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2017

Issue 2

PB INSIDE

Eilidh Doyle ‘I’m not ready to quit yet’ Win copies of Unexpected – the Greg Rutherford book

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scottishathletics 05 Chief Executive Mark Munro 06 News 08 Loughborough 10 Arnold Black 12 Ian Beattie 14 Graham Williamson 16 Eilidh Doyle 18 OfďŹ cials 20 London Marathon 21 Road Running: Denmark 22 Grassroots: Giffnock North 24 Grassroots: Fraserburgh 26 Grassroots: VP Glasgow 27 Grassroots: Red Star 28 Josh Kerr in America 30 Greg Rutherford

The ofďŹ cial magazine for members of scottishathletics www.scottishathletics.org.uk

in this i

04 Contacts

Issue 2

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PB2017

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07885 868164

Chief Executive Mark Munro

Mark Munro Chief Executive Scottish Athletics

@SALMarkMunro

Academy duo Jemme Reekie (GB vest) and Erin Wallace (Scotland vest) are making big strides

National Academy is helping provide right pathway

irst of all, I feel I really should start by congratulating everyone involved in the sport in Scotland - no matter your role!

I’ve just started to draft the annual report for 2016-17 and it was undoubtedly the most successful year in the history of the organisation (Scottish Athletics Ltd), not only in elite performance terms but also in respect of growth in numbers and increases in competitive participation in events amongst other areas. The sport in Scotland has a tremendous history, but with the support of everyone in it – clubs, volunteers, officials, coaches, athletes, staff, partners and supporters – it has a very bright future ahead. Since the last edition, Scottish athletes have been blazing a trail and the I think the highlight was double gold by Laura Muir at the European Indoor Championships, along with medals from Eilish McColgan and Eilidh Doyle.

One of the clear goals of the National Academy was to achieve greater representation of Scots on British Athletics teams at age group level . . . and we are seeing that happen now. ************************************* On another subject, but an important one, for some time clubs have been requesting support/options around club databases, amongst other things. We have been working closely with our partners GBSport to develop a new, agile, Customer Relationship Management System (CRM system) for the organisation that will allow us to modernise and develop all aspects of our online support services to clubs, athletes, coaches, officials, event organisers and all members. This process has been ongoing since August 2016 and will be available for our utilisation later in the year.

But perhaps the most pleasing aspect around ‘performance’ in recent weeks has been the impact at various levels by a significant number of scottishathletics National Academy athletes – the future stars of the sport in Scotland.

One of the key developments and outcomes from the project is to ‘give back’ to affiliated clubs. As such we will provide a free version of ClubServe, a core function of the CRM system to all affiliated clubs that will enable them to:

In particular, I think we were all delighted to have seen the continued progress of Josh Kerr, who is now in America. Not only did he win the NCAA indoor title but he recently produced a 3.35.99 secs 1500m, within the World Championships qualifying standard.

*Operate a fully featured CRM system to manage all individuals/members and organisations they work with

The recent Loughborough International match also saw a number of Euro Junior and Commonwealth Youth Games qualifying standards with five youngsters (plus three Scots on the ‘reserve list’) selected for the GB Juniors team. I have no doubt that we will see a number of them continuing their progress into the European U20 and U23 championships later in the summer. Through the Academy structure, we have been working with the athletes, their coaches and their parents. We also recognise the role of their individual coaches in their development, as well as supporting clubs along the pathway.

On a separate note, members will be fully aware from my communications in April that Scottish sport faces significant policy and funding challenges. It was confirmed to us in April that athletics had received a cut from sportscotland of £140,000. This means that in 2017/18 our core budget investment from sportscotland has reduced from £1,030,000 (2016/17) to £890,000. However, this does include the jogscotland reduction which we were already aware of, and that jogscotland element accounts for a very significant proportion of the cut and we continue the repositioning work of jogscotland alongside charitable partners SAMH, within the physical activity and health agenda. Please be assured that our priorities do not change whatsoever and we are committed to ensuring our focus remains on supporting our membership and continuing to activate key programmes that deliver events, help athletes, coaches, clubs, officials and volunteers to thrive and grow. Unfortunately, one of the efficiencies we have made for 2017/18 is to reduce the number of PB editions from four per year to three. Please be assured that the quality and depth of reporting will be maintained as well as continuing to improve and develop our online communications about the sport.

*Create and manage their club membership scheme, including payments, direct debits and Finally, despite the national sports policy and renewals, funding challenges we face (alongside all *Maintain the club book-keeping requirements sports) as an organisation, we are in a good place and the sport continues to thrive and and produce end of year accounts grow. *Manage any statutory requirements We are very much into the ‘summer’ season dependent on their legal status, e.g. unincorporated, SCIO, charity, CASC, etc and it is full steam ahead. Both domestically and internationally there is a very full *Provide planning software and survey programme of events and, no doubt, we will software for the club to use as appropriate to continue to see our athletes ﬂourish on the them. international stage. Another part of the wider CRM function will be for event organisers/clubs to utilise the new scottishathletics online entry system for permitted events. *************************************

No matter your age, level or role, good luck to everyone involved in the sport for the months ahead.

scottishathletics

NEWS

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Potter lands London place

eth Potter became the latest Scottish athlete to nail down a place on Team GB and NI for the London 2017 World Champs on a Saturday night in May. The Olympian led home a Scottish 1-2 in the British Champs at 10,000m with a superb performance at the Highgate Night of the 10Ks.

the Gold Coast qualifying standard for the 10,000m for Scotland (32.45) as the battle for slots in the endurance event heats up with the British Champs at 5000m looming on July 1/2.

Potter clocked 32.04.63 to get inside the qualifying standard being asked for by British Athletics and she led home her Rio team-mate, Steph Twell, to second place and silver medal.

Beth has been working on triathlon training in Leeds since the Great Edinburgh XC in January and finishing second at the National XC at Falkirk in February. She broke clear of her good friend with five laps remaining to win in fine style.

Twell recorded 32.16.23 to miss by a fraction the 32.15 standard for London but still has the option of seeking to add that standard to her top two finish.

‘Last year, I felt like I was getting chased down but tonight I was getting stronger and stronger,’ said Beth, who is coached by Mick Woods (as is Twell)

Eilish McColgan has the World Champs time under her belt with a 32.10.59 run from April in the United States.

‘I wasn’t surprised, I’m running well – my sessions were going great but I hadn’t raced (on the track) since Rio so I didn’t really know.

All three of those athletes are now inside

‘I’m just going to carry on with what I’m doing (the triathlon training) – it’s working, I’m improving in the tri and in the running so there’s no point in changing anything at the moment. ‘I run about 30-miles a week less now, I’m only in the mid-50s but I’m getting my aerobic work from the biking and the pool as well, so my legs are fresh – win-win! ‘I came here with no pressure and it was good to have a battle with Steph – it’s nice to come away with number one .’

*********************************************************************************************************************

our Scots have been selected for the British team at the IAU World 24 Hour Championships – an impressive proportion of the 10-strong team.

‘It is a big boost for ultra running , to have the event as a UK fixture. We hope the Scottish and British ultra community will take the opportunity to get behind the team and head for Belfast that weekend to offer support.’

Italy on June 24.

Five clubs will be represented in the teams in action in Italy with three boys and three girls selected in what is always a great experience for these young athletes.

The contest, which takes place in Belfast on July 1/2, sees ultra-running husband and wife duo Marco Consani and Debbie Martin- ************************************* Consani each take a place on the team, with hree Scots have been named by British James Stewart and Sharon Law making up Athletics for the World Long Distance the Scottish quartet - a well-earned first GB Mountain Running Championships in vest for James. Italy in August. Belfast will bring a third GB vest for Marco of Garscube Harriers. He ran 250.263 km when placing 8th at the European Championship in Albi, France in October 2016, helping GB to team silver medals. He has a 24 hour PB of 256.531km, set in Barcelona in 2014, which is currently third on the all-time Scottish 24 hr rankings. ‘I am thrilled to be selected as part of what is a solid British team, and it’s good to see four home-based Scots in there,’ said Marco. ‘The standard at the World Championships is always high, but both men’s and women’s teams have a history of achieving team medals. Without being complacent, hopefully we can get amongst the medals again.

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

Murray Strain and Tom Owens finished 1-2 at the Three Peaks trial race and Charlotte Morgan was third. All three were then selected in what is another fillip for Scottish hill/ultra running following other recent success – like Robbie Simpson in London. For both Hunters Bog Trotters athlete Strain and for W40 athlete Morgan, of Carnethy Harriers, this is a first selection for a British Athletics in the World Long Distance Mountain Running discipline. *************************************

ix junior athletes have been selected to represent Scotland in hill and mountain running at the International Youth Cup, which takes place in southern

This annual international event is for 16 and 17-year-olds and the Scotland selections come on the back of the main trial race in May in Fife and also formed the scottishathletics Junior Championships.

