Published: Thursday, 7th August, 2008 08:35
Inverkeithing Games masters weather for Highland fling
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THE DARK skies and pouring rain failed to put a pall on athletic prowess at the Inverkeithing Highland Games on Saturday.
Although parts of Ballast Bank were still under water that morning, the playing fields dried out in time for the start of the games and saw some fine performances on the track.
Dunfermline and West Fife AC sprinter Alison Craig was in top form, winning the youth 90m in a time of 10.3 seconds. Craig also came third in the youth 200m and fourth in the Tom Oliver Memorial Invitational Sprint.
Wallace McGown, also of Dunfermline and West Fife AC, came first in the open 200m with a time of 22.20s, and placed second in the open 90m.
John Lowis Sr and John Lowis Jr, both of Dunfermline and West Fife AC, won the open 400m and 800m respectively, the latter in a time of 1:57.44.
Pitreavie AC runners also put on a good show, with Michael Burns and Sarah Ross placing second and third respectively in the open 400m handicap, and Craig Robertson taking third in the open 800m handicap.
In addition, Pitreavie’s Kathyrn Pennel took second in the youth 1600m, and third in the youth 800m.
However, the £1000 Jim Fraser Memorial Mile prize – awarded to the athlete who dips under the four-minute barrier – went unclaimed for another year, with Douglas Seleman of Corstorphine AC coming in closest at 4:34.40.
West Fife cyclists also put in commendable performances. Craig Hardie of Dalgety Bay placed second in the open 1600m and the De’il Tak The Hindmost race, and third in the open 800m. Brendan Roe of High Valleyfield took second in the open 800m.
Charles McKeenan of Oakley also cycled well, scooping second place in the youth 800m and 1600m. Etienne Sadeghpoor of Dalgety Bay took third in the youth 1600m.
Gregor Edmunds of Glasgow swept the board in the heavyweight events, grabbing all but the 56lb weight, and was overall winner.
The Highland dancing attracted more than 100 contestants, who came from all over Scotland, as well as from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada.
But it was the Dunfermline lasses who danced up a storm, with Helen Robertson sweeping the Premier 11 years and Confined Local categories and Laura Rougvie placing first in the the Novice 12 and over group.
This year’s games also saw nearly 300 primary schoolkids taking part in junior heavyweight events, such as tossing the caber, tug-o’-war and shot putt, as part of a joint programme between the games and Active Schools Fife.
Games chieftain Hank John beamed, “It was fantastic. The downpour held up events in the afternoon and the dancing had to stop on the platform, but carried on when it was dry enough, and then it was just glorious weather.
“The Active Schools events went very well. The participation was very good and the enthusiasm was excellent, and the kids absolutely enjoyed themselves.”
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