) ahead of Kieran Halliday (100m 15s, 200m 31.2s).

Kenny Pearson added to his senior title collection with season’s bests in the High Jump (1.65m) and Javelin (40.70m), Niall Finlayson won the junior title and Alex Milne took the Masters title ahead of David Eckersley after an impressive 800m (2:19.4).

Stirling 10k 2010

 Well done to all  who took part in and completed the 10th City of Stirling 10k.

Click here for full results.             Race Photos by Borg Grech            

Top performer from Central Athletic Club in the high quality  10K race on Sunday 19th September was Robert Russell in fifth in the excellent time of 30min 13secs. Sean Reilly came through in 13th overall in a tasty 32min 4secs to lift the Under 20 prize. Lewis Millar (19th in 32.55), Michael Wright (31st in 33.46) and Craig Neal (42nd with 34.23) also had strong runs. Sean, Lewis and Michael lifted the Team Bronze medals from the Scottish Athletics 10K Championships which was also part of this event.

In the Ladies Race it was Fiona Thompson who caught the eye finishing fourth in a personal best of 35min 39secs. Lyndsay Morrison also ran strongly to finish eleventh in 38.07 while Hazel Dean in 19th with 40min 17secs ensured that Central went home with Team Silver from the Scottish Athletics Championships.

Congratulations are due to Race Directors Colin Sinclair and Domenic Angiolini and the team who delivered a superb event in spite of the wet conditions.

Thanks to the Good Samaritan who kindly lent her Pink top to tthe lady who fell during the race. Please contact Ainsley Normand to arrange it’s return. Contact details can be found here.