In the Scotland boys team, Fife AC’s George Rees gains selection for the second year in succession, and is joined by club-mate Robert Sparks as well as Inverness Harriers athlete Tam Munro-White. Among the girls, Grace Whelan of Moray Road Runners also earns selection for a second time, with Lynn McKenna (Giffnock North) and Zoe Nicholson (Pitreavie) completing the team. *************************************

obert Gilroy won the Monklands Half Marathon for the 13th time to take the West District Championship gold once again. The Cambuslang athlete won it in 70.32 (chip time) as his remarkable Monklands ‘domination’ continued!

Golden Double Photo: Bobby Gavin

What a moment for Laura Muir as she displays her double gold medal haul from the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade. Photographer Bobby Gavin joined scottishathletics at Glasgow Airport back in early March to welcome home Laura and coach Andy Young after a superb few days in Serbia. Muir claimed both the 1500m and the 3000m titles, setting European Indoor Championship records in each event for good measure. Now the Scot who won the Diamond Race at 1500m in 2016 heads into what could be a hugely exciting summer.

Bahamas-bound

he sixth Commonwealth Youth Games open up in Nassau, Bahamas, next month - and no fewer than 11 track and field athletes will compete for Team Scotland Commonwealth Games Scotland has announced a 41-strong party to represent Team Scotland at their first international multi-sport Games. The athletes, aged between 15 and 18 years, will compete for Scotland from 18-23 July in seven of the nine sports on the Bahamas 2017 programme: Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Swimming and Tennis. The concept of the Youth Games was created by Scotland in 2000 with the aim of developing young athletes and giving them an early experience of an international multi-sport environment. It now has a proven track record of uncovering future champions at senior level, with 35 athletes selected for Glasgow 2014 having competed in Youth Games over recent years. Scotland had six track and field athletes are the last Youth Games in Samoa in 2015

- and they emerged with seven medals.

Now there are 11 of our best youngsters heading to the Bahamas, and guiding them through the event will be Olympian Allan Scott, Performance Manager with scottishathletics, as Team Manager for Atheltics. Fraser Angus - 200m Kilmarnock Harriers,17 Adam Clayton - 100m Giffnock North AAC, 16 Lauren Greig - 200m - Kilmarnock Harriers/ Glasgow School of Sport,16 Calum Henderson - Long Jump Edinburgh AC, 17 Naomi Lang - 3000m - Aberdeen AAC,17 Bethany McAndrew - 100m Hurdles Pitreavie AAC, 17 Alessandro Schenini - Long Jump Giffnock North AAC, 17 Adam Scott - 1500m - Fife AC, 17 Maddy Silcock - 100m Banchory Stonehaven AC,16 Olivia Vareille - 400m Falkirk Victoria Harriers, 16 Erin Wallace - 1500m Giffnock North AAC, 17 So that line-up includes European Youth Championships bronze medallist Erin Wallace, who set a new British and Scottish U17 indoor record over 800m in 2016, also taking the Scottish indoor 1500m record which had stood since 1982.

Erin is joined by three fellow Scottish record holders; Alessandro Schenini, holder of the U17 indoor long jump mark, sprinter Adam Clayton who claimed the U17 60m record in February and will contest the 100m in the Bahamas and Adam Scott who erased Josh Kerr’s U17 1500m mark last summer. Confirming the team for Bahamas 2017, overall Team Scotland Team Manager Colin Gregor said: ‘Congratulations to all 41 athletes on their selection for Team Scotland, and also to their families and coaches who have supported and guided their progress. ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for these young athletes to experience what the Commonwealth Games is all about and the start of an exciting journey, which I hope will see many of these athletes going on to represent Team Scotland at senior level. ‘I wish Team Scotland 2017 every success in the Bahamas and I look forward to cheering them on over the six days of competition.” Team Scotland 2017 will depart for the Bahamas on 14 July, ready to make the most of their first multi-sport Games experience and aiming to emulate the success of previous Youth Games teams.

scottishathletics

Bu ild in g

Loughborough International 2017

s k c o l B

ach year in late May, the journey home from the Loughborough International can be long and wearisome – from an event which does not conclude until after 6pm on a Sunday afternoon in the Midlands of England. As it transpired, this years’ trip north was one buoyed by optimism for many of those who competed in the 2017 edition at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium. Whatever colour of vest they wore. And, along the road and the miles, one question dominated reﬂections: is there something starting to stir now in Scottish sprinting? The answer undoubtedly has to be a yes, albeit with one or two qualifications for that big statement. Almost two years ago, Cameron Tindle and Alisha Rees, picked up sprint medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. It would have been wrong then to pin all hopes on two very young athletes – one male, one female – and it wouldn’t be fair now to do the same with the ‘next generation’ of teenagers coming in behind those two GB age group internationals. But when Scottish athletes are taking the scalps of the likes of Kelly Massey and Seren Bundy-Davies over 400m, as Zoey Clark achieved at Loughborough, and Asha Philip and Laviai Nielsen over 200m, as Alisha did,

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

Sprinters start to shine as well as a number of other PBs from Adam Thomas, Grant Plenderleith, Adam Clayton, Maddy Silcock, then the portents looks good. Throw in good performances by Jack Lawrie and Martin Lipton in the 400m Hurdles and Jill Cherry and Kelsey Stewart over 400m – plus the selection of Lewis Brown for GB Juniors for their 4 x 400m squad – and there are more reasons to be cheerful.

Commonwealth Games time of 23.30 for the 200m is on my mind and I do want to try and reach that - but it is hard to say where or when it might happen. ‘I was fifth in the 100m but still nicked a PB by one hundredth and there were girls in there who had run 11.5 and 11.4. You have to be happy with a PB.’

The sprinting ‘feelgood factor’ arguably crystalised in the penultimate event of the day at Loughborough when the Scotland 4 x 400m quartet of Clark, Stewart, Beth Dobbin and Kirsten McAslan pulled off a fine win over the chasing England and Loughborough Uni teams with 3.34.60 – only 1.5 seconds off the Gold Coast qualifying time. That win was the fifth event success for Scots with the others being Clark in the Women’s 400 Match, Allan Smith in the high jump match with 2.22m; Mark Dry in the hammer match (competing for Loughborough) with 71.73m; and Rees in a Guest 200m race with 23.61.

Another teenager, Adam Clayton, had to look up the Loughborough International online to find out more about the event after being Alisha, racing for GB Juniors, had a great day selected to represent Scotland in the 4 x as she went inside the qualifying standards 100m Relay. for the Euro U20s in Italy this summer in Come the Sunday afternoon and he had both the 100m and the 200m and broke raced against Dwain Chambers to a 100m her own Scottish National U20 Record in PB of 10.73 which propelled him to the shorter sprint with 11.62 (Euro U20 Commonwealth Youth Games selection for standard 11.65). Scotland in the Bahamas this summer. ‘When I saw the start-list for the 200m I ‘I am chuffed to bits and I could not have thought I was going to get hammered,’ said imagined having a day like this at all,’ smiled the Banchory Stonehaven/Edinburgh AC the 16-year-old sprinter from Giffnock North athlete. AAC. ‘There were some big names on there and ‘In fact, when the email came through with that can intimidate you. But I just went out the Scotland call-up I actually had to go and and raced it as best I could and I’m really find out a bit more about the Loughborough pleased with that. International. I didn’t know much about the ‘Italy should be on the cards now and event or the level that it is at - I soon realised hopefully I can go there and do well in when I saw some of the names down to compete! the 200m and the 4 x 100m Relay. The

Loughborough International 2017

Seizing their chance...

o say Anna Tait was lifted by her Loughborough International experience would probably be something of an under-statement. Tait, who hails from Orkney, was running 4.49 for 1500m less than 12 months ago and was pleased to have reached 4.32 early in May.

