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HARDIE PIPS ALLAN IN RED ASH TITLE THRILLER
SHANE FENTON reports from the BALLAST BANK
It might not have been what the weatherman promised but it was a whole lot better than 12 months prior, A fair crowd made their way to the Ballast Bank and they were treated to some excellent competition. For the runners and cyclists, this was their only opportunity of the season to compete on a red ash track.
The heavy event competition was a duel between Poland and Iceland with Sebastien and Lukasz Wenta up against Thor Gylfasson and Heisi Geirmundsson.
The 90 metres sprint title and a prize of £250 went to John Armstrong of Edinburgh who held off the late thrust of 2014 winner David Brand, Pitreavie AC with Cameron Smith, Central AC in 3rd. Liam Halliday, Central AC, Geoff Keen, Selkirk and Jack Beattie, Rosyth made up the six runner final line up. Brand's 2nd place was enough for him to clinch the Fife Highland Games Association's points league for events up to 400 metres.
There was a good finish to the 200 metres handicap with Charlie Carstairs, Lasswade AC powering down the home straight to overhaul Lewis Hunter, Pitreavie AC and Geoff Keen in the last few strides of the contest.
Carstairs showed his liking for the red ash by landing a double with victory in the 400 metres with Willie Bates, Tullibody and Liam Halliday, Central AC chasing him over the finish line.
There was a field of 13 runners in the Open 800 metres handicap in which Corey Smith, Pitreavie AC turned in probably his best run of the season staying on strongly up the home straight to hold off Dean Whiteford, Innerleithen with Willie Bates again in third.
There was a classy performance from back marker Mark Nelson from Oklahoma in the 1600 metres, Nelson who recently graduated from Cambridge University worked his way through the field from the 70 metres mark before hitting the front in the home straight and going on to break the tape in 4 minutes 18.94 seconds, Corey Smith and Callum Symmons, Aberdeen filled the minor berths.
There was local success in the Youth's 90 metres with Pitreavie AC's Billy Doyle breasting the tape in 9.94 seconds from Laura Munro, TLJT and Elie Eboji, Kirkcaldy.. There was a thrilling finish to the Youth's 200 metres with Kieran Halliday, Central AC getting up on the line to snatch victory from front marker Mya McMahon, Dunfermline T & F Club, Halliday who's win clinched him the Fife Games Youth's points league was giving a start of 45 metres to the runner up. Laura Munro took third.
Elie Eboji emerged a comfortable winner of the Youth's 800 metres from Sean Bates, Tullibody and Jai Patterson, Hawick, Sean Bates went one better in the 1600 metres coming home in front of Jai Patterson and Steven Bates, These results decided the destination of the Fife points league title for Youth's in events over 400 metres. Sean and Jai started the day. both on 15 points so it will be Sean who takes the title with Jai runner up.
After a summer of slogging round sodden grass tracks the firm red ash track was like heaven to the cyclists. Their feature event was the 6400 metres Scottish Championship raced over 16 laps, it developed into a last lap duel between Craig Hardie, Dalgety Bay and Tim Allan, Tomatin with the former just having the extra strenth to forge on in the home straight. Former games regular Neil Withington, Carlisle finished in third place. Hardie and Allan again fought out the finish in the Deil tak the Hindmost and once again it was Hardie who prevailed but this time by only half a wheel with Stevie Jackson, Glasgow in third.
The other three races on the card all produced different winners, Tim Allan took the opening 800 metres, Paul Gallacher, Kirkcaldy was the victor in 1600 metres, the latter just failed to make it a double in the 3200 metres when he lost out in a thrillng finish to James Melville, Dumbarton.
Sebastien Wenta came out on top in the heavy events competition with wins in the 16lb and 22lb hammer, 28lb and 56lb for distance and caber, he also shared first place with Lukasz Wenta in the 56lb for height, the latter also won both the 16lb and 22lb shot putts .Icelandic duo Heisi Geirmunsson and Thor Gylfasson finished 3rd and 4th respectively in all the events.
Published: 2015-08-08 21:48:01
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