PB Magazine - Issue 3, 2023

www.scottishathletics.org.uk

£3.75

2023

Issue 3

PB

Club Together Programme Special focus on key project The official magazine for members of scottishathletics

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04 Contacts scottishathletics 05 Chief Executive

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Colin Hutchison 06 News: Club Conference 07 News: Officials picked for World Indoors

10 Josh Kerr 13 Jemma Reekie 14 4J Senior Champs 16 Perth mural 18 #LindsaysXC: Lanark 19 #LindsaysXC: Eilish McColgan

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08 4J Awards

20 #LindsaysXC: Cumbernauld 22 Grassroots Athletics: Club Together Programme 24 Grassroots Athletics: Springburn Harriers 26 Grassroots Athletics: Strathearn Harriers 28 Interview: Myles Edwards 30 Interview: Megan Keith

The official magazine for members of scottishathletics www.scottishathletics.org.uk

Issue 3

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Chief Executive David Ovens

A

s the old adage goes - you wait an hour for a bus and then two come along at once.

Well, after a 31-year wait for a gold medal from a Scottish athlete at the World Championships, Josh Kerr delivered the second one in the space of 12 months!

Success for Josh, and Jake Wightman’s triumph in Oregon back in 2022, will live long in the memory as they both held off the competition, in arguably one of the strongest events currently in athletics, to become the World Champion.

Colin Hutchison Chief Executive Scottish Athletics

@SALChiefExec

Everyone in athletics in Scotland is entitled to revel in the magical medal moments

Our congratulations of course go to Josh, his family, his coach Danny Mackey, and everyone at Edinburgh AC. I would also like to offer my congratulations to all of the athletes selected for the World Championships, the World Para Championships (covered in last edition of PB), the GB and NI age group teams and World Mountain Runners Commonwealth Youth Games this summer.

‘Power of People’ was the theme at the recent National Club Conference. Although these World successes sometimes feel a step removed from the work everyone in athletics in Scotland does on a day-to-day basis, I feel they are a great opportunity to reflect on the role that everyone plays.

This is a topic we developed at the 4J Annual Awards later that same day and is reflected Stalwarts of our sport: Leslie Roy, Ron Morrison and Margaret Brown (and inset in our coverage in other pages of this Hugh Buchanan) edition.

If you look at the success of Scottish athletes in recent years at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the World Championships and World Para Championships, the vast majority of the athletes have grown up within the club and competition system in Scotland.

That is a cause for celebration for everyone involved in athletics in Scotland – the work that you do whether that is a club leader, a parent, a fellow athlete, a coach or an Official, contributes significantly to the career of athletes in your club and beyond. ********************************** The recent scottishathletics AGM was a significant one for the organisation. Four stalwarts of our sport, Ron Morrison, Leslie Roy MBE, Hugh Buchanan and Margaret Brown stepped down from the Board on completion of their terms in office.

All four have contributed an immeasurable amount to our sport and have played a

significant role in the modernisation of the governing body with Convenors of each of our four Commissions now Directors of the Board.

Our Chair, David Ovens, paid tribute to all four at the AGM, but I would also like to add my thanks to them all for their outstanding contribution to athletics in Scotland and for their support of myself and the staff team. ********************************** As always, the 4J Annual Awards provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on the successes of the past 12 months and to recognise the outstanding contributions of athletes, volunteers, coaches, and Officials across the sport.

beyond the Awards room who also deserve recognition.

As this is the last PB edition of 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued commitment to athletics and running in Scotland, and for the great work you continue to do year on year to make our sport an incredible place to be.

The recent record entries at the Lindsays Short Course XC Championships provided another indicator of the current strength of athletics in Scotland and we look forward to working with you in 2024 and continuing the positive momentum.

The Awards always provide a poignant Best wishes to you all and your families for moment to stop and reflect on the the festive period and I hope 2024 brings dedication and selflessness of those involved more success across the disciplines. in athletics in Scotland. It is a pleasure to be able to recognise many of these people scottishathletics on the night and to appreciate many others

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Keep up to date with all the stories @www.scottishathletics.org.uk

NEWS

Delegates relish Club Conference learning scottishathletics were delighted to deliver our 2023 National Club Conference in Glasgow – with a terrific and inspiring response from our clubs.

There was a very strong turnout and engagement with 70 delegates from 30 of our clubs gathered for a day of inspiring speakers, networking and collaboration.

Shettleston, Springburn, Bellahouston Road Runners, Costorphine AAC and Cumbernauld AAC.

‘We’re very grateful to these clubs giving their time to share their best practice and Members of our Young People’s Forum with Zoey Clark at their innovation. the Conference (photo by Bobby Gavin) This working together and David Fallon, our Head of Development, our club practices using some key SAMH open approach is so often what drives expressed his thanks to a number of programmes and resources. athletics clubs to the forefront of Scottish presenters, staff who made the event sport. possible and, of course, our delegates who ‘And Zoey Clark, Olympian and multiple will take their learning and experience back medallist, topped the day off with a fireside ‘With our partners Club Development to the clubs.

Consultancy (Dr Andrew Jenkin) we launched chat with our Chair David Ovens.’ our ‘Role Specific Training’ programme ‘I think you could have head a pin drop ‘Finally, I would like to thank the the wider to support the inevitable turnover of our when James Stewart shared his incredible massive club workforce, and to support and emotional story,’ said David. ‘James team that made the day possible: many the knowledge and skill set of existing challenged us all to think about what drives thanks to Colin Hutchison, David Ovens, volunteers. us and how to bring others with us. Great Jamie McDonald, Lindsay McMahon. Erin messages for our club community.

Gillen, Pamela Robson, Jo Stevens, Steph ‘SAMH (Robert Nesbitt) presented with McLean, Chandler Richardson and Francesca ‘We then had five of our clubs at the forefront our clubs on how we embed mental health of the agenda with presentations from and wellbeing awareness and training into Snitjer.’

The theme of the day was ‘The Power of People’ and focussed on the extensive, mainly voluntary workforce that make our world-class training, competition and participation opportunities possible.

Everyone in our sport contributes to those podium moments and we wanted to celebrate that.

******************************************************************************************************* Now we can confirm the full list of five distances including a move for the Scottish 10K Champs – with those being held in 2024 at the Podfather Stirling 10k in September.

This race has been in Kilmarnock and Glasgow over the past couple of years but is rotated again.

Athletes will compete for £4000 in prizemoney through our Road Race Grand Prix which is directly linked to the five championship events listed below: Scottish Half Marathon Champs: Inverness on Sunday 10 March Fraser Stewart and Natasha Phillips were Scottish Half Marathon Champs in 2023 – and the Champs return to Inverness for 2024 scottishathletics are pleased to confirm five event organisers to agree the schedule for Scottish Road Race Championship events for next year.

2024.

A number of the events remain the same as this past year and we have previously The Road Running and Cross Country announced that the Scottish Marathon Commission have been in dialogue with Champs will be held again via the TCS PB 2023 2023||ISSUE ISSUE33 London Marathon in April.

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Scottish 10-Mile Champs: Tom Scott Road Races in Motherwell on Sunday 31 March Scottish Marathon Champs: TCS London Marathon on Sunday 21 April Scottish 5k Champs: Sri Chinmoy race at Silverknowes on Friday 3 May Scottish 10k Champs: Podfather Stirling 10k on Sunday 8 September.

Officially brilliant – 25 Scots picked for World Indoors

S

cottish Officials will be represented in force at the World Indoors 2024 in Glasgow.

Thousands of tickets have been snapped up for the sessions at the Emirates Arena on March 1-3.

And we’re delighted that our superb qualified scottishathletics Officials will have a significant representation within the overall cohort who will make the World Indoors happen.

A team of 95 has been put together by World Athletics and we’re pleased to say that 25 of those are Scottish!

Furthermore, looking through the list it is noticeable how many of our Officials have senior roles within the team.

‘We congratulate all the Scottish Officials selected for the World Indoors,’ said Alistair

Aitchison, Convenor of our Officials Commission.

‘It’s a great honour for these dedicated volunteers to be selected for an event like this. When you look at the representation in population terms then I think we can be really pleased and I do feel this reflects on the confidence UK Athletics have in Scottish Officials.

‘The cohort of Scots includes a number of folk with experience of a number of major events and some involved at this level of international athletics for the first time. No matter the age and stage, it will be exciting for all those involved and of course the Emirates Arena venue is so very familiar, which really helps when delivering a big event.

Chief Umpire – Joyce Wighton Umpire/Track Judge – Alistair Aitchison Technical Manager – Mark Stringer Technical Team Member – Brian Brown, Carol Rose Equipment Officer – Nick Stone Chief Time Keeper – Jason Pender Starter – Margaret Werrett Video Room Manager – Jim Callender Video Room Judge – Pam Auckland, Lorna Rodgers

‘We wish each and every one of them the very best for the World Indoors in Glasgow.’

Call Room Judge – Sophie Allan, Alison McGee, Lesley Rodgers, Rebekah Rose

Meeting Manager – Marc Ritchie

Call Room Referee – Rob Dalziel

Competition Secretary – Shona Macolm

Training Venue Supervisor – Liz Wilder, Margaret-Ann McLachlan

Field Judge – Margaret Brown, Norma Bruce, Moira Nisbet, Pam Robertson

Warm-Up Venue Supervisor – Susan Miller

******************************************************************************************************* Scotland’s strong Para athletics cohort has been reflected in the latest Paralympic World Class Programme

right through the Scottish Sports Award as full recognition of an excellent past 12 months.