‘Early on the Sunday, scottishathletics were hoping there might be a chance of a guest run. At the last minute, I was told I was being put into the Guest A race with Dwain Chambers. It was a bit surreal to be honest and he was a couple of lanes along from me at the start. ‘I tried to shut it all out and not think about being nervous. I just wanted to do my best but to come up with a PB like that was an amazing feeling. I’ve gone from 11.1 to 10.73 today. ‘At the time I didn’t realise the Commonwealth Youth Games qualifying had been extended. I think that was a good thing because then I’d have been even more anxious probably. ‘It’s not every day you get the chance of a trip and competing in the Bahamas! I will wait and see now but it is so exciting. Even before that, just being here with Scotland was a huge experience and a learning curve.’ Adam’s 10.73 performance is one hundredth outside the 10.72 Scottish National Record at U17 - set by Peter Little some 40 years ago in 1977. We did say there was something stirring. Jack Lawrie’s 50.70 PB took third place for Scotland in the 400m Hurdles but was just outside a Euro U23 qualifying standard (50.50). Clark headed England’s Mary Iheke and Bundy-Davies of Wales to win in impressive fashion in the 400m match race. Dry defeated Chris Bennett (guest) in the hammer by a single cm, Emma Nuttall was fourth in the high jump match with 1.80m with Aileen Rennie at 41.47 in the javelin and Zara Asante at 12.17 in the triple jump.

Then after a combination of circumstances, including Jemma Reekie’s selection for GB Juniors plus a 4.28 PB at the West District Champs, saw Anna find herself chasing down World Champs silver medallist Hannah England with 200m to go en route to a 4.21.15 PB while representing Scotland. As it happened, she was pipped on the line by Megan Davies, an Englishbased Scottish athlete, who also took full advantage of the Loughborough race opportunity and stripped away nine seconds from her own PB for 4.21.11.

seconds off my PB - which was only from Kilmarnock the previous week - and that time will get me into the British Champs in Birmingham in a few weeks.

All this transpired after a 1.49.09 PB for Ben Greenwood at 800m, with Mhairi Hendry’s strong run also delivering a third place for Scotland at that distance.

‘I wasn’t sure if I would get into Birmingham, so this is another big step forward. I’ve been running PBs so I will just keep working as hard as I can to keep improving.’

Throw in an excellent PB for Lachlan Oates in the 3000m steeple-chase - taking seven seconds off his time - and Steph Pennycook, Jemma Reekie and Erin Wallace performing well in the 3000m and here was endurance refusing to accept sprints as the strong Scottish story-line.

Greenwood and Hendry each took third place for Scotland in the 800m races. Ben clocked a PB of 1.49.09 to go very close to the 1.49.00 Euro U20 standard, while Mhairi was not far away from her PB with a run of 2.04. 84.

‘That was just so fast for me!’ gasped Anna after her 1500m race, in a first track and field appearance for Scotland.

‘I am really pleased with that,’ said Ben. ‘It was a year ago I ran 1.49.50 and I’ve taken a bit off that now. Hopefully I can still get the qualifying time at some point.

‘It just turned out a great race for me, at a good pace and not a championship event where sometimes people are cagey. ‘I had no idea I was just behind Hannah England with 200m or so to go to be honest, I was just trying to put in as good a finish as I could manage. ‘It was great to get the opportunity to run for Scotland here. I’ve taken it with seven

‘I had a tight back last week (when racing at BMC meet) but we sorted it on the Tuesday beofre Loughborough and that has helped. It was a busy race so I had to get out a bit wide for the finish to fight my way through for third. ‘It felt so good to be back running that fast again and I always enjoy the Scotland opportunities like this - and Manchester last August, when I won full points.’ Hard work; opportunity; taking advantage of the moment. Just occasionally, athletics can seem so simple.

scottishathletics

Scotland at Loughborough 1999-2017

Arnold Black

Loughborough match is breeding ground for future stars By Arnold Black

cotland’s international matches have taken many shapes and directions since the first international against Ireland at Celtic Park on 20 July 1895, Ireland winning that particular international by six events to five.

in that opening match with Darren Ritchie in the long jump, Mary McClung in the 800m and Sinead Dudgeon in the 400m Hurdles victorious for the Scots, although Ally Donaldson won the men’s 800m in Loughborough colours.

Evolving through triangular internationals in 1914 to European opposition in 1962, it has reverted back to the domestic international, held annually at Loughborough since May 1999.

Loughborough (and the GB juniors) has precedence on selecting athletes for the event and none of their students, past or present, can compete for the other teams.

This year’s edition was the 19th in the series. The first was born out of trying circumstances. The sport had transitioned from the bankrupt British Athletics Federation to UK Athletics.

That has prevented Lee McConnell, for example, competing for Scotland in the match and she was second for Loughborough that day in the high jump.

England and Loughborough have dominated Sebastian Coe had been persuaded by Alan the event, with Scotland achieving third Pascoe to return to the sport nine years after spot on three occasions: in 2000, 2003 retiring from racing as part of its commercial and 2005. arm. Coe took office as chairman of Fast Track events and Loughborough was their first outdoor meeting in a new five-year, £17.5 million television deal with the BBC.

That 2000 performance produced no fewer than seven Scottish event winners with Glen Stewart (5000m) and Iain Murdoch (3000m S/C) successful for the men, and Susan Burnside (200m), Susan Scott (1500m), Gillian Palmer (3000m), Sinead Dudgeon (400m H) and the women’s 4 x 400m relay team triumphant on the women’s side. Unable to field their strongest teams, Scotland and Wales have their own rivalry. Once the incorrect scoring in 2016 is adjusted, Scotland has amazingly never lost to Wales in the history of the competition – I’m writing this before this year’s international, so clearly I’m taking a risk by saying this! Editor’s Note: Scotland finished 4th this year behind England, Loughborough and GB Junior to extend that record of always beating Wales. Sinead Dudgeon’s victories in the first two 400 m hurdles competitions were followed after her retirement by the undoubted star of the Scotland team at the event.

The selling point of the first meeting was to be the appearance of Paula Radcliffe in the two miles, seeking to become the first women to give Britain a world record on a home track for 14 years.

Eilidh Child made her first of a record 10 appearances for Scotland as an 18-yearold in 2005. She finished sixth on that appearance, over three seconds behind the winner.

As it was, the windy conditions put paid to that, and she fell a long way short of Sonia O’Sullivan’s world record.

By 2007, she had graduated to second, 3.5 seconds faster than her 2005 appearances, but still two seconds behind Lee McConnell, winning for Loughborough.

Scotland finished fourth of the five teams

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

In 2008, however, Eilidh won the race in 58.09, staring a sequence of six consecutive victories between 2008 and

Arnold Black

Scotland at Loughborough 1999-2017

KIRSTY EQUALS RECORD ‘I really love days like this. That 10th appearance Record for Scotland at Loughborough is a nice honour for this match and I’m always thrilled to be selected. ‘Kathryn Evans is a little older than me but we were around together early in our careers in the Highlands and I came through age group teams with Eilidh Child, very much so.

2013. Add in a couple of victories in the 4 x 400m relay and her eight wins makes her Scotland’s most successful Loughborough competitor. Eilidh has appeared in a record 10 matches for Scotland, a feat that has been equalled by Kathryn Evans and, in this year’s competition, by thrower Kirsty Law. Several Scottish men have competed in seven Loughborough matches in individual events – Chris Baillie, Scot Thompson, Francis Smith and Nick Smith. But Francis leads the way in events contested – 15 in total. Not surprisingly, the women’s 400m hurdles event is the most successful in the competition’s history for Scotland, with eight individual victories.

‘I’ve been at this for 15 years now really because I missed last year here and another year I was competing as a guest. I think that was 2004. ‘They picked another athlete for the discus that year, but I did manage to beat her. I think I was 18 or 19 when I first competed for Scotland at Loughborough.’

Now, Loughborough is the breeding ground for our future stars while the Manchester International takes place again in August

SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL FACTS

after a pilot event in 2016. In 2001, a certain Mo Farah finished third for the GB Junior team in the 3000 metres, while Laura Muir finished fifth in the 2011 800m in a race won by Hannah England, with Emily Dudgeon in second for the juniors. For Scotland, Susan Scott won the 1500m in 2000, before breaking Scottish records in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games, Mark Dry debuted five years before

The match can throw up unexpected triumphs though and the most successful men’s event is not one of Scotland’s strongest. The men’s steeplechase has yielded six Scottish victories, with Iain Murdoch leading the way with his 2000 victory. That was followed by Kevin Nash in 2003, Kevin Sheppard in 2004, and Nash again in 2005.

Commonwealth bronze in 2014, and 2014

Kilbarchan’s Conor McNulty won the race in 2009 and Ryan McKinlay broke nine minutes for the only time in his career in his sole Scotland appearance in 2014.

Black, has complete a comprehensive record

In years gone by, Scotland competed in several international matches each year, at home and in Europe.

1895 to the present day.

silver medallist Lynsey Sharp won the 800m in 2011. Who from this year’s team will star at the Gold Coast in 2018?

International matches: 235 First match: 1895 First victory: 1899 First women’s international: 1936 First overseas international: Belgium, 1964 (excluding Commonwealth Games) Most appearances: Lorraine Campbell, 25. Youngest international: (Men) Ross Hepburn, 14 years 334 days; (Women) Katrina Dyer, 14 years 14 days.

