Ayrshire young athletes book place in Scottish final

Jul 9 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYRSHIRE’S combined young athletes team have qualified for the Scottish final at Grangemouth on Sunday, August 1.

They turned in their best performance of the season to finish second in the third and final meeting on Sunday. And that left them second overall to put them in good shape for the final.

With many athletes missing due to holidays, the managers did a great job to produce such a team from Ayr Seaforth, Kilmarnock Harriers and North Ayrshire AC.

Sunday’s match took place in gales, rain, hailstones and even some sunshine.

Sunday’s match points: Edinburgh 586; Ayrshire 521; Pitreavie 436½; Victoria Park/Glasgow 430; Kilbarchan 409; Giffnock North 385; Shettleston 371½; Falkirk Victoria 258.

Final points after three matches (top five qualify for final): Edinburgh 24; Ayrshire 19; Giffnock 17; Pitreavie 14; Victoria Park/Glasgow 13; Shettleston 10; Kilbarchan 6; Falkirk 5.

Seaforth results: Under 13 girls: 150m: 2. Ailie Shanks 21.16 (pb, G3 standard); 75m: 4. Ailie Shanks 11.08 (G4); ‘B’: 3. Katie Vallance 11.53; 70m hurdles: ‘B’: 1. Charlotte Crossland 13.17 (G4); 1200m: 3. Kirstin Oakley 4.10.20 (G3); ‘B’: 2. Christie Hutton 4.37.34; long jump: 7. Louise Murray 3.59; ‘B’: 5. Charlotte Crossland 3.50.

Under 15 boys: 80m hurdles: 6. Scott McAnally 14.45; high jump: 2. Scott McAnally 1.63 (G3); shot putt: 4. James Armstrong 9.43; discus: 2. James Armstrong 25.83; ‘B’: 1. Scott McAnally 20.73.

Under 17 men: 100m: 5. Scott Gibson 12.30; 200m: 5. Scott Gibson 25.00; ‘B’: 3. Angus Arnold 24.77; 100m hurdles: 1. Andrew Murphy 14.57 (G3); 400m hurdles: 2. Andrew Murphy 61.17 (G4); 400m: 3. Aaron Gray 52.36 (G3); 1500m: 1. Finlay Rae 4.25.73 (G4); discus: 5. David Ellis 18.08; shot putt: ‘B’: 1. Andrew Murphy 12.02 (G3).

Fixtures: Seaforth head to the Scottish combined events championships at Pitreavie on Saturday and Sunday. And on Sunday, they will be in action at the Scottish Masters (veterans) also at Pitreavie.

A strong hope for gold is 15-year-old Andrew Murphy from Girvan. He is the current indoor Scottish combined events under 17 champion and was third in the UK indoor heptathlon/combined events at Sheffield in March.

Competing in the masters is 57-year-old world 400 metres hurdles masters champion Bobby Stevenson.

Prolific Scottish throws champion Gwen McFarlane had three seconds and two thirds in the British Masters at Cardiff last weekend. But she will take a well earned break and miss Pitreavie.

Gwen’s results: second in hammer (26.26), second in javelin (23.58), second in discus (22.05), third in shot putt (8.61) and third in the weight (8.11).