British Athletics have announced a 41-strong group to receive support for the coming year heading into the World Champs next summer and the Paralympics in Paris.

Athletes, coaches and volunteers will be celebrated at the Science Centre in Glasgow on Thursday 7 December.

And we are delighted to have seven athletes within the three bands in the Paralympic WCP. It means the Scottish representation on the British-wide programme sits at around 17 percent which is a huge compliment to our athletes, coaches and clubs.

We firmly congratulate the athletes involved and their families, coaches and clubs and being at the level to merit places on the Para WCP. World title winners Samantha Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands are joined in the Paralympic Podium level by Maria Lyle and Owen Miller.

Derek Rae and Melanie Woods are named in the Paralympic Potential category while the

Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods group of Paralympic Confirmation athletes includes Steven Stone.

The next major events on the Para calendar are Kobe 2024 (World Para Athletics Championships – 17-25 May) and Paris 2024 (Paralympic Games – 30 August-8 September). ********************************** scottishathletics have been short-listed for Scottish Sports Governing Body of the Year for 2023.

And our nominations is one of only a number

And scottishathletics will be ‘pitching’ for the Governing Body title with our friends and rivals Scottish Cycling and Scottish Disability Sport.

There are short-list slots for athletics also via Josh Kerr, Samantha Kinghorn, Ben Sandilands, Steve Doig and Billy Roberton of Kilmarnock Harriers.

‘I am delighted for the sport that scottishathletics has made the shortlist for Scottish Governing Body of the Year,’ said Colin Hutchison, our chief executive.

‘Ultimately, this is recognition for not only the staff and their commitment, but for the collaboration between the governing body and the athletics community in Scotland.

scottishathletics

7

4J Awards Dinner

Role of honour Cast-list of those who make our sport happen could run to hundreds (or even thousands!)

By Peter Jardine

D

erek Easton looked around the room at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow as he walked from the audience at the 4J Annual Awards to be centre-stage on stage.

The Central AC coaching legend had been named as this year’s recipient of the Tom Stillie Sword, which compere par excellence Bryan Burnett described as recognising ‘outstanding service’ to athletics in Scotland.

And, as he did so, Derek noticed a castlist of stalwarts of our sport for whom the dedication and commitment is measured in decades rather than years.

Later, with quiet dignity, a reluctant interviewee warmed to our ‘Everyone Has a Role to Play’ theme as we sought to celebrate and acknowledge coaches, clubs, volunteers and Officials – as well as our stellar Athlete of the Year winners.

‘It is the best sport on the planet and been a huge part of my life for 55 years,’ said Derek.

‘I know how much it means to a lot of people in the room at the 4J Annual Awards.

So I am deeply honoured to

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'There is a role for ‘I have looked at the winners of it in the past, everyone to play. You and from the recent past, and there are well-known names there. People who have can assist and help committed their lives to our sport. I’m thrilled to be the lucky recipient this year.’ what is a wonderful The ‘Everyone Has a Role to Play’ ethos is sport’ particularly applicable at the Awards Dinner win this as I regard it as one of the most important presented by Scottish Athletics.

because the numerous accolades take in clubs, coaches, Volunteer of the Year and two for our qualified Officials. Hundreds of those in attendance have roles as coaches, as club volunteers or indeed as qualified Officials. Collectively #SALtogether these people make the sport happen.

Derek Easton, Central AC coach assist and help what is a wonderful sport. It is a sport for all.

‘Acoss our sport in Scotland there is a place for everybody - be that competitively or not.

If you don’t fancy the competitive side of things there are so many ways you can still contribute.’

In fact, the events of the evening of Saturday 28 October simply rolled on from earlier in the day when 70 representatives from 30 different clubs gathered for our National Club Guest of Honour Eilidh Doyle has been on Conference. The theme there? The same-but- the same wavelength over the past couple different ‘Power of People’. of months.

Back to Derek and tracing his own career delivered a neat summary of the appeal of being a coach.

‘I ran a 2:26 marathon and I should have run quicker on the day,’ he recalled.

‘That in itself was one the reasons I moved towards coaching. I felt I had maybe underachieved myself as an athlete and there was a wee bit of frurstration there perhaps.

‘When I started coaching, it was always my aim to try and help my athletes improve and achieve their full potential. That is still my aim.

‘There is a role for everyone to play. You can

Speaking at an announcement for volunteers for Glasgow 2024, our most decorated track and field athlete revealed it was only in recent years she truly appreciated the ‘structure’ upon which our ‘pathway’ is founded.

As the crowd noise of Hampden and the London Stadium died away for Doyle, the more she heard the shouts of encouragement and instruction from Coaches at Grangemouth, Cumbernauld and Pitreavie. Or any such location near you.

‘It is something I have appreciated more since I retired from the sport,’ said Eilidh,’ whose chat with Bryan at the Awards Dinner

4J Awards Dinner had the entire audience captivated and attentive.

‘I’ve started to see the full picture if you like.

As an elite athlete going through your own journey you tend to be quite focused on yourself and your performance.

‘You are aware of the pathway, yes, but you don’t probably appreciate fully who is doing what. There are so many people involved and contributing to the athlete’s journey.

‘I’m talking about Scottish Schools events, coaches on a weekly basis, picked teams, Officials measuring jumps, photo-finish or time-keeping, there are so many people helping. Without folk in all those roles, we would not have medallists at World Champs – it’s that simple.’

Eilidh underlined those themes at the Annual Awards.

She was on hand, with Paddy Burns and Chris van der Kuyl from 4J Studios, to make the Athlete of the Year presentations as a superb night drew towards a close.

4J ANNUAL AWARDS – ALL OUR WINNERS ATHLETE CATEGORIES 4J Athlete of the Year: Josh Kerr 4J Para Athlete of the Year: Samantha Kinghorn Masters Athlete of the Year: Paul Forbes U20 Athlete of the Year: Natasha Phillips U17 Athlete of the Year: Millie McClelland-Brooks Dallas Trust Trophy: Jemma Reekie Junior Hill Running - Martin Hyman Award: Isla Paterson

‘Scottish Athletics are doing so many good things at the moment; it is about everyone working together and trying to ensure that continues to happen,’ said Josh.

The messages from Easton and Eilidh which echoed around the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow had duly landed across the Atlantic, it seems.

Impact Club of the Year: Corstorphine AAC Off-track Club of the Year: Central AC Track and Field Club of the Year: Edinburgh AC

Samantha Kinghorn’s mum, Elaine, and her grandmother were on hand to collect the 4J Para Athlete of the Year trophy – with Sammi preparing to race in Jedburgh the following morning.

Josh Kerr’s mum and dad, John and Jill, did likewise for the 4J Athlete of the Year award – with Josh joining us on screen from the United States.

CLUB CATEGORIES

Janice Eaglesham MBE Para Development Club of the Year: Perth Strathtay Harriers

COACH CATEGORIES Community Club Coach of the Year: Gary Beggan (Springburn Harriers) Performance Development Coach of the Year: Ross Cairns Performance Coach of the Year: Angela Mudge Para Performance Coach of the Year: Steve Doig

OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEER CATEGORIES Technical Official of the Year: Rob Dalziel Volunteer of the Year: Craig Stewart (Harmeny AC) Raymond Hutcheson Trophy for Services to Officiating: Margaret Brown Tom Stillie Sword: Derek Easton (Central AC)

scottishathletics

9

4J Athlete of the Year

Josh Kerr

From grassroots to gold glory Josh’s 16-year journey is all wrapped up with EAC

By John Lenehan Wednesday 23 August 2023, Budapest’s National Athletics Stadium, 9:19pm local time.

Edinburgh Athletic Club star Josh Kerr kicks hard on the final bend of the 1500m World Championship final. He draws level with Norwegian superstar and heavy favourite, Jakob Ingebrigtsen. here’s a gold medal and a world title at stake.

It is a pulsating contest; the two men right at their limits, neither giving an inch. Millions of worldwide TV viewers hold their breath . . .

Can Kerr really take on and beat the mighty Ingebrigtsen?

One year previously, Kerr’s Edinburgh AC clubmate Jake Wightman had made almost exactly the same move on Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m at the World Championships in Oregon. Wightman had taken gold. Could Edinburgh lightning strike twice?

The look of sheer determination on Kerr’s face in the final 100m left no doubt, as he stormed down the home straight to take the

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gold medal and 2023 World Champion title in a time of 3:29.38.

But just how exactly has this incredible success come about within Edinburgh AC?

Two gold medals on the world stage, two remarkable athletes who rose through the junior ranks at Edinburgh AC to become world-beaters.

Games legacy

The Capital club has a history of producing world-class athletes: in recent years Chris O’Hare has won European middle-distance medals, 800m runner Lynsey Sharp has been European champion, and going further back in time the club has had a host of athletes competing at Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European level.

Long-time club coach Eric Fisher has devoted a lifetime to athletics in Edinburgh and trained both Wightman and Kerr when they were kids. Fisher radiates enthusiasm for the sport and can see a line stretching back to 1970 that has led to where the club is today.

‘The Commonwealth Games came to Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986 and these big events were so inspiring,’ he reflects.

4J Athlete of the Year ‘Kids could see the best athletes in the world competing in their city. Scotsman Lachie Stewart won the 10,000m gold in 1970 at Meadowbank, and we had 114 kids turning up to our first training session afterwards.

