Ayr Seaforth stars fly high at Glasgow and Sheffield

Mar 11 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR Seaforth’s colours were flying high and proudly at the national indoor championships from Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall to Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday.

The main highlights were provided firstly at Sheffield where 16-year-old Andrew Murphy finished second with a new Scottish record in the UK under 17 men’s heptathlon championships with 4727 points, just missing gold by two points and producing five personal best performances from his seven events over two days.

The main highlight at Glasgow was in the under 17 men’s 60 metres sprint final when 16-year-old Sam Revie was first and 15-year-old Wallace Graham finished third, both with personal bests, in a blanket finish in one of the best races of the day.

Murphy gave an outstanding performance at Sheffield. Competing against the top 18 multi-event under 17 athletes in Britain, he smashed the Scottish heptathlon indoor record on his way to silver.

The Girvan Academy pupil was only two points away from gold. Saturday: 60m 4th (7.60 pb); long jump 3rd (6m 24); shot putt 1st (13m 44); high jump 1m 80 (pb).

Sunday: 60m hurdles: 4th (8.62 pb); pole vault 3rd (3m 45 pb); 1000m 3rd (2-48.15 pb),

This is the outstanding performance of the 2010/2011 indoor season for a Scottish under 17 male athlete and great credit must go to Andrew’s coach, master coach Sandy Ewen from Monkton. He predicts a bright future in multi-events for Andrew who was last year’s Scottish multi-events indoor and outdoor under 17 champion.

Back at the Kelvin Hall, Saturday was the under 17 and under 20 national open indoor championships.

Seaforth medal winners were Sam Revie (gold) and Wallace Graham (bronze) in the under 17 men’s 60 metres; James Gaffney (bronze) under 17 men’s shot putt; Rachel Hunter (silver) under 20 women’s shot putt and Meghan Logue (bronze) under 20 women’s 400m and 800m.

Results: U17 men: Sam Revie 1st 60m (7.18 pb); Wallace Graham 3rd 60m (7.24 pb); James Gaffney 3rd shot putt (13m 08); Wallace Graham 5th 200m (24.26, semi-final 23.39).

U17 women: Carolyn Harvey 4th 60m hurdles (semi-final 9.97, heat 9.94 and 5th in 200m (semi-final) 28.82 (heat 28.64 pb); U20 men: Scott Gibson 60m heat 7th (7.78);U20 women: Rachel Hunter 2nd shot putt (11m); Caroline George 4th 60m (7.89, heat 7.87); Meghan Logue 3rd 400m (60.10), 3rd 800m (ntr); Hazel Jamieson 5th high jump (1m 55).

On Sunday, the under 15 national open indoor championships gave 14-year-old Scott McAnally another gold medal in the boys’ high jump (1m 70) to add to last week’s UK indoor gold medal in Birmingham.

Scott then won silver in the shot putt on Sunday with 11m 76 (pb). Scott was Seaforth’s only under 15 boy competing at these championships which was very disappointing.

There was, however, a fair representation from the under 15 girls with the following results:

Alison Leckie 60m 4th (semi-final 8.68) and 200m 4th (semi-final 29.25, heat 28.94); Ailie Shanks 60m 3rd (heat 9.03) and 200m 4th (heat 29.64); Sophie Dunlop 60m 5th (semi-final 8.69, heat 8.60) and 60m hurdles (6th 9.97); Charlotte Crossland 60m 6th (heat 9.18) and 60m hurdles 2nd (semi-final 10.90); Eleanor Jones 200m 4th (heat 29.93).

Seaforth senior men did well to reach the final of the Scottish 4x200m Relay Championships on Sunday, finishing a close fourth in 1.34.1 but a strong Edinburgh AC team powered to win in a fast 1.29.56.

The Seaforth team was Ian Kennedy, Andrew McElwee, Scott Gibson and Jonathan Thompson.

Only two Seaforth athletes took part in an under 13 national open on Sunday and both produced new bests.

Fraser Angus (age 11): 60m 5th (8.76, heat 8.69 pb) and 200m 3rd (29.06 pb); Georgia Brawley (age 11): 60m (semi-final) 3rd (9.20 pb) and 200m (heat) 3rd (31.80.).

Fixtures: Saturday: Scottish Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Irvine.

Sunday: Scottish Athletic Indoor League finals at the Kelvin Hall. Seaforth have six age group teams competing in the finals plus teams in an extra 4x200m relay event for all clubs including clubs which failed to qualify for the finals.