Scottish Highland Games Association

NEW GROUND RECORD FOR VLAD TULACEK AT BLAIR

SHANE FENTON reports from BOGLES FIELD

Despite the rain arriving just as the events were getting underway it didn't deter from an afternoon of excellent competition at Bogles Field for the annual Blairgowrie Highland Games.

There was a large field of competitors for the heavy events while on the track the youth athletes outnumbered the Open competitors on this ocassion boosted by a large contingent from the Scottish Borders. There was a total of 14 cyclists ,nine in the Open and 5 in the youths.

In the Open 90 metres former winner of the event Sarah Ross,Pitreavie AC regained her title as she edged out Hannah Johnstone,Perth Harriers with backmarker Craig Bruce,Selkirk in third.

Bruce then went on to land a double with wins in both the 400 metres and 800 metres handicaps.

In the 200 metres he just got up on the line to overhaul Willie Bates,Tullibody with Sarah Ross in third.

The 400 metres resulted in a similar 1 – 2 – 3.

SHGA 1600 metres/3200 metres points league leader Dean Whiteford,Innerleithen boosted his chances of lifting the title by claiming a treble in the middle distance events. In the 800m he came home ahead of Willie Bates and Sarah Ross, the 1600 metres he again beat Willie Bates to the finish line with Mike Murdoch,Glenrothes who had earlier finished 5th in the hill race in third place.

Whiteford landed the treble with victory in the 3200 metres after eventually reeling in Sam Bates,Tullibody who finished in second with Willie Bates in third.

In contrast to the Open events there was over 30 runners in the Youths races.

The 90 metres was won by games debutant Emma Rutherford,Perth Harriers who snatched victory from Liam Rathie,Leithenburn with the fast finishing Struan Wells, Leithenburn in third.

Wells once again occupied third place in the 200 metres where victory went to Samantha Turnbull,Peebles who got up on the line to collar Lee White,Leithenburn.

There was Leithenburn success in the Youth's 800 metres, with recent Stirling 400 metres winner Aaron Glendinning making good use of his front mark to come home ahead of Scott Douglas,Forfar and Gaspard Lecrivain,Aberdeen. The latter continued his recent fine vein of form with victory in the Youth's 1600 metres as he produced a strong performance to hold off Sean Bates,Tullibody with Steven Bates, Tullibody in third.

There was a few games debutants among the Open cyclists which was encouraging to see, it was however the seasoned campaigners who took most of the prizes. It was an excellent day for Kirkcaldy rider Paul Gallacher who won all four events on the card, and as her has done on a number of ocacasions this season already, just touched off James Melville,Dumbarton in each of the four races, 800m,1600m,3200m and Deil. Daniel Clark,Newburgh took third place in three of the races with Davy Mathieson,Newburgh third in the other. The Youth's 800 metres cycle was won by Alexander McLeod,Aberdeen with Kyle Cartmel,Forres the victor in the 1600 metres, results which indicate the SHGA points league for youth cyclists will go right to the wire over the next two weekends at Pitlochry and Invercharron.

Full heavy results to follow, there was however a new ground record in the 56lb weight over the bar with Vlad Tulacek,Czech Republic throwing 16' 1''.

There was an enthralling Tug o War competition where Moffat Builders emerged as the victors ahead of Mount Blair,Elgin and Strathardle.

Published: 2016-09-04 21:49:42