26th August 2007
Scottish Athletics Mens League Division 2 Match 4, Wishaw
We had a stronger team in attendance this time. The squad started the day one point adrift of Victoria Park Ciy of Glasgow in 2nd place. A win would bring deciding the league champions down to match points.
We certainly launched a major onslaught. The numerous score updates throughout the day had us leading, a gap which was probably at its greatest after Joe Kealey and myself finished as 1st A and B runners respectively in the 3000m steeplechase. The Glasgow club had no-one in that race. They were closing in fast but seemed to be running out of events to overhaul us. Our 2nd place in the 4 x 100m relay was not quite enough as the big city men gave us a bashing over 4 legs of 400m. In the end, only 6 match points separated us. Totals on the day were:-
Victoria Park City of Glasgow, 356; Whitemoss, 350; Falkirk Victoria, 252; Law and District, 247; Corstorphine, 158; Dunfermline and West Fife, 150; Clydesdale, 102; Lasswade, 18.
So the runners up position on 33 points was more than enough to secure the step back up to the top flight. One notable observation- it didn't rain!!
Womens League, Linwood (by Euan McMurtrie)
Although a bit windy at least the sun was out on a competition day and the Whitemoss girls were in good form.
Under 13 Shot Putt Laura Gosling 6m 65
Under 15 100m Marie Clare Martin 13.3
100m Lynsey Greenfield 13.3
High Jump Nicky McMurtrie 1m 40
Discus Nicky McMurtrie 24m 27
Shot putt Nicky McMurtrie 9m 84
200m Marie Clare Martin 27.2
Lynsey & Marie Clare were also part of winning relay team.
Under 17 100m Lynsey Ferguson 14.5
300m Lynsey Ferguson 44.6
300m H Lorriane Boyd 56.8
80m H Lorraine Boyd 15.4
Long Jump Lorraine Boyd 3m 93
Lynsey was also in the relay team, I can't remember if they won.
Snrs 3000m Julie Whyteside 11m:01:9
1500m Laura McCord (still an under 17) 5m17:0
Team West finished 2nd overall. Well done to all the girls not just yesterday but all season. This has been our first season in Team West and I would like your thoughts on our continued participation. Especially from the athletes !!!
There have been problems on the organisational side which hopefully we will learn from.
18th and 19th August 2007- Scottish Under 13, 15 and 17 Championships, Grangemouth
Yes, it's becoming a recurring theme but the weather in the east for Saturday's action was ridiculous. The under 13 and 17 age group competed on day one and Whitemoss had 5 representatives in attendance. I was there officiating and felt it for every athlete who stepped onto the track. At least they were kept indoors until the last possible moment before their events.
There was a medal for the under 13s when Elena McKinlay took bronze in the shot putt with 6.91m. This was the same distance as the silver medallist. She also finished 5th in her 70m hurdles heat in 15.41 seconds. Laura Gosling and Rachel Connelly competed over 100m. Laura was 6th in her heat in 15.32 secoinds while Rachel progressed to the semi finals in 14.84 seconds. Once there, she was 8th in 14.92 seconds, just missing the final. Unperturbed, she later competed in the discus, taking 6th place with a throw of 11.65m. Laura was due to tackle the shot putt with Elena McKinlay but had to withdraw after an accident with a cup of hot coffee. Our thoughts go to her.
The unrelenting rain filled the track with puddles as well as disintegrating every piece of notepaper I had! Craig Whyteside ran the under 13s 800m, clocking 2:50.74. In the under 17 women 1500m heats, Laura McCord was 7th in her heat (5:22.25) and was fastest of the non-qualifiers for the final.
Day two, which was presumably a bit drier, brought some more Whitemoss medals amongst the 5 club members in attendance. Under 15 Marie-Claire Martin was a silver medallist for 200m with 26.84 seconds having come through both a heat (1st, 27.16 seconds) and semi final (1st, 27.24 seconds). The under 15 boys 800m heats were of a high standard and there was no disgrace in the performances of Ross McCord (7th heat one, 2:27.48) and Euan Walker (7th heat three, 2:29.98). It was a similar story in the under 17 women event where Rachel Barlas (6th heat two, 2:34.00) was by no means the least quick athlete competing.