*Respected athletics statistician, Arnold of Scotland in track and field international action – covering every performance from

Check out scotstats.net for the archive.

Oldest international: Tom Nicolson, 46 years 280 days

scottishathletics

PB Interview

Ian Beattie

‘Scottish athletes now are thinking big – and I love it’

rom record-breaking feats at world-class level to new record numbers way down at the grassroots, athletics in Scotland is experiencing a glorious renaissance.

in our country’s sporting culture — creating a ‘can do, will do, don’t dare tell me I can’t do it’ approach regardless of opposition — might not seem so fanciful.

Not a revolution, even if some do speak with revolutionary zeal about the journey undertaken in recent years. But most definitely a shift in thinking. Don’t think for a moment that the people responsible are content to stop here.

As the figurehead of the sport’s governing body here in Scotland, Beattie’s biggest immediate concern when we met back in late February was avoiding being lapped by Callum Hawkins, who finished inside the top ten at the Rio Olympics marathon, during the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk.

They see Laura Muir leading a charge to the top of the world rankings and, not without evidence, cite it as proof of a change in mentality among Scotland’s track-and-field stars. They watch athletes like Muir, Lynsey Sharp and Andrew Butchart, to name but a few, interacting with the next generation and understand just how inspired the up-andcoming contenders have been. Should this current circle of success be nurtured and tweaked for further improvement, well, Scottish Athletics chairman Ian Beattie’s talk about a change

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That would have been no way for the veteran runner to celebrate his own 22nd outing in an event boasting yet another record number of entries; if you see this as a gauge of how the sport is progressing, then the upward trend is obvious. Also in February, Scots were selected to fill 20 per cent of the spots on the Team GB squad heading to the European Indoor Championships and duly

Flagstaff four: Lynsey Sharp, Andy Butchart, Josephine Moultrie and Chris O’Hare at training in Arizona (photo by Rhona MacLeod)

PB Interview

Ian Beattie

‘We’re very keen as a governing body not to make excuses. It’s too easy to say we’ve got bad weather, we don’t have these facilities, all that. Scotland has athletes who believe they can compete at that level. So I would hope we develop a winning culture and tradition.’ Ian Beattie, Chairman

came home with four of the ten medals achieved. ‘It’s almost at the stage now where, every Sunday morning, I’m waking up and seeing that there have been more and more world-class performances from our athletes, competing all over the world,’ said Beattie. ‘I think our athletes also have belief now that they can compete at the highest level. More than that, they expect to compete against the very best. ‘To see 20 per cent of a UK team made up of Scottish athletes is great. I always consider getting more than ten per cent is punching above our weight. To double that is remarkable. ‘We see a huge effect at the grassroots. Laura ran at our short-course cross-country championships in November. Just the impact that had on . . . I was going to say the youngsters, but it was the oldsters as well! ‘It was amazing to see Laura compete in these events, tremendous that everyone could see she’s part of the Scottish athletics community. ‘We had the same at the National CrossCountry Relays, where we had Andrew Butchart and Callum. It’s the first time I’d seen youngsters chasing round the course to get selfies and autographs. ‘When these world-class competitors are around, it lets our up-and-coming athletes see what is possible. Scottish athletes can be world-leading, aiming to be the best in the world. They realise that now.

‘In the past, we’ve possibly not felt like that, as a nation. I would like to see our up-andcoming athletes begin to think that, because we’re Scottish, we’ve an advantage. ‘We have athletes who believe they can compete at that level. So I would hope we develop a winning culture and tradition. ‘A world medal would be great, although people sometimes overlook how difficult it is to finish in the top three in the world. But I am sure the athletes we have now will aim for that.’ Scotland’s sports minister was a guest of honour at Falkirk, a shrewd move by a governing body always on the look-out for ways to push their message; given their success in bringing international stars through the club system, they have earned the right to be heard. Facilities cropped up, given a long-term ambition for athletics to find a corner in the next phase of building at the Oriam National Performance Centre. So, too, might the idea of making sport a bigger part of the school curriculum. ‘We would have loved to have been part of Oriam,’ said Beattie of the £33million facility on the outskirts of Edinburgh. ‘The focus at the time was very much on getting it ready for football. Rugby uses it too, of course. ‘We would still hope at some stage to be involved in a phase two of Oriam, putting in a quality athletics facility as well. Scottish athletes could use that. ‘It all comes down to money, whether it

could be a full indoor track, but developing some facilities for athletes would be very useful. We continue have these discussions. ‘We’re very keen as a governing body not to make excuses. It’s too easy to say we’ve got bad weather, we don’t have these facilities, all that. We look to make use of what we’ve got, send our top athletes where they’ll get the best training. ‘But the issue of indoor facilities is important. We will continue to push for more. There are potential indoor developments in Dundee and Inverness. But we also look at when the school estate is developed, not looking for full facilities, but something in place for maybe sprinting, jumping, throwing etc. ‘I would be really keen to see us do more in school sport. It’s great we’ve moved to two hours a week — but that’s not a lot. ‘If we could create a real culture of sport and change the importance of it, we could fundamentally change a lot of things in Scotland. Look at rugby in New Zealand, how important that is to the whole country. We can do that. We can do more. We have to do things different.’ *A version of this article ﬁrst appeared in the Scottish Daily Mail.

Story: John Greechan Main Photo: Roddy Simpson

scottishathletics

PB Interview

Graham Williamson

Like fathe H

e does not like to look back at the ‘black and white’ of the past.

‘The funny thing for me is that when I look back on my running career, it almost feels like a different person,’ says Graham Williamson. ‘It is a chapter of my life that has gone and is so far away. I am the past.’ This is undeniably true in competitive terms, but one must look at his record before appreciating his present and listening to his enthusiastic views on the future of Scottish athletics. Williamson, now 56, was a prodigiously gifted athlete. He will not look back but the merest peek at the record book shows he won both the Word Student Games and European Junior Championships in 1979. He still holds the Scottish mile (3.50.64), 1000m and 2000m records. He could compete with the Coes, Ovetts and Crams. And beat them. His U20 records were never matched by that extraordinary triumvirate. But, as a character, he is hard-wired to look forward. ‘If you keep looking back, then you can’t move forward and that is why I like to talk about where Scottish athletics is now rather than what I did or what others did. ‘The future is Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr, Chris O’Hare, Andrew Butchart, Callum Hawkins. The future is Laura Muir, Lynsey Sharp, Eilish McColgan, Eilidh Doyle and so many others. It is about them and the legacy they will leave. Looking back for me is all black and white pictures. This is the colour.’ He takes no satisfaction that his records still stand. ‘For so many years it has all been a bit disappointing apart from the odd athlete here and there. You would look at times and say: ‘These are a bit rubbish’. ‘You would ask yourself: ‘Where has the talent gone?’ But in the last five or six years Scottish athletics has gone into this fantastic turnaround.’

Photo: Mark Shearman Brisbane 1982

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

He works for Adidas in Germany and Graham added: ‘Frankly I am not close enough to appreciate it all or judge what happened precisely but clearly people have been doing something right because these things do not just happen.’

Graham loo

PB Interview

Graham Williamson

er, like Williamson By Hugh MacDonald He has recently viewed Scottish athletics at close quarters. He attended the Lindsays National XC at Callendar Park in Falkirk in February and was warmed by the reality of a sport in renaissance amid the biting winds. ‘The club secretary at Springburn Harriers came up to me at and was chuffed to tell

doubled it. I can see him becoming stronger and stronger. ‘We tried as hard as we could to be hands off as parents but it was obvious Jamie had a good engine. Jamie was only happy when he could run a lap. He has the dig and the determination.’ His son’s progress has led the father to a closer examination of Scottish athletics. ‘When I was running there would be about four or five max in the Great Britain squad. But Scots are now the first names on the team sheet and expectations over medals are high. ‘These high-profile successes bring others through on their heels. The squad will grow in strength and depth because kids identify with success and want to be part of it.’ He is aware that this presents a challenge to a young Williamson. ‘In Jamie’s event (1500m), there is Jake [Wightman], Josh [Kerr], and Chris [O’ Hare]. So Jamie has his work cut out to make the Scottish team.’ The son, however, has inherited his father’s determination. ‘He is stubborn and driven and you need that to be successful,’ added Graham.

