Scottish Highland Games Association

Sebastien signs off with clean sweep at Birnam

SHANE FENTON reports from LITTLE DUNKELD

Late August sunshine saw Birnam Highland Games enjoy one of the warmest days on the circuit this summer. The crowds who thronged around the arena at Little Dunkeld were treated to an afternoon of excellent competition.

With five different Highland games taking place the heavy event competitors were spread around all over the country. Birnam were privilged to have have one of the top men Sebastien Wenta in their company.
In what was his last competition in Scotland this summer and maybe for sometime, Sebastien finished off in style by winning all seven events.

He will return home to Poland on Tuesday and has indicated he won't be returning next season. If this is to be his swan song i'm sure you will all agree that Sebastien has been a tremendous asset to the Scottish heavy event scene over the past few years when he has been in Scotland. Hopefully we may see him return sometime in the future.

It was good day on the running track for the sprinters who had travelled up from the Scottish Borders.
There was a thrilling finish to the Open 90 metres handicap with Fraser Neil[8.5m] from Kelso breaking the tape in 9.73 seconds, a foot behind in second was Tullibody veteran Sam Bates[29.5m] who in turn edged out Rianna Sterricks[18m] Leithenburn who was finishing in 3rd place for the second succesive Saturday. Neil who had finished second to Bates in the heat recorded his only other Highland games sprint win at Blairgowrie in 2013.

Sam Bates[65m] had to settle for the runners up spot once again in the 200 metres handicap when he just failed to reel in fellow frontmarker Ron Sutherland[80m] Innerleithen who just held on to win, last Sunday's Crieff winner Eilidh McCallum[53m],Falkirk Victora finished in third place.
Aussie David Woods[56m] who won the 400 metres handicap at Oban Games 48 hours earlier racked up a quickfire double by scrambling home by the narrowest of margins from Angus Johnstone[42m],TLJT in 50.57. Fraser Neil[28m] picked up another prize by coming through from the backmark to finish third.

Craig Bell[130m],Forfar has had a good week, following a double at Oban he was back in the winners enclosure with victory in the 800 metres handicap crossing the finish line ahead of Wallace McGown[107.5],Sauchie.
Veteran Dave Priestley[380m], Arbroath turned back the clock in winning the 1600 metres handicap. This was his first victory since a win at Langholm 25 years ago. The 61 year old led from flag-fall to finish in 4:24.17.Father and daughter Craig[280m] and Angela Bell[320m] chased him home in 2nd and 3rd.

Colin Welsh,Kelso was another to follow up a win at the Argyll Games with victory in the scratch 800 metres in 2:10.23. Craig Robertson,Logierait returned after a long spell off the track to finish runner up with Willie Bates,Tullibody in 3rd.
The scratch 100 yards was won by Connor Gillon,Kelso with David Lauder,Hawick the victor in the Veterans 90 metres handicap.

Not for the first time this season the Youth competitors outnumbered their senior counterparts and it was great to see six heats contest the Youth 90 metres. In what many reckoned to be a first on the games circuit it was six runners from the same training group who contested the final with runners from the Leithenburn club in the Borders winning all six heats. Victory went to games debutant Callum McRobert[25m] who finished ahead of Louis Whyte[22.5m] and previous years winner Eve Rathie[23m] in 9.63s.

There was an exciting finish to the Youth 200 metres handicap with Ben Lyall[10m] bursting through on the inside to collar Edouard Lecrivain[18m],Aberdeen AC on the line with Josh Abbott[8m],Chirnside in third.
Craig Angus[65m],Moorfoot produced an excellent run to win the Youths' 800 metres handicap from Aaron Glendinning180m],Leithenburn and Gaspard Lecrivain[55m],Aberdeen AC. Glendinning[400m] went one better in the Youth 1600 metres reeling in frontmarker Lucy Nuttall[500m],Anstruther on the last lap, the latter syed on for 2nd place with Edouard Lecrivain[70m] in 3rd.
The Youth 100 yards scatch championship was won in fine style by Daniel Young ,Kelso who certainly looks one for the future.

A familiar name went on the trophy for the World Haggis Eating Championship with Lee Goodfellow from Earlston winning for a 5th time. Just out-munching Aussie Richard Norris.

8 riders contested the four cycle races on the card including debutants Amy Forbes,Perth and Stewart Burke,Dunfermline. The opening 800 metres went to Gus Gillies,Peebles from Alan McLean,Giffnock with Amy Forbes in third. Cameron Earnshaw made the long haul down from Thurso worthwhile with victory in the 1600 metres, Charles Fletcher,Grantown on Spey and Gillies filled the minor places. Fletcher then went on to win both the 3200 metres handicap and Deil tak the Hindmost events. Ryan Keir,Newburgh and Stewart Burke chased him home in the 3200m with Gillies and Keir 2nd and 3rd in the Devil.

Published: 2017-08-26 22:07:35