They all wanted to be Lachie Stewart!’

These magical moments can get enthusiastic youngsters through the door, and for some of them it turns out to be the first steps on a lifetime of sporting challenge.

Fisher discusses some of his proven coaching philosophies: ‘I always try to instil the attitude that an improver is a winner.

Youngsters respond well to this, when they can see their improvement month-by-month and year-by-year. They get a real sense of achievement from getting the best out of themselves.

‘Our junior teams compete all over the UK and it’s so exciting for them to represent their club, city and country. They see some of the older kids going on to compete at European and World level, and I tell them, ‘You can follow in their footsteps and go on to do the same!’

‘Success definitely breeds success and we’re very proud of Josh and Jake.’

Opportunity for all The name of Senior squad coach and club stalwart Alex MacEwen was recently added to the Meadowbank track’s ‘Wall of Fame’ for his immense contributions to local athletics.

MacEwen has unsurpassed knowledge of the local athletics scene and Edinburgh Ac success is no surprise to him.

‘There’s a great tradition of athletics in Edinburgh,’ says Alex.

‘Our city is big enough to have several clubs and there are so many committed athletes, volunteers and leaders, who all set the standards and deserve much credit. This drives competition in the city.

Josh Kerr Collecting the kit Jones started helping out at Edinburgh AC after her son signed up when he was in primary school, doing odd jobs to help out like sorting kit. She was quickly sucked in.

Now the club’s President, Yvonne is one example of those helping to set the standards within the club after going from ‘mum to President in 20 years’ (as she puts it).

‘My son Matthew was coached by Eric Fisher from the age of nine so I got involved in helping out with various roles such as assisting at events, taking care of kit and equipment,’ says Yvonne.

‘I’ve been a committee member, induction co-ordinator, team manager, Vice-President and now President. The club is such a supportive community, and it’s great to see the dedication of athletes of all ages and abilities. There’s a really vibrant atmosphere that fosters athlete development and achievement.

Josh with Eric Fisher – his first coach at Edinburgh AC

It was fitting that Kerr was able to meet and congratulate Edinburgh AC juniors who had recently won the Forth Valley Young Athletes League Division 1 title – Kerr himself started ‘What’s more, it’s fantastic to see athletes out as an Under-11 athlete in this same like Josh and Jake giving back to the athletics community in Scotland and inspiring league. the next generation. What better role models Jamie McDonald, National Club Manager with could our juniors have?’ scottishathletics elaborated on this legacy of ‘giving back’ A pathway to the elite Both Wightman and Kerr have recently brought back their World and Olympic medals to club events in Edinburgh, showing them off to excited crowds of young (and not-so-young!) club members.

They also took the time to answer questions, pass on advice and pose for photographs.

In what has become an ongoing cycle of growth and development within Edinburgh AC, both men are keenly aware of the importance of giving back to the club, and of inspiring others in the same way that they themselves were inspired as juniors.

‘Many of our elite stars are very generous with their time at club training sessions and events,’ says McDonald.

‘For many of them, their first experiences in athletics were as juniors on the club scene, and they like to stay involved and compete in Scotland when they can.’

McDonald went on to describe some of the work that scottishathletics does behind the scenes.

‘We know that athletes can only reach the top if there is a pathway to take them from

Photos with thanks to Brooks Running and Gary Leek

‘Edinburgh AC has a healthy and diverse membership base. The bigger the base, the greater the chance of success. Our runners all feed off each other and inspire each other.

‘There are development pathways in place for our juniors, as well as opportunities for Seniors and Masters to compete locally, nationally and internationally. All of this is thanks to the many people who volunteer to help out in a wide range of roles in the club.

It’s these people who enable everything and who set the standards.

scottishathletics

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4J Athlete of the Year

Josh Kerr

those first junior experiences all the way through to senior success. Our 150 clubs across Scotland are vital to this, and we work hard to support, empower and inspire them.

‘Also key to this development pathway is providing quality coaching and competition opportunities, and we organise a full calendar of fixtures across all age groups.

‘Our ‘Club Together’ initiative, launched in 2011, is a great example of the way we’ve aimed to empower clubs in recent years – we have athletics clubs, local authorities and leisure trusts working alongside scottishathletics helping our sport grow and thrive.

‘Combined with our accessible and relatable elite athlete role models, all of this fires the imagination of the next generation and gives them something motivating to aim for.

‘The volunteer commitment at Edinburgh AC is incredible. Their tireless dedication to excellence is inspiring, and this is being replicated in athletics clubs all over Scotland.

‘Athletics is about people, and we have so much respect for all our people, however they contribute. Our role as governing body is very much about supporting people to be the best they can be.”

‘Like a big family’ The man of the moment, World Champion Josh Kerr, took time to reflect on his achievements and his career path to date.

Now based in the USA, he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots.

“Coming through as a junior, the club felt like a big family, and it was good to be surrounded by such inspiring people. There have been highs and lows, and having support from Edinburgh AC and from scottishathletics kept me in the sport when it was tough,’ affirms Kerr.

‘From a grassroots point of view, the effort and commitment of the club’s volunteers and coaching staff is amazing. This is why we achieve the success we do, and the club should be so proud.

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There have been highs and lows, and having support from Edinburgh AC and from Scottish Athletics kept me in the sport when it was tough ‘Those from the club that have reached the big stages before me have showed that it can be done, and in turn we can show it to the next generation. We need to say to them, ‘This is how we do it, and if you follow your heart, you can do it too!’

‘We’ve got to be an open book for them, so that others can follow in the footsteps of what we are doing. ‘ Kerr also refers to the sacrifices involved: ‘I’ve been running since I was eight years old, so 16 years of dedication and honest effort went into that final 200m in Budapest. I know how much has gone into this, and so I really wanted to bring the world title home!.’

When Kerr crossed that 1500m finish line in first place, it became clear just how much it meant to him – the emotion written across his face was obvious for all to see as he realised a lifetime ambition of becoming a world champion.

A golden era for Scottish athletics With a number of Scottish athletes currently prominent on the world stage, and more on the verge of breaking through, we are privileged to be witnessing a veritable ‘golden era’ of athletics in Scotland.

It’s no surprise that Edinburgh AC has contributed significantly to Scotland’s success at the very highest levels of the sport, considering everything that is in place within the club: the structures and development pathways that have been built, the club coaches and volunteers who give so much of themselves, and the spirit and pride throughout the club.

All of these elements act as a springboard for the inspired young athletes working hard to step up and make their mark. Given this proven winning formula, it seems almost inevitable that the club can look forward to ongoing success.

For further information, visit www.edinburghac.org.uk or the club’s Facebook page.

First published in the Edinburgh Inquirer, www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk

Jemma Reekie

Sally Gunnell

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Onwards and upwards Guru Gunnell hopeful Jemma can make more strides in 2024

S

ally Gunnell hopes Jemma Reekie’s 2024 will turn into a ‘Tale of Two Cities’ – Glasgow and Paris.

The 25-year-old Scot had a successful season over her preferred 800m distance after recovering full health from glandular fever the year before and then moving on from coach Andy Young in the spring.

‘She has a lot of talent but also we can see lots of different ways how we believe we can make her a better runner. We are excited about what the future may hold.

‘Looking back at 2023, I think she got more out of the season than we probably expected. There had been a lot of change for her to cope with earlier in the year.

Jon Bigg and his wife, Olympic champion Gunnell, are now coaching Jemma, who has bought into the change by joining the training group in Brighton.

‘She had moved to success and moved coach and group. The had left her coach after many years and I know how that can have an effect on an individual.

Fifth place in the World Champs and wins in the London Diamond League and the 5th Avenue Mile hinted at exciting times ahead – with the World Indoors in Glasgow and the Olympics in Paris firmly on the Reekie radar.

‘We were looking to get her out there racing and enjoying the sport again. It went much better than we expected.’

‘We are very pleased to be working with Jemma,’ said Gunnell.

Bigg and Gunnell clearly worked on building up Jemma’s self-belief after a difficult 2022. Sally, who won the Olympic 400m hurdles title in Barcelona in 1992, has vast experience at a global level to pass on.

‘I’m very much trying to use my own experiences in the sport to help Jemma and to allow her to draw from that,’ she added.

‘You have experiences yourself and you look to pass that on, explain scenarios and so on.

I’ve helped her in terms of her mind and the power of it – how important that can be for confidence. I feel that can have a big part to play in an athlete’s performance.

‘I’d like to think I’ve been there for her and we have chatted about what is normal and what to expect. How you feel before a race and how everyone goes through that.

Hopefully it has helped that I’ve been there at

the elite level.

‘Jemma was ill in 2022 and that left her lacking confidence in her performance, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. As the season started we began to see her confidence in herself build a little bit each time she raced.

‘So step-by-step she started to have a consistent season – having good training sessions, working on new areas, and bringing that out in races. That allowed us to tap into a little bit of what Jemma is capable of.’

Jemma and Ambassador Eilidh Doyle launched the volunteer campaign for Glasgow 2024 in September and the 800m runner made it clear she would love to race at the event.

‘The World indoors is definitely one of the targets for 2024,’ confirmed Gunnell.

‘It’s in Glasgow so you want to see here go out there in front of the Scottish crowd and do well.

‘Obviously the big target and highlight will hopefully be the Olympics in Paris.