me that there are more U15s and U16s than Seniors at the club. That is really healthy. Not just for the club, but for the kids.’ One of the competitors, of course, was Williamson’s son, Jamie, who finished a creditable third in the men’s U20 race. Both Williamson and his wife Carol, who won medals in world cross-country and road events, were keen to allow their boys, Jamie and Matthew, to walk their own sporting paths. Jamie played football before turning to running in recent years and now attends Loughborough where he trains under George Gandy, once his father’s mentor. Matthew is now running too but is a basketball player of promise. ‘Jamie has doubled his mileage since he has gone to Loughborough. He was doing 35 miles a week in Germany but George has

He senses that toughness in Scottish athletics now. ‘I was fascinated at Callendar Park because there were some vests I did not recognise so that shows the sport is growing as does the record number of entries. ‘I came though the club system and Scottish athletics formed me in so many way so it was frustrating to watch the sport through the nineties and through the early part of this century and see so few coming though. There was very little spark. ‘I am not really interested in talking about what I did or what others did. I am interested in what the present generation can do.’ He has a father’s fascination in this, of course. But he also has the passion of one who once climbed the mountain and hopes his fellow countrymen and women can complete that journey and enjoy more than the view.

oks towards a bright future

scottishathletics

PB Interview

Eilidh Doyle

‘We’re on such a roll – so I don’t want to quit just yet’

By Peter Jardine

bright, sunlit spring morning in a Glasgow primary school – and Eilidh Doyle is holding court in the assembly hall in a special Question and Answer session.

she hangs up her spikes. The feeling lingers Eilidh will glide back into that role with the consummate ease with which she so often clears the hurdles. When the switch will be, however, is

Eilidh’s captivated audience of 10-year-olds can’t choose between medals from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow or the European Indoors in Belgrade to try around their necks. In fact, they don’t need to: silver medals from each event are eagerly passed between juvenile fingers. ‘What age are you ? 10? I was nine when I first went along to my local athletics club at Pitreavie and started training,’ insisted Eilidh, in a voice that commanded attention. ‘I won my first medal at 14 or 15 and that was me falling in love with the idea of competition . . .’ With easy charm, Doyle instantly connects with the pupils at Caledonia Primary School in Baillieston while on media duty for Commonwealth Games Scotland. A teacher by profession, there’s no doubt a return to a career in education awaits after

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

‘I just don’t want to let this go, that’s the truth,’ she told PB in a special interview. ‘It sounds cheesy, maybe, but I love what I do and I love athletics. I love training and I love competing. ‘The older I am getting, the more people ask ‘How can you keep this going?’. But I am stopping and appreciating it a lot more now than a few years ago. When I am at a Championships, there is that bit in my head saying ‘Will I be at the next one?’. So I am making sure I savour it. ‘The feeling when you cross the line knowing you’ve worked hard to be there and given everything in the race is a great feeling. I don’t want to give that up any time soon.

anybody’s guess. Because, right now, Doyle can’t bear the thought of leaving behind an athletics stage becoming ever more crowded with fellow elite Scots. From in many ways being a trail-blazer for the Class of 2017, the 30-year-old has admitted she’s now one of those being inspired by her younger team-mates. To put it another way: the party has kicked on so much now Eilidh ain’t for leaving any time soon.

‘And I do think now that as soon as you say such and such an event will be your last then you put a bit more pressure on yourself. So it is a case of I will see what happens every year. ‘I will see how my body reacts. If I lose that love, or my competitive edge, then I will know that’s a sign to start thinking about doing something else and calling it a day.’ It’s 15 years – half her lifetime – since Doyle began the hurdles at U17 level at Pitreavie AAC. She enjoyed a real purple patch at 300m Hurdles, her father has recalled in these pages in the past.

Eilidh Doyle

PB Interview

Later, when she broke into GB and NI teams, Lee McConnell was often the sole Scot for company. All that’s changed and, in Belgrade in March, there were five others alongside her on the plane to Serbia – Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan, Steph Twell, Allan Smith and Guy Learmonth. Four medals were won, with Muir taking two golds and Eilish the 3000m bronze, with Eilidh herself winning silver in the 4 x 400m Relay. In the feel-good factor at the moment, all contributions are gratefully received . . ‘I am so proud of what’s happening in Scottish athletics at the moment,’ grinned Doyle. ‘I think I may have been described as the ‘Mother Hen’ figure – I don’t mind that, I’m embracing it! I’m just thrilled being part of it and seeing the exciting progress of so many of our athletes. ‘I have to say, I am particularly excited about ones I know really well like Laura, Steph and Eilish. I’ve seen all three of those come through some very difficult times. ‘For my own part, I’ve been very lucky in my career that I’ve not had any real big setbacks, like an injury or whatever. You could say the trajectory has probably been quite smooth. ‘Laura, Steph, Eilish, all for different reasons, have had some really tough moments and some really low moments. It has been more of a rollercoaster for them. But I feel as if I’ve been there and seen their journey – so to watch them now is great. ‘I just want to be around to be with them and enjoy the moments with them – Laura was so upset and hurt after Hampden and Eilish had a full year out not so very long ago. Being with them winning medals in Belgrade was something special. ‘So, yes, I am feeding off the success of others. Definitely. You check social media and see outstanding results and performances and you just think ‘I want to be part of that; I want to do well, too. It drives you on to try and add more success.’ The pupils will have to wait a little longer; ‘Mother Hen’ still answers to athletics.

scottishathletics

Ofﬁcials

#whatevertheweather

#whatevertheweather W

e call them our ‘purple and red army’ and , without their dedicated support, scottishathletics events simply would not take place. At all levels and in all weathers, our hard-working band of Officials make sure performances by athletes are duly recorded.

It is a vital role and enjoyable one with many Officials telling us they love the rapport with the athletes, the feeling of working as part of team and knowing they are making a big contribution to the sport. But we need more volunteers at clubs to become involved or take some of our courses.

These happen throughout the year at various venues and there is a special Officials section on our website. Contact Shona Malcolm by email if you need to learn more shonmalcolm@scottishathletics.org.uk

#peoplemakeathletics delivery of many Conferences and ‘Nosh Ups’ which have been consistently wellplanned and enjoyed by all who attended. She wrote this account of the officiating experiences of both herself and husband Bob (pictured at Glasgow 2014). ‘We lived in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway during the 1970s when Annan & District Athletics Club was formed and our son and daughter trained and competed for them.

wo of the longest serving members on the Officials’ Commission, Ann Carter and Dave Biggin, announced at the Commission’s last meeting that they intend to step down from their posts.

‘We moved to Cumbernauld in 1979 and became members of the then Shettleston Ladies, where our daughter trained and threw the javelin under the watchful eye of Eddie Taylor and we coached (Ann- javelin; Bob – shot and discus) and started to officiate at that time.

Ann has been in the role of Service to Officials since the beginning of the Commission and has been in charge of the

‘After several years doing both coaching and officiating, it became difficult and we

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

decided to concentrate on officiating. ‘We became Grade 1 officials and were selected for the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. We were also selected for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Officials’ Co-ordinators which we thoroughly enjoyed. ‘We have both been part of the Officials’ Commission – Bob as Field Discipline Head for 10 years and I as Services to Members since the Commission was formed in 2001. ‘We have officiated at many internationals over the years both indoor and outdoor and travelled with the World Masters to Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, Finland and Italy. ‘All in all it has been a great journey and we would do it all again and change nothing.’

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London Marathon

Robbie’s home run by Peter Jardine

obbie Simpson’s successful ‘talent transer’ from World mountain Running Champs medallist to GB and NI international on the road will be confirmed in London in August. A fine run at the London Marathon, where he finished second Brit in 2.15.04, was enough to land the Deeside Runner a place in the British Athletics marathon team for the World Champs alongside Callum Hawkins and Welsh surprise package, Josh Griffiths. But it might not be Robbie’s only significant switch in 2017 because the 25-year-old is thinking about moving back to Scotland permanently from his current base in Germany – because of the vibrant road and cross scene back home. ‘I don’t think I will continue to live in Germany,’ said Robbie.

rest of us.’ Simpson’s late surge alongside Griffiths saw him post 2.15.04, a best of 34 seconds, as he too booked his spot on the British Athletics team for the championships at The London Stadium in August. ‘It has been a goal of mine [to qualify for the World Championships] so I am really happy to have made the team,’ said a delighted Robbie. ‘I don’t think a lot of people expected me to make the team, and maybe I didn’t think I could but I knew if I ran a good tactical race, I would have a chance.’ Derek Rae came up with a fine performance in the T45/46 classification race, beating his previous best by four minutes, lowering his mark from last year’s 2.37.28 to 2.33.24 to land a cherished bronze medal.

