BACK IN THE WINNING VEIN AT OBAN AND BIRNAM

Updated: 2010-08-31
Lothian Running Club athletes got back to winning ways on the Highland Games circuit with wins at both Birnam and Oban.
The plaudits at the Perthshire meeting went to 11 year old Iain Horsburgh who was victorious in the Youth’s 1600 metres Handicap, making good use of his 450 metres start he led all the way holding off the late challenges of the backmarkers to win in 4 minutes 41.30 seconds for his first win of the 2010 campaign.

Iain was also in the prizes in the Youths 800 metres finishing 4th with clubmate Lauren Arbuckle right behind in 5th. Alice Horsburgh, Nicola Kellock and Hannah Stewart were all outside the prizes.

John McStewart and his grand daughter Sarah were eliminated in the heats of the Open 90 metres Handicap, John however picked up a prize in the 90 metres vetrans race.

In the SHGA 800 metres Championship Robert Inglis finished in 3rd place and then later in the day was 4th in the 1600 metres Handicap.
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Robert,Sarah and Mhairi Inglis had a hectic but successful day at the recent Oban Highland Games held in a sun kissed Mossfield Park.

Mhairi contested seven events, Robert six and Sarah five.
The Oban Games are one of the few on the circuit that stage seperate races for male and female athletes.

The opening race was the 3200 metres and it saw Sarah race to victory crossing the line in 11 minutes 24.41 seconds with Mhairi following her home in 4th place.
In a highly competitive Mens race Robert finished in 6th place.

Next up was Mhairi in the Womens 100 metres and surprised herself with a 4th place finish. Both girls then lined up for the 800 metres where victory again went to Sarah with her sister filling the runners up spot.

The 2 miles/500 foot Argyllshire Hill Race was next on the agenda which saw Robert 3rd in the Mens race and Sarah runner-up in the womens.
While they were out on the hill Mhairi contseted the womens 150 metres, the only race of that distance on the games circuit, where she finished in 5th.
It was then onto the womens 400 metres for Mhairi, and another fine run saw her cross the line in 3rd place.

All three took their place in the 1600 metres and in the womens race it was another 1 – 2 with Sarah breaking the tape in 5 minutes 23 seconds to replicate her time from the previous year with her sister following her home in 2nd.
Robert took 4th place in the mens race a position he also occupied in the 1600 metres later in the afternoon.

The last event of the day was the mixed relay and it saw Robert anchor his team victory.
Once all the results had been tabulated it showed Sarah had retained the Argyllshire Middle Distance Championship with Mhairi in second place.
Mhairi’s hectic schedule was rewarded with a 3rd place in the Argyllshire Sprint Championship.

The season continues this weekend with the Braemar Gathering on Saturday and the Blairgowrie Highland Games on Sunday.


Shane Fenton