‘It is nice to see her so hungry. This isn’t just about getting into finals now, Jemma is very much talking about wanting to get medals.

Women’s 800m is one of the toughest events at the moment but that pushes you on as an individual and us as a coaching and support team. You have to try and take the opportunities.’

scottishathletics

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4J Senior Champs

Grangemouth

Leap of faith Alessandro, Nick set Native Records

Photos by Bobby Gavin

A title.

dam Clayton burst down the Grangemouth track to claim 100m gold and win his first Senior Scottish

Moments later, the Texas-based Giffnock North sprinter was joined on the podium by his coach, Ryan McAllister.

Fast forward a few more minutes and Ryan accepted the congratulations of this correspondent.

SAL: ‘Oh, incidentally, how is Alessandro (Schenini) looking for the Long Jump tomorrow? Is he in good shape?

Ryan: ‘He’s in a pretty good place actually.

He knows what he is capable of – he just needs to believe.’

Scroll forward almost exactly a further 24 hours and McAllister beat a path back to medal presentations as winning coach with Schenini on the top step of the podium . . . and on top of the world.

Record with a superb final round effort.

Stephen Mackenzie had already eclipsed the mark with 7.84m – Darren Ritchie, who was looking on at Grangemouth, having leapt 7.80m back in 2000.

So a great competition concluded in a fashion not seen too often at the Scottish Champs – as Alessandro celebrated with his girlfriend Sarah Malone, coach Ryan and his parents high in the stand.

‘I knew before they measured the jump I’d gone far enough to lead (with Stephen having one more jump) but I didn’t know if it was 8.00m,’ he smiled.

‘The Officials were measuring it and time stood still. I could not hold in my excitement when it came up.

‘It has not been the easiest two years since I jumped 7.76m at the Scottish Champs in 2021. I had an operation last year. But I still felt there was a big jump there.’

(Later that week a message to Alessandro offering photos from SAL began: ‘Have you come back down to earth yet?’)

Schenini’s leap of faith was followed by another Native Record before the afternoon concluded.

Photographer Bobby Gavin and our video team were thrilled to capture the moment as Alessandro leapt to 8.00m at a new Native

Nick Percy had thrown 61.14 at Scotstoun a week earlier but he improved that further to 62.93m. Previously Nick had not bettered 60m at Grangemouth.

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Nick and Alessandro cleaned up in the £2000 prize pot – each landing £400 for their three ‘Gold standard’ shares.

Elsewhere in the field, two Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games stalwarts made their presence felt on this list for the cash.

Chris Bennett threw 70.84m and David Smith cleared 2.17m as the Shettleston and Giffnock athletes continue to offer their support to the Senior Scottish Champs.

The same could certainly be said for Kirsty Law. Kirsty didn’t throw well at Grangemouth but still won Women’s Discus title No 14 and her commitment to the event merits huge respect.

Angela McAuslan-Kelly won the Women’s Hammer a week before heading to the united States; Allie Routledge and Hannah Wallace were new names on the winners’ list for High Jump and Long Jump. Henry Clarkson won the Men’s Triple Jump.

FAB IN THE FIELD Alessandro Schenini: 8.00m Long Jump Gold standard Nick Percy: 62.93m Discus Gold standard

‘I stayed on in Scotland after the National League meet with relatives at Balfron,’ he said.

Stephen Mackenzie:

‘We went through to Grangemouth to train and actually at one stage my dad and I cleaned up the circle. Just getting that familiarity again with the venue was invaluable.’

Chris Bennett: 70.84m Hammer Bronze standard

7.84 Long Jump Silver standard

David Smith: 2.17m High Jump Bronze standard

4J Senior Champs

Grangemouth

Jane Davidson won a sprint double while Sarah Calvert (right, yellow vest) claimed 800m/1500m golds

T

he celebratory shriek which pierced the air at Grangemouth momentarily shocked purple-clad finish line Officials and on-lookers.

If the Women’s 100m final produced a surprise winner, then the Men’s 100m lived up to expectation that it might be one of the best in recent years.

It was early on Saturday morning at the 4J Senior Champs with the Women’s 100m heats underway.

Make that decades. Six men at 10.81 or quicker ensured the best depth in the Senior Men’s 100m final at the Scottish Champs since . . . 1984 (taking in hand timing and wind-speeds).

Jane Davidson’s surprise at 11.95 on the trackside clock was understandable. After all, the Aberdeen AAC athlete better-known for hurdles success had a flat PB prior to the Champs at 12.34.

As it transpired, it was the portent to a purple patch for Jane.

Improving her PB to 11.83 was enough to bring Davidson gold in the Women’s 100m final ahead of Commonwealth Games duo, Sarah Malone and Rebecca Matheson, and young Englishwoman Kaya Slater. In the 100m Hurdles final the following day Jane again set a PB and her winning time of 13.53 was within a couple of hundredths of the Native Record (held at 13.51 by Catriona Pennet).

Adam Clayton won it in 10.46 from Krishawn Aiken at 10.49 with Ethan Pottie third in 10.60.

‘I’ve never won a Scottish championship indoors or our at Senior level before and wanted to put that right,’ said Adam, who has been based in Texas in recent years.

‘There’s better depth now and I follow that from the States. It is a really good time for Scottish sprints and six men sub 10.81 shows that – with a couple of people missing, too. I think we all just want to keep trying to get faster.’

Davidson and Clayton were new winners but there were some well-known names making repeat visits to the podium.

won the Men’s and Sarah Calvert took the Women’s gold with a superb closing 300m or so. Alex is a training partner of Guy Learmonth; with Guy unfortunately a DQ in his 400m heat after a fine run.

Kyle Alexander duly won the Men’s 400m final – Jill Cherry won the Women’s one-lap crown – and Calvert showed her class by completing her 800/1500m double on the Sunday by a clear margin as Hannah Anderson edged out Hannah Cameron on the line.

STARS ON THE TRACK Jack Lawrie: 51.25 400m Hurdles Bronze standard Adam Clayton: 10.46 Men’s 100m Bronze standard Krishawn Aiken: 10.49 Men’s 100m Bronze standard Kyle Alexander: 46.94 Men’s 400m Bronze standard Jane Davidson: 13.53 Women’s 100m Hurdles Bronze standard

‘I initially came into the 100m simply as a ‘run-out’ before my hurdles the following day,’ Jack Lawrie made it seven 400m Hurdles grinned Jane.

Sam Fernando: titles in a row and his eight medals is now 9:49.34 Men’s 3000m S/C Bronze standard ‘So to set big PBs and win the title was a record for that event. an amazing feeling. I think folk heard my Ben Potrykus won a reaction at the finish in the opening heat dramatic Men’s 1500m when I saw my winning time. final to repeat his 2021 success. Emily Criag ‘A place in the Scotland 4x100m Relay took the Women’s 400m squad is something that has always been on Hurdles title for the third my mind. I’ve been involved in Relay squads successive year. with age group Scotland teams, the School Games and at U20.

The 800m finals saw wins for arguably the two pre‘You always want to improve your flat speed race favourites. to try and better your hurdles time. I knew Adam Clayton with Krishawn Aiken (left) I was capable of this but now it is down on Visiting Cook Islands scottishathletics and Ethan Pottie athlete Alex Beddoes paper.’

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PB Interview

Eilidh Doyle ‘I remember watching her compete in a junior event and she just looked really gutsy.’

Despite living so close, Doyle remembers her friendship with Muir first flourishing at the 2013 European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg.

‘I was in the team too and you put down who you want to room with,’ says Eilidh.

‘I put Laura down because she maybe wouldn’t have known many people and I’d been in the team a while.

‘We had known each other through people but that was the blossoming of our friendship. I got to see first hand how incredible an athlete she is.’

From school halls to the wall of fame Eilidh career turns full circle

By Matt Gallagher

S

cotland’s most decorated track and field athlete parks herself in front of the television and prepares for another emotional rollercoaster.

Eilidh Doyle may have retired from professional sport more than two years ago but her love and passion for athletics shows no sign of fading.

No longer running round the track herself, now she lives and breathes the excitement of watching others on their quest for podium success.

Being the spectator – whether taking in Diamond League, Commonwealth Games or, indeed, Olympic Games – has come with its challenges for Doyle.

‘It is horrible, so nerve-wracking,’ Doyle (36) laughs, although she is serious.

‘When you are competing, you are much more relaxed. You have your own job to do.

‘Watching from home as a fan is really hard.

You have nowhere to get rid of your nerves and you just have to hope.

‘Laura had me in tears after winning silver in Tokyo. I was screaming and cheering and then in floods of tears. I had every emotion going through me.

Of course, there is particular interest in the impressive career of Laura Muir, the middledistance star who also attended Kinross High ‘I need to be careful not to wake the little School, lived along the road in Milnathort and ones up when I’m watching her!” who has become a cherished friend.

Doyle is six years older than Muir and, therefore, their paths did not cross in the corridors of Kinross High School. But she quickly heard plenty about her early talent.

‘I had left school before Laura arrived,’ Doyle recalls.

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‘But I was very aware of who she was – mainly because my mum and dad would be reading articles about Laura and her brother Rory.

A decade on, Muir (30) is continuing to shine on the global stage with a number of Diamond League top three performances over the summer and sixth place in the World Champs final.

Doyle is backing Muir to push for more Olympic success in Paris next year.

‘Laura will be full of confidence after her Diamond League performances towards the end of the season,’ Doyle said.

