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WENTA RAISES BAR AT PACKED CERES writes Shane Fenton
WENTA & ROBB IN RECORD BREAKING FORM AT CERES writes Shane Fenton
Interview with Cyclist James Melville
Fine weather saw a large crowd surround the Bow Butts for the annual Ceres Highland Games.
And they were treated to some excellent performances, particularly in the heavy events where four ground records were broken.
Polish power-house Lukasz Wenta thrilled his supporters with a record breaking throw of 16' 9'' in the 56lb Weight for Height competition. Fifer Bruce Robb then put a ground record on the board for Scotland by throwing the 56lb weight out to 39'11''.
Robb then went on to set new figures in the 'Ceres Stane' competition with a throw of 23' 7''. Although not a record, Wenta then re-dressed the nationality balance by winning the Shot Putt competition with a throw of 56' 3'', then broke the ground record in the Caber for distance competition with a toss of 36' 4''. The traditional Caber contest and the Sheaf Pitch were both won by Bruce Robb.
There was some keen competition in the running events, with the top prize of the day going to the victor in the Open 90 metres Handicap. This went to Borderer Tommy Finkle of Jedburgh who won both his heat and cross-tie before powering to victory in the six runner final, the 1989 New Year Sprint winer recorded a time of 9.94 seconds in holding off the challenge of Fife duo, recent Markinch Games sprint winner Kevin Eddie,Kelty and 2012 New Year Sprint champion Graeme Lister,Kirkcaldy.
Lee Goodfellow TLJT showed good form to win a very competitive Open 200 metres Handicap, the current World Haggis eating champion broke the tape in 22.87 seconds with Ian Douglas, Selkirk runner up and Ross Friel,Glenrothes third.
Graeme Gibson, Dunfermline T & F Club continued his good start to the season with another fine performance in winning the Open 800 metres Handicap, running from the 35 metre mark Gibson came through the field to snap the worsted in 1 minute 58.91 seconds, Willie Baes,Tullibody and Jack Stanners,Selkirk filled the minor berths.
Another athlete who has made an excellent start to the 2013 campaign is Dean Whiteford, despite running from a reduced handicap for recent wins he still proved to be ahead of the handicapper by racing to victory in the Open 1600 metres Handicap where he held off the determined challenge of Coaltown of Balgonie veteran John Thomson to win in 4 minutes 22.64 seconds with Donald Bradley, Inverness in third.
There was further Border success in the Open 3000 metres Handicap with Wayne McIntosh, Kelso winning in 9 minutes 35.84 seconds with John Bates,Tullibody and John McLean,Selkirk second and third respectively.
In the Youth events there was a 90 metres and 200 metres double for Ryan Hooton, Cadrona, in the 90m he came through from the backmark of 6 metres to pip female duo Eve Huxley, Innerleithen and Anna Forsyth, Leithenburn in 10.52 seconds.
Despite a 'pull' of 2 metres in the 200 metres, Hooton still managed to charge through the field on the tight circuit to record a time of 24.66 seconds with Mozan Aziz runner up and Anna Forsyth again third.
The Borders got the better of Fife again in the Youths 800 metres Handicap with Ruaridh Britton,Leithenburn turning in a fine performance to hold off the challenge of Pitreavie AC's Tyler White in a winning time of 2 minutes 10.97 seconds, Michael Smith, Leithenburn took third place.
As usual at Ceres the cyclists thrilled the crowds as they sped round the tight 200 metres circuit, the opening 800 metres handicap was won by Steve Jackson, Glasgow, James Melville,Dumbarton took the 1600 metres with Gus Gillies, Peebles the victor in the 3000 metres. The Deil tak the Hindmost race made it's debut at Ceres and it produced the closest finish of the day, so close,the judges were unable to seperate James Melville and Steve Jackson as they flashed over the winning line together so a dead heat verdict was declared, Dougy Shaw, Edinburgh was third.
Published: 2013-06-29 19:54:47
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