‘I am thinking about actually moving back to After disappointment in Rio last year, the Scottish athlete earned redemption with a Scotland. I don’t want to say for sure . I’m special performance across the streets of thinking about it in the next year. London. He was on for a PB from early on ‘It’s really good at the moment, the running and he held it through to closing stages as scene at home is really strong. I’d like to get he took third place in the category in the World Para Athletics Marathon Cup. back and race against those guys. ‘If it wasn’t for those other guys running 2.12 and 2.10 . . . I would have been really satisfied just to break 2.20. All I ever wanted to do was run 2.19.59. That was it. Then I ran 2.15.38 in 2016 and thought ‘that’s just not good enough’. ‘I need to be doing closer to 2.12 and 2.13 then I’ll be happy. The other guys are pushing me, even though I’m not training and racing them. It’s just knowing that they’re fast and you have to be so much faster to be anywhere near the top guys in Scotland.’

‘Seven years ago lying in hospital, I never thought I would be in this position,’ said Derek. ‘Every day, I’m blessed to be here and it is a privilege to be able to run at this event and compete for my nation. I wouldn’t have contemplated finishing a marathon seven years ago when I was in my hospital bed, so to be running these sorts of times is something which makes me very proud.’

Robbie could end up in a battle with Derek Hawkins and Tsegai Tewelde to be in contention for Gold Coast 2018 – with Callum Hawkins tipped for the very top by his London 2017 team-mate.

Susan Partridge was the first Scottish woman to finish, as she took 21st in the elite Women’s race with 2.37.51. Unfortunately, that was outside the qualifying standard for Gold Coast 2018 and the World Champs, which had been Susan’s targets - as she nonetheless claimed the Scottish marathon gold medal.

‘He finished eighth in the London Marathon last year, and he has got so much better since then,’ added Robbie.

There was silver for Central AC athlete Fanni Gyurko in 2.41.20 and bronze for Katie White of Garscube Harriers with 2.42.37.

‘I think he could get a medal in the world championships. He could probably win the Commonwealths. It’s hard to explain how good he is at world level. Few white guys have ever run the time he has run at halfmarathon. Callum is on another level to the

In the Men’s side of things, a fine run by Craig Ruddy of Inverclyde AAC in 2.22.22 saw him finish as second Scot to Simpson, with Andrew Lemoncello of Fife AC in 2.24.11 landing bronze.

PB 2017 | ISSUE 2

Metro Aberdeen won the women’s team golds and Inverclyde AC took the honours in the men’s race.

t was a superb day for some of the young Scottish athletes competing in London in the British Athletics Road championships.

Individual medals are hard to come by in this event for Scots but Erin Wallace (pictured) proved her class once again by taking gold in the U17 Women’s race. The Giffnock North AAC athlete was a team winner, too, as the Scottish selection claimed the golds with Wallace backed up by Kate Gallagher in 12th, Lauren Dickson in 21st and Clare Stewart in 27th. Lily-Jane Evans Haggerty of VP-Glasgow took second place in the U15 Girls race and that led to silver medals for the Scotland team. Lily-Jane was supported by Heather Barnes in 5th, Cera Gemmell at 7th and Isla Calvert in 23rd. The Scotland males found it much tougher, however. Freddie Carcas in 18th place was best-placed at U17 Men and Chris McLew at 28th likewise in the U15 Boys. Photos Mark Shearman

Road Running

Central AC

CENTRAL ATHLETIC CLUB

entral AC continue to fight off allcomers daring to lay claim to their title of Scotland’s predominant road running club. Anyone questioning that status would be well-advised to study recent evidence, including a particularly promising period of around 24 hours over the first weekend in May. Derek Easton’s squad had already long since wrapped up the Senior Men and Senior Women gold team medals at the National Road Relays at Livingston at the end of March. Then, from the Forth coastline at Silverknowes across the North Sea to Denmark, there was further compelling evidence of an ‘Andy Butchart Effect’ rubbing off on his training partners and team-mates (just as the Olympian clocked 7.45 for 3000m in the Doha Diamond League). Let’s take the second of these first. Central’s Cameron Milne made his Senior Scotland international bow at the Lillebaelt Half Marathon and came up with the best performance of the six athletes involved, with a fine third place on the night. ‘Is there an Andy Butchart Effect? ‘There’s definitely an inﬂuence there – yes,’ said Cameron. Cameron Milne in Denmark

Central rule the roads ‘We at the club and in the training group all know the runner he was before he put in the hard work and now we can see where that hard work has taken him.

Allied to strong runs by Alastair Hay and Aidan Thompson, 5th and 12th respectively, Central AC took the men’s Scottish 5K team golds once again.

‘It gives you a signal of what might be achieved with a measure of determination and a desire to train hard and train regularly with consistency. He listened to his coach and those in the group do the same and hopefully then it all starts to rub off on us.

In the Women’s race, Fife AC’s Annabel Simpson was at 16.43 for an excellent effort in the conditions as she won it from Edinburgh AC’s Rebecca Burns, an athlete making a significant comeback in 2017. Rebecca broke 17 minutes with 16.58 while there was third place for GB cross country international Gillian Black (VPGlasgow) in 17.07.

‘I was pleased with the run in Denmark and delighted to represent Scotland for the first time at Senior level.’ Cameron, who attended Kinross High School and was in the same year as Laura Muir, kept with the leading group in the early stages which included some challenging climbs and with 2K to go overhauled Kilbarchan’s Derek Hawkins (66:54) to become the first Scot across the line. ‘The race started at a good pace and we went through 10K at just over 31 minutes which is close to my PB,’ added Cameron. ‘I didn’t really expect to get back to Derek so it must have been a pretty strong finish. In myself I knew I could run 66 and that’s consistent with the progress I had hoped to make.’ Milne and Hawkins duly made the Lillebaelt prize-money with Mark Mitchell 8th while Kilbarchan’s Gemma Rankin was bestplaced of the three Scottish Women as she took 5th place. Jenny Bannerman was 6th and Jenn Wetton 9th . Like Cameron, Jamie Crowe has developed into a Scotland international over the past 12 months or so in cross country and he came up with a strong finish to take silver in the Scottish 5K Champs at Silverknowes.

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds landed the Women’s golds thanks to the combined efforts of Mhairi Maclennan, Catriona Graves and Amy Frankland. Crowe, for his part, had led Central home in the National Road relays at Livingston as they saw off the challenge of Cambuslang Harriers and Corstorphine AAC. At the time, Easton said: ‘I don’t expect Central to win all the time - I just expect the teams to do the best they can on the day. But to get a double at the National XC and again at the National Road Relays makes it a very successful winter for our Senior squads. ‘It was a slightly altered line-up at Livingston with one or two of our more experienced names missing out. Iain Davies, for example, is only just back from Cambridge and he has had hard winter there. But he ran well on the first leg last year and did so again today. I’m pleased for the likes of him and Aidan Thompson, who had a good run. Cameron Milne was second at Alloa in the half marathon last weekend and he has followed that up with a really good long leg for us.’

Milne, Crowe, Thompson, Davies: Central Kris Jones of Swansea Harriers, and Dundee continue to look to be on the right road to Hawkhill, continued his imperious 2017 success. form to win in 14.31 with Crowe at 14.41 scottishathletics and Marc Austin (VP-Glasgow) at 14.45.

Giffnock North Grassroots Athletics

Lindsays XC

Giffnock glory presenting the Lindsays Trophy to Giffnock North because cross country means a lot to me,’ said Callum, who has won the Senior National XC title twice. ‘It is how I started in the sport. In fact, looking back all of my early success was in cross country rather than on the road or the track. My first Scotland vest and my first GB and NI vest came in cross country.

allum Hawkins described his National XC win at Falkirk earlier this year as ‘going back to my roots’ – such is the Olympian’s enthusiasm for cross country. So, when it came to presenting the Lindsays Trophy for cross country participation by clubs across three national championship events, who better to ask to go ‘back to the grassroots’? Callum was preparing for the Manchester 10K on the road when he made the short trip to Glasgow’s south side to meet Giffnock North AAC endurance folk at Eastwood High School track and present the Lindsays Trophy. In fact, they were taking receipt of it for the second year in a row after topping our table of 75 clubs who had representatives finish one, two or three of the races at Cumbernauld, Renfrew and Falkirk in 2016.17. Giffnock North had 187 athletes finish those three events while Central AC, who won the Senior Men and Senior Women team races at the National XC, were second with 173 finishers and third place went to Edinburgh AC, who won the first Lindsays trophy back in 2015. Cambuslang and Garscube made up the top five. ‘I’m delighted to get involved with

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‘I raced Falkirk again this year and enjoyed it. The Lindsays Cross Country series is growing year on year and that is good for the sport. I think what is happening is people are losing any fear of competing. Clubs are getting better numbers out and then they compete with each other.