‘It will be a case of staying healthy and injuryfree going into next year and getting ready for Paris.

‘There is no reason why she can’t be going to Paris with hopes of getting another Olympic medal. There is a lot for her to look forward to.’

Doyle is a double Olympian herself and knows better than most what it takes to compete on the grandest of stages.

After all, her career yielded 17 major international medals across 400m hurdles, 400m and the 4x400m Relays.

There are always going to be times when she misses performing at the world’s biggest events but Doyle remains content with her decision to retire.

As the former PE teacher at Perth Grammar School reminisces – right to the beginning – she knows it was a journey to be proud of.

‘My first experience of running was actually cross country at primary school,’ she said.

‘I competed in the Perth and Kinross Cross Country Championships at Perth Grammar School.

‘I remember winning it quite convincingly and thinking: ‘I might be okay at this!’

‘I obviously went on to work at Perth

PB Interview

Eilidh Doyle We had the support, not just from the school, but from the community.

‘That carried on throughout my career and you always had that connection to home.’

In a sense, Doyle – not that she needs to be – is conscious about giving back. She has and continues to be a role model for so many local kids.

‘I’m very fortunate where I had a nice transition out of the sport,’ she explains.

Grammar School, so it went full circle. I would wander out taking the class for a PE lesson remembering little P6 Eilidh running around the cross country track. I have fond memories.

of both Kinross Primary School and Kinross High School on her path to glory.

‘When I got to U17 age group my coach at the time thought, with my hurdling ability and endurance, I might be suited to going down the route of a 400m hurdler.

‘They really made a big deal of you if you’d had success. That was in all avenues – arts, music and sport as well.

‘We had practised the 300m hurdles and I was then undefeated for two years. There was this eureka moment where I’d found the event. That was me.’

Doyle still remembers the positive influence

She said: ‘The primary school headteacher was a guy called George Wilson.

‘I retired in June 2021 but my last competitive race was back in March 2019.

It was my choice to retire from the sport. It wasn’t like I got injured and had to stop.

‘I’m on the Board of scottishathletics now and also do a podcast talking about athletics.

‘You would be standing up at assemblies and telling everyone how well you were doing. That really made me feel like I’d achieved something.

‘I love sport in general, but athletics is my big passion. Athletics and sport gave me so much and it’s really important to be able to give back.’

‘Then Kinross High was a sporty school and we had access to a lot of great facilities.

*This piece appears with thanks to the Perthshire Advertiser.

‘My eldest was impressed with the mural, although not as much as he was with his sticker from the dentist’ - Eilidh Doyle

T

here were a number of career ambitions and targets when Eilidh Doyle burst out of the starting blocks at a young age.

Among them were competing in those famous championships you would watch on the television and proudly stepping up on the podium after a personal best performance.

athlete Laura Muir as well as curlers Eve Muirhead and Mili Smith, can be viewed from Caledonian Road.

‘You think about champs and medals you want to win, not things like this happening,” Eilidh smiled.

‘I had something similar back in 2014 when there was a massive photo of me at Glasgow She did not, Airport. I thought: ‘When is something like however, anticipate this ever going to happen again?’ that her success and journey in ‘Hopefully the mural in Perth will last a wee the sport would bit longer than that poster! lead to being ‘It is such a cool thing and it is brilliant to be honoured in a building-high part of it alongside the other three athletes.’ mural in Perth Eilidh recently visited the mural in person city centre. alongside young sons Campbell and Lewis.

The recently‘I went to visit the mural not that long ago crafted when I was through in Perth at the dentist artwork, with the kids and my husband,’ she revealed. which also gives a nod ‘We took a wee venture round and I hadn’t to fellow appreciated the size of it. My oldest son was

impressed, although he was more impressed with the sticker he got from the dentist!

‘Hopefully when they are older they will understand a bit more about what mummy used to do.’

Created by Glasgow based artists Rogue One and Ali Smith, founder of public art organisation ArtPistol Projects, the work pays tribute to Eilidh, Laura , Mili Smith MBE and Eve Muirhead OBE. The piece was originally planned back in 2019 by scottishathletics as a way of celebrating home-grown athletes, but the work was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Council and Culture Perth and Kinross decided to pursue the commission following the original brief and promotion of sport and exercise while celebrating the fantastic accomplishments of four stars.

scottishathletics

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#LindsaysXC

Lanark

And they’re off...

Hundreds follow in footsteps of XC history at Lanark Racecourse

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ust 16 athletes finished the race when the first ever Scottish National XC Champs were held at Lanark Racecourse way back in the spring of 1886.

conditions for early winter and a superb atmosphere generated by our clubs.

‘Not last century, but the one before that,’ as we put it in previews for the Lindsays Short Course at the same venue in early November.

In fact, seasoned observers reckoned it one of the best cross country events delivered in Scotland in recent years with the six races compressed into just over two hours and a whole swathe of medals presented across numerous age categories.

Edinburgh Harriers took on Clydesdale Harriers in that historic event even though poor weather and one of the first Scotland international matches at Hampden were attributed to the low turnout.

Firm underfoot, and pan flat, fast races were always in prospect. So it proved from the U15 Girls who opened the programme to the U20/Senior/Masters Men who closed it only 11 minutes or so after their 2pm start.

Or perhaps there were other factors.

Jamie Crowe took the title there with a fine run despite his preference for hills and mud.

Falkirk’s Scott Stirling had been impressive with the fastest lap at Cumbernauld and duly took silver at Lanark.

‘It was the first meeting in living memory (at Lanark) where no drink was on sale and, as a consequence, the affair passed with a singular quietness,’ states a newspaper report of the time.

Fast forward 137 years and the same could not be said of the Short Course.

A stunning 1511 entries took us beyond 1500 for the first time in this event and Record finisher numbers in the Senior races saw almost 800 adults race amid benign

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The battle for third was, well, tight to say the least as Freddie Carcas of Edinburgh AC won the ‘photo finish’ decision from Duncan Robinson of Giffnock North.

‘I wasn’t really aware of how close that was when I finished,’ said Jamie.

‘There were maybe six to eight of us all

Photos by Bobby Gavin

bunched together after halfway and I was starting to think that would not suit me with some strong kickers in the field for the final stages.

‘But Scott took the race on a bit into the wind on the third kilometre and I was able to go with him. I kicked again just as we turned into the final straight and was delighted to win.

‘It’s my first Short Course XC title and it was brilliant to be part of such a packed race.’

In all, 505 athletes finished the 4K with Masters medals presented in ten-year bands.

Jamie led Central AC home to the team golds with Cambuslang taking second place and Edinburgh Uni Hares and Hounds the bronzes.

GB and NI International Eloise Walker flew home from a training camp to win the Women’s race by a decent margin and in that race the real battle was for silver – with her Edinburgh AC team-mate, Kirsty Walker, home ahead of bronze medallist Fionnuala Ross of Shettleston Harriers.

#LindsaysXC ‘It was good to be back racing cross country and to win – I was here two years ago and the conditions were torrential rain,’ laughed Eloise.

‘This time it was very firm underfoot and we even had sunshine. I prefer it when it is not too muddy and it worked to my advantage.

‘I am working with Trevor Painter as my coach now and his wife, Jenny Meadows. I am enjoying the training and being part of their group. Jenny might not use the word herself but I would say she is such a ‘wise’ person. There is a lot of experience there that athletes can draw upon.

That Women’s race had 281 finishers and the appeal of 4K cross country was very much apparent right through the field and the various ages and stage – with Masters gold medals for the likes of Sara Green, and Fiona Matheson.

Lanark Edinburgh AC won the Senior Women’s team golds from Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds and Corstorphine AAC completed a capital clean sweep in terms of the podium with wellearned bronze medals.

In the U15 and U17 races there were individual title wins for four different clubs via Lois MacRae (Inverness Harriers) and Calum Dick (Giffnock North) at U15 level and for Andrew McWilliam (Lasswade AAC) and Millie McClelland-Brooks (Inverclyde AC) at U17 level.

Lasswade won the U15 Girls team race with Giffnock North enjoying three more moments on top of the podium – although the U17 men results came down to a single point.

AAC coach, Linda Smith.

‘He was involved in football in his early teens but has been with us for the past three years or so. He’s focused more on his running in the last year and has really developed well.

That race saw Lasswade take more medals with Andrew’s win leading them to the silvers.

‘We have quite a strong group of young endurance athletes at the club right now and that’s refelcted in teams medals at the Short Course Champs. The athletes are pushing each other on in training and that always helps.’

‘Andrew won a 3000m title on the track during the summer but this is his first success in cross country,’ said Lasswade

The pushing each other on extended to the hundreds at Lanark Racecourse – 137 years on from the 19th century trail-blazers.

Eilish thanks Lindsays for XC support

E

ilish McColgan has thanked Lindsays for their on-going support for cross country in Scotland.

We announced a new three-year agreement with the firm earlier this autumn to take the sponsorship through to 2026 – 12 years after it started.

The Lindsays Trophy, which looks to help build participation in our national events, has also been revamped into a three-division format to help stimulate further interest among our clubs and there was a great response at Cumbernauld and Lanark.

Eilish, of course, grew up with cross country in her formative years with Dundee Hawkhill Harriers.

‘It’s great to see Lindsays continuing their sponsorship of the Scottish Cross Country Season,’ said Eilish.