Continuing an amazing run of success over the last 18 months or so was under 15 girl Nicky McMurtrie who took away a hat trick of field event medals. The colours were javelin gold (30.16m), shot putt silver (9.87m) and discus silver (24.31m).
Congratulations to all 10 members of the club competing over the two days.
11th and 12th August 2007- Scottish Athletics Senior Championships, Scotstoun, Glasgow
A rain soaked Scotstoun hosted the 115th Senior Championships and a few Whtemoss members were in attendance.
On Saturday, I ran the opening race of the weekend, the 5000m. Despite running through the ankle deep puddles in lane one in a PB of 16:19.58, I proved no match for winner Andrew Lemencello. Look out for him in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships.
Elsewhere, Ian McEwan junior and Allan Scott were in opposition over 100m. Both came through the opening round, Ian finishing 2nd in heat 2 (11.22 seconds) and Allan 3rd in the third heat (10.88 seconds). This set up a semi final meeting between the two East Kilbride athletes. Allan qualified for the final in 4th place with 10.96 seconds. Ian was hot on his heels, clocking 11.15 seconds but unfortunately being the fastest of the non-qualifiers. Allan rounded off his day with 7th place in the final (11.08 seconds).
On Sunday, Allan Scott's fortunes improved, winning the 110m hurdles in an excellent 13.82 seconds. Meanwhile, David Robertson continued a welcome upsurge in form, vaulting 4.00m again to finish 7th in the pole vault.
8th August 2007- Glasgow City Council Open Grade, Scotstoun, Glasgow
200m
Heat 2: Jamie McEwan, 24.49s, 4th
Heat 3: Marie Claire Martin, 26.69s, 4th
Robert Agnew, 26.96s, 5th
Pole Vault
David Robertson, 4.00m
22nd July 2007- Scottish Athletics Mens League Division 2 Match 3, Meadowbank
A truly outstanding effort from the threadbare Mens squad saw Whitemoss overcome the odds and win on the day. Three members of Team McEwan (Ian junior, Jamie and Craig), Ryan Holmes and myself contested 5 or in Ryan's case 6 events throughout the day in an attempt to rack up the points to keep the championship hopes alive. We managed to do so following a win in the 4 x 100m relay and a team of me, Ian junior, Ryan and Craig being able to stagger round the 4 x 400m event.
Also doing us proud on the day was Stuart Boyd in the hammer and discus, athlete/manager Keith and Anne and Ian McEwan senior who assisted Steven Whyteside with officiating duties. While weakened in other areas, we finally had a full strength distance line-up with Cambuslang Harriers men Joe Kealey and Robert Gilroy assisting me in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m respectively.
Points tallies on the day were as follows:- Whitemoss, 351 points; Victoria Park City of Glasgow, 323; Falkirk Victoria, 268, Clydesdale, 182; Corstorphine, 133; Aberdeen, 109; Dunfermline and West Fife, 98; Lasswade, 70.
Victoria Park now lead with 26 points, one clear of us. We however, have an 8 point gap on Falkirk Victoria so, barring a disaster, will surely be back in Division One in 2008. The Division is there to be won at Wishaw on 26th August. Let's be at full strength.
For the team manager's take on proceedings at Meadowbank, click here.
15th July 2007- Scottish Combined Events Championships and Under 17 and Under 20 3000m Championships, Grangemouth
Under 20 Men Decathlon
Comprising an exhausting 100m, long jump, shot putt, high jump, 400m, 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m
4th: Craig McEwan, 4754 points
Under 15 Girls Pentathlon
Comprising long jump, 75m hurdles, shot putt, high jump and 800m.
6th: Nicky McMurtrie, 2179 points
Under 13 Girls Pentathlon
Comprising high jump, 70m hurdles, long jump, shot putt and 800m
6th: Elena McKinlay, 1142 points
Under 17 and Under 20 3000m, 14 finishers
10th (5th under 20): Juliw Whyteside, 11:19.07
14th and 15th July 2007- Scottish Masters Championships, Grangemouth
Male Over 35 Javelin
George Dingwall, 50.26m, gold medal
Women Over 50 100m
Anne McEwan, 15.67s, gold medal