Championship events are key on our calendar and Giffnock North put a lot of emphasis on team spirit on those days. We say thank you to scottishathletics and Lindsays for their support of the Cross Country Series in the past few years’ scottishathletics Chairman Ian Beattie rarely missed the National and as chief operating officer of Lindsays is delighted with the reaction to the legal firm’s sponsorship of the cross country season. ‘I would like to congratulate Giffnock North AAC on retaining the Lindsays trophy this year, in the face of strong competition from a number of other clubs,’ said Ian. ‘We are delighted at the number of athletes of all ages taking part in the three events that make up the Lindsays Cross Country series for this trophy.

Top ten for the Lindsays Trophy (Finishers per Club across 3 Events) 1 Giffnock North AAC 187 2 Central AC 173

‘Cross country gives you a great base for the year so I’d always advise young athletes to get involved and get out there and enjoy it and race. If you are telling me that 10 clubs had more than 100 athletes involved in three National XC events across the past year then I think that’s great news.

3 Edinburgh AC 168

‘I think, on the day of the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk, you can really feel the growth of the sport and the sheer number of club vests on show is great.’

8 Inverclyde AC 111

Dudley Walker, lead endurance coach at Giffnock North, said: ‘We are delighted to win the Lindsays Trophy for the second time. At the club, we think cross country is very important and we try and encourage as many athletes as possible to get out and compete. ‘The National

4 Cambuslang Harriers 164 5 Garscube Harriers 156 6 Kilbarchan AAC 146 7 Corstorphine AAC 135 9 VP-Glasgow 106 10 Falkirk Victoria Harriers 102

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Grassroots Athletics

Fraserburgh RC

Fraserburgh Running Club

Forward-thinking Fraserburgh are now on track

lmost 31 years after the Fraserburgh Half Marathon led to the foundation of the local running club, another leap forward is taking place in this corner of Scotland’s North-East. David Wright, Club Together Officer with Fraserburgh Running Club, reports for PB magazine. ‘ Fraserburgh Running Club celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2016 and is now gearing up for a new phase of its evolution, with the long-anticipated development of a new 400m track over the coming months. The club evolved out the Fraserburgh Half Marathon, which started in the mid-1980s, and the club was formally being constituted in 1986. Within the Club, there are still four members who have been part of it since the very start: Charlie Noble, Graeme Clark, Andy Higgins and Lisa Stephen. *Charlie Noble went on to win the Scottish 100km title in 2001 and has competed

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in almost all of the Club’s annual half marathons, which are held in November each year. *Graeme Clark, who is a former Club Chairman, has most recently been chairing the Fraserburgh South Links Sports Development Project, to develop the new track facility. *Andy Higgins still runs and competes regularly for the Club. *Lisa Stephen was one of the first members of an early junior section, and is now a stalwart of the Club’s Women’s team. Lisa hopes her own children will one day join the Club. Another notable former member of Fraserburgh RC is the scottishathletics Events Manager, Alasdhair Love. He was a member of the club as a 10-year-old, when his family lived in the area in the late 1980s. Throughout most of its history, the club has focused mainly on road running and some cross country in recent years. This has meant that it has been difficult to fully integrate juniors into the club, particularly

as the nearest athletics track was in Peterhead, approximately 15 miles away. There have been a number of attempts over the years to establish a junior section, but these have tended to ﬂounder due to lack of facilities and coaching expertise. However, two years ago in 2015, the Fraserburgh South Links Sports Development Project was initiated to start to lobby for and raise funds towards a range of community sports facilities in centre of Fraserburgh. This project included an athletics track, football training facilities and an all-abilities cycle track, as part of an overall regeneration plan for the town. David Wright was appointed as Club Together Officer with Fraserburgh in April 2016, and has been extremely impressed with the commitment and desire to expand participation in running and athletics in Fraserburgh and the North East of Scotland. Over the last few months, the club has established a new weekly Indoor Athletics session at the Community and Sports Centre, in partnership with Active Schools, which regularly attracts 25-30 young people, aged from eight to 14 years.

Fraserburgh RC

Grassroots Fraserburgh Athletics

Now the intention is that this session that will evolve into a ﬂedgling Junior Section for Fraserburgh Running Club, which would in turn create junior demand for the proposed new Athletics track. To support this, the club has recently trained up six new Athletics Coaching Assistants and regularly has four or five Coaches & Coaching Assistants helping to deliver these sessions on a weekly basis. Fraserburgh Running Club is convinced that it can be a major driver for broadening participation in sport and contributing to the wider regeneration of Fraserburgh, which would offer not only the health benefits of regular training, exercise and cardiovascular fitness associated with athletics, but would also support more general wellbeing principles, such as: sportsmanship; teamwork; leadership; nutrition and healthy eating; volunteering and wider community cohesion. Current Club Chair, Carol Massie, said of the new facilities: ‘‘It’s a very exciting time for Fraserburgh Running Club, and indeed the whole north east corner of Scotland. ‘To think that by the end of this year, we should have the area’s first ever full-size synthetic track and associated facilities is one that fills is with enthusiasm and added motivation. ‘What an opportunity there will be for our area of the North East to continue to be part of the overall success story for athletics in Scotland.’

scottishathletics

Grassroots Athletics

VP Glasgow

GLASGOW Victoria Park City of Glasgow A.C.

inding a sponsor can be challenging for clubs these days but for one club, Victoria Park City of Glasgow AC, it has reached a milestone achievement, celebrating a fruitful 10-year partnership with lead sponsor Achilles Heel. Founded by Katie Alexander in 2001, Achilles Heel has grown to become much more than a retail store for athletes to both VP-Glasgow club members and running enthusiasts alike. With an established shop on Great Western Road in Glasgow’s west end, there’s also a successful online business. However, it is as much the friendly staff as it is the range of specialist products on offer which has made this business such a success. That friendly staff includes Katie’s daughter, Sam, son-in-law Stefan and son, Steven, to make it a real family business. All of

them and their colleagues are always keen to provide advice, share stories and offer support to athletes, coaches and parents when calling in No 593. Following the merger between Victoria Park AC and City of Glasgow AC a number of years ago, a new vest was chosen by members and a sponsor was required to supply kit. Gordon Innes, club Secretary, approached Katie, who had recently moved into larger premises and suggested a collaboration between these two west end organisations. ‘Over the past 10 years, the club has received tremendous support and encouragement from Katie and her staff and we are so grateful for everything they do,’ said Gordon.

Whatever You Run on, Keep on Running on.

‘Apart from very generous financial backing, Katie has supported the MacAndrew Road Race, which attracted runners from all over, and organised exclusive shopping evenings within the store.

Located at 593 Great Western Road, Katie named the store after she ruptured her achilles during a marathon. Today the business offers specialist footwear, running equipment, video gait analysis and a sports injury clinic. ‘I can’t quite believe it’s been 10 years, the time really has ﬂown by,’ said Katie. ‘Victoria Park City of Glasgow is an ambitious club, with a great team of enthusiastic volunteers behind it, and we’re delighted to give them our support. ‘Over the years we literally have seen many club athletes grow up and go on to university and start careers and many still keep in touch and drop by the shop which is great.’ As VP-Glasgow and Achilles Heel celebrate a tenth anniversary, it is clear the connection remains strong and beneficial to both.

FIND OUT MORE www.vp-glasgow.com www.achillesheel.co.uk

‘Collaboration is very much the current buzz word in business but we can truly say our relationship with Achilles Heel is a fine example of how sponsorship can be a very positive and a beneficial experience for both organisations.

achilles heel Ltd. running made better 593 Great Western Rd. Glasgow G12 8HX 0141 342 5722

achillesheel.co.uk

What we do Specialist footwear Sports injury clinic Running equipment Friendly advice

‘During the years of association, many of our athletes have undertaken work experience in the store and some are still employed there.’