‘Cross country is where all of our top distance runners learned their trade. Laura

Muir, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and even myself were all once youngsters taking part in the XC leagues for our clubs - traipsing up and down the length of the country to run around a field in the cold, wet and mud.

‘It was fun times! I have some really fond memories of my junior years taking part in all of the Scottish XC leagues and National Champs.

‘Everyone stands on the start line knowing they are in for a challenge. And it is a fun way to build leg strength and endurance which is important for all events and helps you in the summer.

‘I think it hugely beneficial for athletes in Scotland to have an incredible company like Lindsays continuing their support for our sport.

‘Cross Country is the backbone - connecting the youngest age groups to the master and senior athletes. Having a headline sponsor until 2026, allows these events to run and flourish - accommodating for the increase of entries year on year. It’s great to see.’

scottishathletics

19

#LindsaysXC

Cumbernauld

Awesome every autumn Relay champions deliver another strong defence

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he names may change but the colours remain the same. And, at Cumbernauld, those colours every autumn are predominantly yellow and green.

When it comes to the Senior races at the Lindsays National XC Relays, Central AC Men and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds Women have a vice-like grip on the gold medals currently.

Central AC’s team has changed significantly since the likes of Andy Butchart and Alastair Hay led the way. Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds no longer call on Mhairi Maclennan and Steph Pennycook.

But the top of the podium at the Lindsays National XC Relays remains a central reservation for the men and a student union for the women.

‘It’s my first time with a Central team in the XC Relays so it was great to help the team bring it home,’ said Alastair Marshall, back in the groove after a couple of injury-hit years. ’I’ve been on the sidelines watching for the past couple of years and when that happens you just want to be out there racing.

‘We’re always strong and there’s depth in the club to help us keep delivering the victories.’

Cameron Milne and Jamie Crowe effectively represented the ‘old guard’ with Alastair Calum Phillip enjoying first wins. Calum was in the Central A team who ended third last

year as Central B took the golds!

Edinburgh Uni Hare and hounds took silvers in the Men’s race and Inverclyde AC landed the bronzes. That may have been some consolation for Inverclyde AC who could not attend the West District XC Relays because of weather issues.

As ever, the National XC Relays captured the attention of our club community – although participation was affected by #Storm Babet that weekend. Regrettably, half a dozen clubs from Scotland’s north-east were unable to attend.

On the day, the course and conditions were excellent and we forward our thanks to our host club Cumbernauld AAC, all our volunteer helpers and our scottishathletics Officials as well as the Road Running and Cross Country Commission.

Katie Clubb (formerly Bristow) was thus a history-maker after travelling from Shetland, albeit before #StormBabet hit.

‘I’m here for a wee holiday with my husband Jack and my wee boy Arthur and I am so glad we travelled on Monday,’ said Katie.

‘I don’t think I have raced cross country since 2017 so it’s exciting to be among the medals with the team. It’s a great moment for Cambuslang Harriers.’

Edinburgh AC led the Women’s race after leg one and Sarah Calvert had the eventual winners in third at that stage, but that all changed later as those in green asserted their authority.

Gala Harriers took the Women’s Masters golds with Sara Green in fine form as last season. Garscube were second and Ochil Hill Runners took third – with former World Mountain Running champion Angela Mudge in their team.

GB and NI International Megan led them home as in the recent past and it was great to see Megan running again in Scotland after racing on the track in Budapest at the World Champs as she led her team to seven-ina-row. Emily Shaw and Hannah Anderson completed the team in green.

Giffnock won the W50 race with Edinburgh AC landing silvers and Kirkintilloch Olympians relishing third place to take home the bronzes. Cambuslang won the Men’s Masters golds with Garscube second and Gala in third.

‘I pushed on over the last leg just to see what I could do – and the three girls before me Craig Shennan leads Giffnock North to Young Males gold had done such a with Hannah Anderson (left) part of Edinburgh Uni winning good job already team – and Central AC Senior Men (below) to set up the win,’ said Megan, who clocked a rapid 13.22 for the fastest lap.

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medals at this event for the first time in the Women’s division.

Shettleston Harriers took the silvers with a strong team and Cambuslang Harriers went from fifth to third on the anchor leg by Stefanie Tucker to take

The team in red-and-white made it a double with M50 golds, too, with Garscube again landing silvers and host club Cumbernauld AAC taking bronzes. *Yellow was the lead colour on the junior race podiums.

Giffnock North AC took both the young Females and the Young Males races – and indeed claimed the gold and silver medals in both.

Falkirk Victoria Harriers, in their distinctive black and yellow vests, were bronze medallists in each race.

Giffnock’s strength in the Young Females race was such that their B team headed the A team towards the finishing line. That was reversed in the Young Males races.

Benefit your club as we invest in the athletics club network

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Grassroots Athletics

Club Together Programme in 2022/2023 for clubs involved in the programme and a staggering 87 percent retention rate of new members in the same period.

In fact, our data shows that membership growth and retention is consistently higher in Club Together clubs than those outside the programme. The benefits of the programme are clear for club growth and development.

How leap into unknown became a game-changer Head of Development and later to be Chief Executive first with ourselves and then UK Athletics.

What has been even more impressive, is how the clubs step-up financially each time a major funding stream begins to disappear.

For example, with dwindling Local Authority/ Leisure Trust investment with the current financial crisis, and also the end of the sportscotland Direct Club Investment fund, our clubs have plugged the financial gap.

‘Then you need the rest of the club to buy into that vision and the appointment of a proactive Club Together Officer and the strong support from local partner as well as scottishathletics.’

‘Over the 12 years since Club Together was first launched, it is abundantly clear that the programme has been a major success,’ says Jamie McDonald, scottishathletics National Club Manager and Club Together Lead.

It’s a simple formula when put like that but, over the years across various templates at numerous clubs, those principles have been applied the length and breadth of Scotland.

‘On average, clubs involved in the programme have seen a growth of over 70 percent, which is just incredible.

Club grab paid roles baton and grow our sport

By Peter Jardine Two years after the Club Together Programme had launched, an interim report reflected that few would have believed quite how far the project would have travelled.

We can say the same again now, almost a further decade on!

And there are some quite remarkable statistics now available which cover exactly what has happened across our community of clubs in synergy with their governing body.

What consistently amazes scottishathletics is the resilience and sustainability of the clubs involved in the programme. Over the 12 years that Club Together has existed, our clubs have invested £1,290,000 in the various posts.

‘Dedicated club volunteers, who are A number of different club roles have absolutely critical, working alongside been funded – be that across the areas of Club Together staff with a clear vision and We will come to that later but let’s initially coaching, development or administration. Or, plan has been an effective combination rewind to shortly before Glasgow 2014, indeed, combinations of these facets. that has seen many benefits including when Club Together was only two-years-old membership and volunteer growth alongside after first being introduced in 2011 against The overall outcome has been more enhancements to club infrastructure. the backdrop of the impending London ‘professional’ clubs in the purest sense of Olympics of 2012. the word professional while still, of course, ‘Club Together has also helped to leaning heavily and hugely on the volunteer shape other areas of club and athletics ‘The formula for success is key and for us ‘workforce’ who make the sport happen in development – governance and that has first and foremost proved to be a Scotland on a weekly basis. management, coaching and Officials club committee that is open to change and willing to adopt a clear vision of where they recruitment and development, competition, Remarkably, Club Together continues to want to go,’ said Mark Munro, at the time our grow and develop, with no signs yet of facilities, inclusive athletics, equality, reaching its peak. community and school links and marketing/ communication.

Club Together currently involves 23 ‘I certainly feel as if the programme has led clubs, employing 33 to stronger partnership working between professional officers scottishathletics and athletics clubs in that deliver 530 general as well as stronger alliances with hours of paid club local partners – Club Together has been a development work per focal point to draw partners together. week. All of which are the highest ever since ‘Increasingly, and especially over the last the programme began. six years, as clubs have developed the Club Together project has also evolved to meet This has led to six clubs needs. We encourage clubs to look at percent growth in their needs and what they need in terms of club membership PB 2023 | ISSUE 3 Officer support.

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Grassroots Athletics

Club Together Programme under ten hours per week which focus on community and junior athletics coaching delivery.

Jamie added: ‘We (SAL) continue to employ roles in partnership with clubs but, increasingly, clubs are setting up employment and payroll services to engage staff directly.

‘The club roles can be broadly categorised as follows: general growth and development, business operations, coaching, working with underrepresented groups, and clubs with multiple roles in the above categories.’

To provide club examples of the diversity of roles. *Aberdeen AAC have two positions – a Club Manager and Pathways Development Officer, both delivering 25 hours per week.

‘We have external resource to provide support in this area. Additionally, clubs are engaging additional paid staff (over and above Club Together roles) with particular focus on administration and coaching roles now across 35 athletics clubs in Scotland.’

In time, scottishathletics envisage that Club Together will evolve and grow further to meet the needs of clubs.

What seems beyond dispute is that the early vision from more than a decade ago has been a development game-changer.

