Scottish Highland Games Association

CUPAR HIGHLAND GAMES, VIDEO, REPORT AND RESULTS

FIFE DEBUT WIN FOR SHETTLESTON HARRIER DEASON

Shane Fenton reports from the Howe of Fife.

Michael Deason who comes from New Mexico and is currently studying at Glasgow University made his Fife Highland Games debut a winning one at Cupar on Saturday.
Running from the 80 metres mark in the 1600 metres handicap the Shettleston Harrier had to battle all the way over the final lap to fend off the challenge of backmarker Craig Robertson, Pitreavie AC[65M] with recent Strathmore and Markinch winner Fergus McGaw, Dunfermline[150m] close up in third. The winning time for Deason was 4m 26.74s.

Earlier in the afternoon the roles were reversed with Robertson[40m] snatching victory in the 800 metres handicap in 1m 56.81s, in a frantic finish in which the first four runners flashed over the line in the space of a couple of metres, Deason[50m] was runner up with frontmarker Sam Bates, Tullibody[212.5m] third and John Lowis,Kirkcaldy[80m] fourth.

There was a close finish to the final of the Open 100 metres handicap between Central AC duo Cameron Smith[8.75m] and Liam Halliday[8.5m], with veteran Smith just getting the verdict in 10.53 seconds, Victoria Stephens Dunfermline [20m]finished close up in third after being overhauled in the final strides..

Stephens[52m] had to settle for third place again in the Open 200 metres handicap where victory went to former New Year Sprint winner Graeme Lister, Dalgety Bay[32m] in 20.53s with John Lowis[38m] in second.

The Open 400 metres handicap was won in fine style by Liam Halliday[34m] who is in a fine vein of form at present, pulling away from his rivals in the home straight to break the tape in [48.26s] with Willie Bates[[46m], Tullibody runner up and Graeme Lister[30m] third.

In the Youth's 90 metres handicap, brother and sister Euan and Eilidh Smith just failed to emulate their father who won the Open 90 with Euan[21.5m] finishing runner up behind winner Soraya Sadeghpoor, Dunfermline Track Club[25m] with Eilidh[24m] finishing fourth, Ewan Bradley,Inverness running from the backmark of 12 metres was third.

Kieran Halliday notched up another win for Central AC in the Youth's 800 metres handicap, coming through the field from the 120m mark to hold off last years winner Dylan Thompson, Pitreavie AC[140m] with Ewan Bradley[80m] running on into third place at the finish.

There was a top class field of five competitors in the heavy events with Bruce Robb, Lukasz Wenta, Craig Sinclair, Stuart Anderson and Heisi Geirmundsson all in action.
Lukasz emeged the overall champion with wins in the 16lb and 22lb shot putt events as well as the Caber and a share of first place with Heisi in the 56lb for height. The three other disciplines on the programme the 16lb and 22lb hammer and 28lb for distance were all claimed by Craig Sinclair.

There has been a welcome revival in the cycling events this season which will hopefully continue, 12 seniors and 8 juniors provided the pedal power at Cupar on Saturday and they produced some exciting races for the crowd. Greg Brown, Inchinnan made his seasonal debut and landed a double with wins in both the 800 metres handicap and Deil tak the Hindmost, Dougie Shaw won a thrilling 1600 metres handicap with Grantown on Spey rider Charles Fletcher pulling away from his rivals to win the 3200 metres handicap.

The Youth's 800 metres was won by Alix Bryce with her West Lothian CC team mate Christopher Horden taking the 1600 metres.