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Rider retains Scottish title in thrilling day of action at Crieff
SHANE FENTON reports from MARKET PARK
Market Park was in excellent condition for the annual Crieff Highland Gathering. On a dry and pleasant Sunday afternoon the crowds once again turned out in good numbers to cheer on the competitors in the various events.
As ever the highlight at Crieff was the Scottish Heavy events Championship, this is the most prestigious competition on the circuit for the throwers. This year there was 9 competitors and they produced a thrilling and enthralling contest which kept the crowds entertained all afternoon.
Many of he events were closely contested with only inches seperating the winners from the runners up. At the end of the day it was Scott Rider who retained his title winning six of the seven events. The only discipline to elude him was the 22lb hammer which was won by Lorne Colthart. Final points totals were Scott Rider 41pts, Lorne Colthart 32 points and Lukasz Wenta 30 points.
There was good entries for the track and field events. Both the Open and Youth 90 metres handicaps had six heats and competition was keen.
It was Ben Coates,Oban who bagged the £300 prize in the Open 90 metres handicap with an impressive run seeing him edge out Kelso duo Connor Gillon and John Fleming in 9.45 seconds.
There was an equally strong performance in the Youths' 90 metres from Ben Lyall, Kelso who stormed through from the backmark of 5 metres to retain his title in 9.98 seconds, Euan Smith, Central AC was runner up with Josh Abbott, Chirnside in third.
Frontmarkers landed the spoils in both the Open and Youth 200 metres handicaps.
In the Open race, Eilidh McCallum,Falkirk Victoria came home ahead of Ron Sutherland,Innerleithen and Andrew Tainsh,Comrie in 20.61 while in the Youths' race, Euan Smith once again had to settle for the runners up spot, this time behind Robbie Welsh,Hawick. Jamie Oldham, Central AC finished third.
There was a big field of 14 runners in the Open 400 metres handicap, and they were led home by Ewan Bradley, Inverness who was repeating his win from 12 months prior. Bradley who has already amassed over 100 points in the SHGA league for 400/800 metres events collared Graeme Armstrong, Edinburgh as they came off the final bend before breaking the tape in 49.91 seconds. Armstrong stayed on for second with Angus Johnstone,TLJT in third.
Fraser Logan,Belgrave has had a consistent season on the games circuit, following three runner up finishes at the recent Bridge of Allan meeting he bettered that at Market Park by landing the 800 metres, 1600 metres double. In the 800 he had to pull out all the stops to hold off the challenge of backmarker Colin Welsh, Kelso, the latter who has had a successful season competing in the North produced a great run from the 30 metres mark but just failed to reel in the winner who determindly stayed on all the way to the line, stopping the watch at 1:57.41. Dean Whiteford,Innerleithen who is coming back from injury ran well to take third place.
Despite being penalised 20 metres in the 1600 metres, Logan again proved too strong for his rivals as he forged clear of the field to come home ahead of Craig Bell,Forfar and Sarah Ross,Pitreavie AC to land the £250 prize in 4:25.31.
The Youths' 1600 metres handicap saw Jamie Oldham win his first ever race on the games circuit,the Central AC athlete won the last lap duel with frontmarker Archie Suttie,Fife AC with Aaron Glendinning,Leithenburn in third.
The Invitation 90 metres was won by Ross Borthwick,,Hawick who inched home just ahead of Kevin Turner,Edinburgh with Natasha Turnbull,Peebles in third.
24 hours after competing on almost unraceable gluepot muddy conditions at Stirling, the cyclists were relieved to see the Crieff track 'in good-nick'. And despite their exertions from the day before the riders treated the crowd to some excellent racing. James Melvile ,Alexandria took the opening 800 metres. The evergreen Davy Mathieson then raced to victory in the 1600 metres before Charles Fletcher,Grantown on Spey land a double with wins in the 3200 metres and Deil tak the Hindmost. Paul Anderson,Perth, Gus Gillies,Peebles and Ian Grant ,Glenrothes the other riders in the races all picked up prizes.
Following on from winning six events and setting four ground records the previous day at Helmsdale, Tony Daffurn carried on where left off by winning the High,Long and Triple Jump competitions. Peter Muirhead, Ben Coates and Ewan Bradley filled the minor berths.
Published: 2017-08-20 22:36:22
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