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Sinclair takes Scottish crown at Crieff as High Jump record goes writes Shane Fenton
HIGH JUMP RECORD GOES AT CRIEFF
SHANE FENTON reports from MARKET PARK
Crieff Highland Games enjoyed one of the biggest entries of the season for the athletics events, and those in action treated the big crowd - which was in the region of 6000 - to some excellent competition.
The star of the show was Sale Harrier Allan Hamilton, not content with winning the Open 90 metres Handicap from the backmark he also landed a treble of Long, Triple and High Jump, setting a new ground record in the latter.
Hamilton who finished 3rd in the 100 metres at last weekend's Scottish Championships at Scotstoun started from the 2.5 metres mark in the 9 heats of the Open 90 metres handicap, giving away starts of up to 26 metres. After negotiating both his heat and cross-tie he lined up for the six runner final where he appeared to face a stiff task, however he produced a sublime exhibition of sprinting on the Market Park grass track to reel in his rivals and power through the winning line in 9.54 seconds to take the first prize of £250 and Waterford Crystal Trophy. Cameron Smith[7m], Tullibody finished runner up with frontmarker Amy Clancy[17m], Peebles third.
Hamilton then turned his attention to the jumping events and duly won both the Long Jump [20' 10''] and Triple Jump [43' 2'']. It was in the High Jump however that he caught the imagination of the crowd as they clapped him up for each of his jumps and he didn't let them down by leaping to a new ground record of 1.95m eclipsing the 1.87m set by previous holder Allan Smith in 2011.
Allan then had three attempts at the Scottish record of 1.99m, and despite huge encouragement from the crowd it was not to be, but a marvellous days work none the less.
Craig Bruce, Selkirk has been in fine form of late and that continued as he got up in the last strides to win the Open 200 metres handicap denying female duo Mhairi Henderson TLJT and Amy Clancy. There was a huge field for the Open 400 metres handicap and it saw Callum McWilliams, Giffnock AC atone for his fall at Perth the previous week when he appeared to have the race won by breaking the tape in 48.54s with a big chasing pack on his shoulders.
Wallace McGown, Sauchie has been in a fine vein of form in the 800 metres races and he continued his winning run, coming home in 1:54.30 ahead of Kyle Potts, TLJT and backmarker Craig Robertson, Pitreavie AC. There was an exciting finish to the 1600m handicap with Willie Bates, Tullibody overhauling front markers Keith Redpath, Wishaw and John Bates, Menstrie in the home straight. The 3200 metres handicap saw a fine piece of running from backmarker Aiden Thomson, Pitreavie AC who gradully reeled in his rivals before taking the lead down the back straight for the final time and going on to cross the line ahead of John Thomson, Coaltown of Balgonie and Wayne McIntosh, Kelso.
The Youth's 90 metres handicap was a Fife versus Borders affair and it was the latter who prevailed with Aaron Russell, Peebles winning from Cameron Fisher, Jed AC, with the previous weeks Perth winner Sionaid Steel, Crossgates in third. One of the biggest cheers of the day was for Sean Bates who battled back to the delight of the crowd to win the Youth's 1600 metres handicap, he appeared beat after being caught and passed by the older and bigger Jack Amos, Jed AC however the diminuative Tullibody runner showed big heart to battle back for the win.
In the cycling events Lee Paton, High Valleyfield won his first ever race on the games circuit with victory in the 800 metres handicap, James Melville, Dumbarton eedged out Paul Gallacher, Kirkcaldy for victory in the 3200 metres. Backmarker Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay made sure all the bike first prizes went back to Fife with wins in both the 1600 metres and Deil tak the Hindmost.
CRAIG SINCLAIR THROWS TO SCOTTISH TITLE
The Scottish Heavy events Championship was an all-Scottish affair this year and it saw Craig Sinclair, Drumoak take the title for the first time with wins in four of the seven disciplines, Sinclair who is widely recognised as being Scotland's top hammer thrower won both the 16lb and 22lb competions for the hammer as well as the 28lb for distance and Caber competitions. Lorne Colthart, Blair Atholl has shown good form of late and he was the victor in both the 16lb and 22lb shot putts, Bruce Robb, Oakley put one win on the board with victory in the 56lb weight for height, the overall championship points score was Sinclair[38], Colthart[34] and Robb[31].
The team from Elgin won the Tug o' War from Moffat Builders and Mount Blair.Published: 2013-08-18 21:29:33
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