*Springburn Harriers have grown their Club Development Officer role to a 35 hour per We are committed to working with clubs week role and Central AC have a 28 hour per currently part of the programme and are week position. always keen to support new clubs interested in joining Club Together. *In contrast: Fife AC and Dunfermline Track and Field Club both have very effective roles If interested, please email jamie.mcdonald@scottishathletics.org.uk and officers that provide roles delivering

Stats show the remarkable financial commitment by clubs over 12 years *Clubs – £1,290,000 (46 percent) *sportscotland - £407,000 (14 percent) *scottishathletics - £558,000 (20 percent) *Local Authorities/Trusts £558,000 (20 percent)

scottishathletics

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Grassroots Athletics

Springburn Harriers

Rising again Juniors help fuel upward journey – after Glasgow 2014 sparked Springburn revival

By Katy Barden

T

he distinctive diamondshaped logo of Springburn Harriers, an adaptation of the trademark of the famous North British Locomotive Works in Springburn, represents a club steeped in history.

Athletes such as Graeme Williamson - who became one of Scotland’s best middledistance runners under the guidance of famed Springburn coach (and athlete) Eddie Sinclair - helped make a name for the Bishopbriggs club. Athletes such as Michelle Sandison continue to do so.

up was totally transformed. Springburn operated as a male-only club that shared its historic Huntershill clubhouse with Strathkelvin Ladies, a successful women’sonly club with a young females section.

The two clubs linked up for league matches and later joined forces under the banner of Springburn Harriers, but their newfound collective senior strength was never matched by the once dominant junior presence which eventually faded to nothing.

In the years leading up to Glasgow 2014 the prospect of a home Commonwealth Games inspired conversations, led by then-President John Owens, to return the club to its former glory.

‘If there was going to be a time to highlight athletics, it was then,’ says Barbara Knox, Junior Convenor at Springburn and a former member of Strathkelvin Ladies.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, in parallel Knox, together with a teammate from her Strathkelvin days, had already generated with a strong senior contingent, the club’s local interest through an after-school running junior section flourished. According to club. It eventually acted as a gateway Scottish Distance Running History, Sinclair’s for aspiring athletes who wanted to join U15 athletes won medals in 16 out of 19 Springburn Harriers. national championships between 1962 and 1981.

Planning meetings in January 2014 led to a By the late 1990s, however, the club’s make come and try session in May which was so successful the committee (re)launched the PB 2023 | ISSUE 3 club’s junior section in June 2014.

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Those initial training nights - as Hampden prepared to host the Commonwealth Games - proved a catalyst for growth. From around 30 members at its inception, junior membership now stands at around 300 and represents a Glasgow 2014 legacy that led to Springburn being awarded the 2022 4J Studios/scottishathletics Impact Club of the Year award.

‘I think we’ve done really well considering how young we are,’ says Knox, whose passion for the club pre-dates her membership thanks to Springburn stalwart Jack Crawford, her husband’s grandad.

‘One of the big drivers of change was when we got our Club Development Officer (Gary Beggan) who had combined events experience. Before that we basically had one sprints coach and one endurance coach - we didn’t do any field events at all.

‘Gary helped us set up into competition age

Grassroots Athletics

Springburn Harriers

Springburn embrace our Menopause Friendly campaign for clubs Springburn Harriers won our Impact Club of the Year title in 2022 groups. We got more parents involved and we started building our coach network and assigning them to groups. We got help with planning and we were soon able to do it ourselves. We tried to integrate run, jump and throw into all the age groups, and it’s developed from there.’

As the junior section grew, the club’s development strategy, which included getting its Duke of Edinburgh licence, took shape.

‘Part of our strategy is to get young people in, to get them volunteering because they’re at the club anyway, and to grow our volunteers that way,” says Knox. ‘A lot of our parents are more engaged now too and want to do their level one or level two (coaching qualifications), so it’s really just making sure we’re talking to people the whole time.

‘A couple of our young members have also been officiating through their Duke of Edinburgh - two of them actually led the long jump at the Lanarkshire Champs which was amazing - so that’s been another way for people to get involved, even if they’re not competing.’

The North British Locomotive Works, exporting over 18,000 locomotives across the globe from its Springburn HQ, was the largest builder of steam locomotives anywhere in the world. That didn’t happen overnight.

Looking to its own future, the club’s ongoing investment in developing young people - not just as athletes but as volunteers - will be central to its success and sustainability.

Already change is afoot, with Springburn juniors once again topping rankings and earning Scottish vests, as well as making names for themselves as confident young coaches and officials.

‘We’re just trying to get better at what we do all the time,’ says Knox.

‘We all want the same thing. We want athletes to have a great experience and we want parents and volunteers to feel like they’re a crucial part of the Springburn family. If we do that, then the club will continue to grow and evolve.’

Alongside Springburn Harriers, jogscotland Penicuik have adopted our Menopause Friendly campaign. scottishathletics have launched a Menopause Friendly campaign to athletics clubs across Scotland - with Springburn Harriers helping lead the way.

Our initiative has been praised by Olympic champion hurdler Sally Gunnell, who has heralded the project as 'groundbreaking'.

The campaign asks athletics clubs to take some simple steps to make their training sessions welcoming and supportive for those going through menopause.

In exchange, they can use our ‘Menopause Friendly Club’ branding. We have published two pages of information and resources on our website, aimed at athletes, and clubs/coaches, offering advice, information and support.

The campaign is not only aimed at those going through menopause themselves – it explores the way that everyone can contribute to make clubs welcoming and supportive to participants at this stage of life.

‘I think it’s a great campaign, it’s a great way to see a governing body thinking,’ said Sally Gunnell.’

‘It’s probably only in the last year that we're starting to talk about menopause in all areas, and why shouldn’t we be talking around it within sport? I think it’s quite groundbreaking and positive to see.

'Menopause can affect people in so many ways, I couldn’t believe all the different feelings - as somebody who is

quite a positive person, going through the menopause, how you had some self-doubts and questioned things. Now understanding what was happening, I think it's clear we need to talk about it, so that we can support people.

‘As we know in sport, knowledge is everything and it’s the same when we're talking about our hormones and menopause.

'I think signing up to the campaign is something that every club should do. It's about spreading that word from within and sharing that information.’

The resources have been developed through consultation with members of athletics club and jogscotland groups.

Among them was Barbara Knox, coach at Springburn Harriers, who said: 'I saw Menopause Friendly jogging groups mentioned a few times on Facebook, so I went to the jogscotland website to find a wealth of information.

'We formed a wee Menopause Initiative WhatsApp group and then asked our jog leaders and coaches to have a look at the material on the jogscotland website.

We also held a Running and Menopause Evening with Dr Juliet McGrattan as speaker.

I’m so pleased to see the campaign now being fully launched to athletics clubs.’

scottishathletics

25

Grassroots Athletics

Strathearn Harriers

Strathearn making big strides

- they have just two qualified coaches, and historically, such is the demographic of the area, teenage athletes have left the club to go to university and often don’t return until they have families themselves.

Fortunately, the club is both resourceful and resolute.

By Katy Barden

I

t wasn’t a traditional form of recruitment, but the Devil’s Burdens Relay – a mid-winter relay race over the Lomond Hills in Fife - inspired a new intake of Strathearn Harriers when the club’s membership was particularly low.

‘We initially didn’t have enough members to get a team together, so we scrambled around to find other local runners and we ended up with three teams,’ says club coach Phil Mestecky.

‘That was a springboard to growing the club, bringing in people who hadn’t thought of being part of it, who then really enjoyed the team experience.’

Strathearn Harriers started in 1984 and will

celebrate its 40th anniversary next year with around 120 senior members and over 50 juniors.

Phil and his wife Liz joined in 2003 when membership totalled fewer than 20 with just one woman. Having moving north from Banbury Harriers where they had been regular participants at the Cotswold Way Relay, they were keen to find an equally enjoyable team adventure on arrival in Scotland. The Devil’s Burdens Relay was the perfect fit, but its contribution to the club’s growth formed just one part of an effective multi-pronged approach.

‘When Liz joined, the number of women doubled overnight . . . to two!’ says Phil, reflecting on their early days at the club.

‘To start to address that imbalance, the club organised a Monday morning run which was basically for mums after the school run. Immediately there was a different atmosphere, a different section of the club, a group of younger women who wanted to keep fit and socialise. Now over half of the senior members are women. That has made the club far more inclusive and welcoming and was a key catalyst for our growth.’

The club’s junior section was established in 2010 after senior (parent) members asked if there was an equivalent set-up for their children. In the first year, 20-30 young athletes joined.

Despite its many positives, the current makeup of the club, such a long way from its one-woman, senior-only membership of the early 2000s, masks the challenging reality facing such a rural outfit.

26 PB 2023 | ISSUE 3

Strathearn Harriers use Morrison’s Academy playing fields in Crieff for much of their training. They don’t have their own track Stirling and Perth are both 30 minutes away

‘One of the main reasons we set up the junior section was to feed through to seniors,’ explains Phil, who is also the scottishathletics Junior Hill Running Coordinator.

‘Our view was that if we have 10-15 (juniors) per year coming through, while most of them will leave, maybe one or two will stay and that’s all it takes to improve the performance of our senior section and change the club’s feel. It’s been an uphill battle, but I think we’re starting to get there now. We have more U17s and U20s that have stayed with us than at any time previously.

‘We also want to make sure that we can offer pretty much anything another club can in terms of competition and coaching.

Track facilities are our Achilles heel, but we’re working to ensure athletes are not disadvantaged from a coaching point of view.

‘To see the progress of those reaching a higher level and getting Scotland vests or national medals, and also that the cohort coming after them is really strong, you can start to see the pathway happening.’

On the flipside, the region attracts older people looking to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle - as well as young families - and the club operates a lively social programme, has wellsupported Masters teams, and has a host of athletes winning age-group prizes at races within its mix.