Strong supporter: Katie Alexander of Achilles Heel with Gordon Innes of VP-Glasgow

Red Star AC

Grassroots Athletics

Red Star AC

ed Star AC was founded in 1990 as a result of a number of ‘coincidences’

Janice Eaglesham who was a former athlete and had had experience in guiding totally blind Paralympic Sprint Gold Medallist (1980) Willie McLeod, was asked to get involved in coaching a young man, Sam Howie, with a visual impairment. At the same time, Ian Mirfin was running a sports group for adults with Learning Disability which included road running. Once a regular training routine had been established for Sam, Ian’s group started to get involved as well and quite soon as small regular group of runners was established. It was decided, after a few months, that a club should be formally constituted and in December 1990, Red Star Athletic club was formed. The club name and logo was decided by the membership as something that was short and easily recognisable. As the months went by, more athletes with a disability became involved, mainly through word of mouth and 27 years later, Red Star has 60 plus members, all of whom have a disability in one form or another. The club is in membership of Scottish Athletics as well as Scottish Disability Sport. Whilst the club has had athletes who have gone on to achieve at the highest level in World Championships, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, it is underpinned by the main philosophy to give any person with a disability the opportunity to try athletics and take it as far as they wish. Many of the club success stories centre around people who have used the sport

of athletics to form friendships, take up a career within sport and physical activity or gained confidence to achieve in other areas of their lives. The club has met twice a week at Crownpoint Track in Glasgow for the past 27 years and enjoys an excellent relationship with the centre and also Shettleston Harriers. Our key coaches all hold UK Athletics licences and we have others helpers who assist all of whom are volunteers. We offer opportunities of short term placements for students and young people to gain experience in this area of sport. We are also keen to support any other coaches and clubs who wish to gain more experience in this area through observation, mentoring, etc. The club is funded entirely by donations using the money to subsidise coach expenses, club clothing and entry fees to competitions as well as running our annual open championships, which attracts 150 athletes.

FIND OUT MORE Janice Eaglesham, Secretary enquiries@redstarac.org www.redstarac.org.uk/ ROLL of HONOUR: Key athletes who have been members of Red Star: Stephen Payton, winner of 3 World Championship and Paralympic Gold Medals, 1994 – 2004 Karen Lewis Archer, winner of World Championship Gold and Paralympian 1998 - 2004 Gordon Robertson, winner of silver and bronze Paralympic and World Championship medals including gold, 1992 – 1996 Libby Clegg, World Championship silver medallist and double Paralympic Gold, 2004 – 2016 Gavin Drysdale, World record holder and champion 100 – 1500m in Race Running, 2011 – 2017,

In Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014, the club had two athletes (Meggan DawsonFarrell and Sammi Kinghorn) and a former club member (Libby Clegg) representing Scotland within the athletics team.

Allan Stuart, Paralympic silver medallist and UK Athletics championships gold medallist 1998 – 2002

Whilst Red Star is very proud of the achievements at all levels, the club is keen to see all clubs in Scotland have an open-minded policy to including athletes with a disability within their membership and is happy to offer advice and support in the more unique disability events such as wheelchair racing, race running and seated throws.

Other significant medallists include:

Samantha Kinghorn, T53 World Record holder, Paralympics 2016

Janice Lawton (Wheeler) Keith Gardner Jimmy Sands

scottishathletics

Education

Josh Kerr

St r in the States T

o say Scotland’s JOSH KERR has made totally appreciated that. a big impact on the collegiate scene ‘I have a five-year scholarship with four in America in recent months would be years eligibility to run in the NCAA cross something of an under-statement. country, indoors, and track season. The European U20 champion at 1500m ‘This means that one year for each of these a couple of years ago, Josh moved to University of New Mexico after that success disciplines I have to be ‘red shirted’ and I don’t count as a runner for the university. in the summer of 2015. Being ‘red shirted’ doesn’t mean you cannot He represented GB and NI again at the race but you are unable to wear the team Euro Cross in the Junior Men’s race, after vest and do not count towards the points a good run at Liverpool in the trial, and tally. So far I have ‘red shirted’ indoors and then exploded into the consciousness of cross country. American track fans by winning the NCAA Indoor Mile title – soundly beating perennial ‘Currently, I train six days out of seven and champion, Edward Cheserek, in the final. this includes one track session, one tempo, one long run and easy runs. I am building As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Josh towards training twice a day. Due to the dry then came up with a 3.35.99 PB hot climate in Albuquerque we train early run at 1500m that puts him morning and my classes are scheduled to firmly in selection contention start in afternoon. for the European U23s in Poland or the World Champs in ‘There is a fantastic support team of London. As PB went to press, coaches, sports therapists, and gym he clocked 1.48.05 for 800m. instructors as well as academic advisors ensuring I am on schedule with the With a number of teenage Scots now in academic work too. The academic term the United States, we asked Josh to write starts in August here and finishes in June, about his route to New Mexico and how he so it’s that bit longer than in the UK. has enjoyed the move. ‘Studying in the USA on a track scholarship was the ideal way for me to get my degree in Communications whilst training with great coaches and other international middle distance athletes. ‘I was fortunate to get offered a full track scholarship by UNM by Head Coach Joseph Franklin. Albuquerque is at altitude and my university timetable is scheduled around our track sessions! ‘The process of application to the USA involved sending my running CV to coaches, applying to individual universities, Skype interviews and sitting the SAT exam.

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‘Fellow Edinburgh AC athlete Chris O’Hare was extremely helpful to me during the whole application process. He gave me his in depth opinion on the each of the different universities and coaches that I was interested in. This was invaluable and I

‘The sports facilities at UNM are incredible with two Alter-G machines and an underwater treadmill. ‘We travel all over the United States as a track team for the NCAA meets and invitational meets, where there is the ability to have pace makers: just like the UK BMC meetings. ‘This indoor season I did not travel at all up until the NCAA Division One Championships, because our indoor facility in Albuquerque is one of the best in the country. ‘I was able to get in the top 16 times in the country so I was automatically in the first round in Texas. The field was strong but I knew I had been training well and was confident with my race plan and was able to make the first decisive move then pushed all the way through the line!’

YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT, TO WIN IT

Scottish Senior and Para Championships Scottish U17 Championships Grangemouth – 26/27 August ENTER online at www.scottishathletics.org.uk Closing date for entries – 13 August

Scottish Age Group Champs (U20, U15, U13) Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – 19/20 August ENTER online at www.scottishathletics.org.uk Closing date for entries – 6 August

scottishathletics

Greg Rutherford

‘I won Olympic gold with mental rehearsals’

hen Greg Rutherford won Olympic gold, his epic triumph came sandwiched between success for Jessica Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah in what was quickly dubbed Super Saturday at London 2012. It wasn’t quite Leicester City winning the English Premiership but it was still a shock to many in athletics. Yet, for the man himself, the scenario had become so familiar over the previous 12 months that Rutherford was the least suprised by the outcome. The English athlete used a positive mindset to mentally prepare for London to the extent that when people asked him when he was due to compete, he included the date of the Medal Ceremony in his answer! Rutherford, something of a wild child in his youth, doesn’t do sports psychologists in the strictest sense - but he does believe athletes can use their mind as a powerful weapon in the battle to win medals. All of this, and a whole lot more, is explained in a quite superb book which bucks the trend of a many a bland biography from the world of sport. Who knows, maybe there is even a hint of irony in the ‘Unexpected’ title of the book, given how Greg counted down towards London. ‘My mindset for the Olympics in London crystallised months before the event. I’d become convinced that I would make the podium. ‘People started to ask me when I would

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be competing and I would say: ‘Well, the qualifying is on August 3, the final is on August 4 and the Medal Ceremony is on August 5’. ‘They would laugh when I mentioned the Medal Ceremony but I kept telling myself I could do it. Mindset is something people don’t appreciate enough - or train enough. The mind is a powerful tool when it is used right. ‘From the end of 2011, every day when I walked my dogs or went training in the woods near my home, I would mentally rehearse winning the London Olympics. I would assume the role of stadium commentator, talking about the jumps by my competitors and then my own jumps. And, if nobody was around, I would raise my voice and talk through the competition running through my head. ‘Sometimes, I would add twists and turns to make it more exciting - like one of my rivals jumping further than me, or it lashing down with rain. But each visualisation would always end the same way: ‘And Greg Rutherford has won the Olympic title!’ ‘I often get asked about the secret of my success, given that I don’t necesarily jump miles beyond my rivals yet consistently win or get a medal at major events. ‘Obviously, it comes down to a lot of things, including my belligerent refusal to accept that anyone could be better than me, and my excellent coaching team. ‘But one aspect people don’t realise is how much I work on the mental side. ‘Even if nobody thinks I have any chance

of winning, I will always back myself if fit. These mind games have helped me massively. ‘It is no good your coach telling you that you can do it, if you don’t genuinely believe it yourself. ‘I mentally rehearsed winning Olympic gold in London thousands of times - so when it became a reality, I wasn’t as shocked as everyone else. It has already happened so many times before, in my head at least.

Win copies of Unexpected – the Greg Rutherford Book

Answer the following question: What year did Greg Rutherford win Olympic gold? Send your answer by email to sue.gyford@scottishathletics.org.uk with the subject marked ‘Greg’ We need the answer by midday on June 20. Thanks.

IT DOESNâ€™T MATTER WHAT YOUR PERSONAL BEST IS.

JUST THAT YOU HAVE ONE.