‘I think it’s just an attitude of ‘Let’s give it a go’,’ says Phil.

‘We’re a relatively informal organisation and we’ve come from small beginnings. We’ve still got a community atmosphere and a sense that everybody knows each other.

We’re happy to give things a go - and if it doesn’t work out then that’s fine, at least we’ve learned from it.’

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This year, we are Changing Lives through School Sport, Community Sport and Health Sport by supporting ageing, building wellbeing and promoting connections within and between diverse communities.

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PB Interview

Myles Edwards

Running in the family

By Neil Drysdale

M

yles Edwards had barely been born before athletics became part of his life.

He didn’t know it at the time, of course, but on the way home from hospital after he entered the world in 1988, his dad Mel – much to the dismay of my mum (Kareen) – stopped at Balgownie playing fields in Aberdeen to watch a local cross country race.

It was the start of a remarkable journey for the Aberdeen AAC athlete who has subsequently excelled both on and off the track, whether as a former Scotland

Myles going the extra mile for Kenyan kids . . . and as he looks to marathon champion in the 1500m or a philanthropic, enterprising figure who has poured his heart and soul into the Gathimba Edwards Foundation.

houses, assisting myriad youngsters gain a proper education and knuckling down throughout the pandemic to ensure these ventures didn’t wither on the vine.

I’ve known Myles for the last decade and he has transcended tragedy – the death of his friend Neil Jaffrey in a traffic collision in 2014 and the loss of his beloved father to terminal cancer five years later – with a single-minded resolve to make the world a better place and help those less fortunate than himself.

Then, there’s the Neil Jaffrey Initiative which has provided more than £30,000 of equipment and services to five children with severe disabilities living in Aberdeenshire.

And the results are inspirational.

‘I have a lot to thank him for’ In Kenya, he and his colleagues have carried out an astonishing amount of work building

There’s never any sense of Myles resting on his laurels, as one of life’s hardy individuals, but he admits he has benefited from his outgoing perspective in different ways.

‘I met my wife Mary during a post-house building trip holiday in Mombasa in 2016 and we have two young daughters, Dahlia who is eight and Amelie who is two,’ he said.

‘My dad loved spending time with Dahlia, but sadly passed away before Amelie was born.

We chose the name Amelie, so that it had ‘Mel’ as part of it.

‘It was at university in Edinburgh where I met my good friend Dan Mulhare who later invited me out to Kenya for the first time in 2011.

‘Dan was also with me on the 2016 house building trip in Iten and holiday in Mombasa – without him, I may never have gone to Kenya, started the charity or met my wife.

So I have a lot to thank him for.’

Supporting children through charity

28 PB 2023 | ISSUE 3

If he has plenty of other priorities, the Foundation sits proudly at the forefront of his achievements, but it’s one of those endeavours like painting the Forth Bridge.

PB Interview There’s never a moment to sit back and feel you’ve done everything you can.

On the contrary, the scale of the projects which the organisation has taken on in Kenya means that, for the forseeable future, it’s a case of: ‘Finished that – now what’s next?’

‘We are really proud and grateful to have been able to support 620 children through either school, college or university, build 54

houses for families in need of safe shelter and provide ongoing food/farming and psychosocial support to children and their parents in Kenya.

‘I am fortunate to work with great colleagues (two in Aberdeen and eight in Kenya), trustees and volunteers who constantly enable us to help as many children as possible.’

Myles Edwards Challenges of Covid ‘The pandemic was a challenging time.

Schools in Kenya were completely closed for large parts of 2020 and 2021 and it wasn’t possible for children to do any home learning due to many families not having access to electricity or devices.

‘Many of the children we support rely on school meals and families were struggling to put food on the table. Most of the parents/ guardians we support depend on casual work, which is typically on a local farm, where they earn £2 a day.

‘The Covid situation also meant that less of this work was available, leaving many families with no source of income. Thanks to the support of donors, sponsors, virtual run participants and monthly child sponsors, we were able to provide 80 families with a total of 8,946 days worth of food and essential items during the lockdowns.’

Myles has clear aims for the future

‘Public secondary school education can cost up to £710 a year, and with many single parents only earning up to £500 a year, it is impossible for their children to gain the education they deserve without extra support.

‘I don’t particularly like setting targets such as getting 1000 children into school by a certain year, because there will always be more children beyond that who are still sitting at home without an education. For us, it is a case of waking up everyday and going the extra mile to reach as many kids as possible.’

Myles recognises that he has more things to worry about than just himself. Yet, unsurprisingly, given his DNA, he can still be spotted pounding the beat in Aberdeen, as he pursues his passion for athletics with new plans in the pipeline.

‘At 34 years old, I am enjoying running more than ever,’ he added.

Myles is blessed with apparently endless reserves of resilience and tenacity.

‘I have moved away from 1500m racing and have really enjoyed doing a couple of half marathons.

Obstacles don’t deter him, but provide fresh motivation to overcome anything in his way.

He realises that in a world where many are struggling and the majority of the news headlines seem to be focused on negativity, it can be difficult to remain optimistic.

‘The training is tough in a different way, but the less frequent races also suit my family life better as it means I get to be home more at weekends. My goal for next year is to run my first marathon which will hopefully be London in April.

Yet it’s one of his qualities – which he shares with his late father – that he can focus on what’s in front of him, rather than be daunted by anything else.

‘Family time and catching up with friends are what I enjoy most outside of work and running, but coaching the Hazlehead Primary School running club every Wednesday morning is always a highlight of the week.’

Call it what you will: but all the training sessions in which he and Mel participated for so long had the advantage of teaching him you can’t beat the clock, but you can keep pursuing personal bests.

Myles Edwards has never taken a backward step in his life. If everybody had his attitude to adversity, the world would be a far better place.

And without chasing specific goals, he has clear aims for the future.

*Further information is available at: gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org

‘The main focus for GEF in the coming years is doing all we can to get as many children as possible into school, college and university.

*Version of this article first appeared in the Press and Journal.

scottishathletics

29

PB Interview

Megan Keith

Megan aims high Paris piques Highland coach-athlete double act

Applied Sport Science at the University of Edinburgh, has had - in her own words - ‘a pretty crazy year’.

By Katy Barden

I

In December 2022, 12 months after winning European junior gold, she finished second in the European Cross Country Championships (U23). She made her first senior World Cross Country Championships team in February, was crowned European U23 5000m champion in July, and in August she represented GB and NI at the World Champs in Budapest.

n a series of photos promoting the 2022 British Athletics Cross Challenge - mostly ‘I went through a phase in my early teens family favourites from a where I didn’t try that hard, then something decade ago - Megan Keith is smiling. kicked in when I started being properly coached by Ross (Cairns). I felt like if I There are cross country shots where she’s actually pushed myself a bit harder I’d ankle deep in mud, a string of young athletes probably be quite good at it, and that seems trailing in her wake. There are podium shots to have worked out,’ she laughs. where she’s arm-in-arm with her team-mates.

‘The start of my (2023) track season wasn’t The images tell the story of a young athlete super crazy, it just reflected what we’d been who fell in love with running at primary doing in training. I was running PBs but Ross school and didn’t look back. and I both knew there was more there.

As an U11 at Inverness Harriers, Keith associated running with ‘good times and not too much hard work.’ Her love of cross country specifically was grounded in fun and friendship, of racing hilly Highland trails and through north coast sand dunes.

‘Ross is a big planner, he’s always got his spreadsheet, so I knew he had plans working towards the Europeans (U23 Championships). Obviously I was excited to PB when I did (notably a 15:32.15 PB at the time in May), but we were looking further ahead.’

‘I enjoyed those competitions (North District Having subsequently achieved her ‘A’ goal League/North District Champs) because they’d mean a trip on the bus with my friends with gold in Finland, Keith was rewarded with a lane in the London Athletics Meet and we’d have a fun day out,’ she says.

(Diamond League) ten days later where she ‘I’m a pretty competitive person now, but at destroyed her 5000m PB with 14:56.98, the time it was definitely more about fun than the fifth fastest-Scottish mark of all time. It wanting to go out and beat everyone.” was an exceptional performance and earned selection for Budapest.

Keith, 21 and now in her third year studying ‘I think that’s where we gave up setting PB 2023 | ISSUE 3 goals,’ she says.

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‘The goal for the summer was winning a medal at the Europeans. Everything after that was just a bonus on the rollercoaster ride.’

A lot has changed in recent years, but her working relationship with Cairns remains strong.

‘It was a pretty smooth transition (to university),’ she says. ‘Ross is a fantastic communicator.’

She also benefits from a supportive scholarship programme which helps with gym, physiotherapy and financial support while also offering good academic flexibility.

Bus trips and race weekends with the ‘Haries’ bring a similar atmosphere to those from her Inverness Harriers days, and importantly, racing itself still brings on the same buzz it did when she was a young athlete.

Spreadsheets remain a key feature, and with her trust in Cairns, Keith is ready to build on her 2023 momentum and is focused on her next ‘nice big scary goal’.

‘We’re experimenting with taking a bit of a longer term look towards next year,’ she says. ‘We’re going to try and shoot our shot at an Olympic time and see what happens.

That’s the main thought on the horizon.

‘Ross is the man with the plan and I really do what I’m told, but we have less emphasis on results this side of Christmas and we’re looking at a long build into next spring.

I hope it will still produce the same XC performances, but with eyes to next year rather than all guns blazing for December.’

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