Athletics: Runners clinch Highland games crowns

Sep 24 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LOTHIAN Running Club duo Darren Thomson and Lauren Arbuckle were in celebratory mood at the weekend as both clinched their respective league titles of the Scottish Highland Games Association at a meet in Pitlochry.

Going into the final day of the town’s highland games, Darren lay in second place in the up-to-200m sprint league, three points behind leader Willie Bates from Tullibody.

The Bathgate sprinter gave himself a great chance to reduce the deficit in the open 90m handicap when he reached the final while his rival failed to do so.

However, he blew the opportunity after crossing the line in fifth place in a race where points were only awarded for the first three places.

It was now all down to one race, the 200m handicap, where both Thomson and rival Bates won through to the final.

The scenario then came about that the Lothian athlete had to finish in first or second place with Bates out of the first three, and remarkably that’s exactly what happened with Darren running a marvellous race to come through late to take second place and with Bates coming only fifth. The title was therefore Darren’s by a single point.

Later in the day, boosted by winning the title, Darren also claimed victory in the open 400m handicap after turning in another excellent performance.

Elsewhere in the Lothian Running Club camp, 12-year-old Lauren Arbuckle arrived at Pitlochry carrying a three-point lead in the Youth’s over-400m league.

The only event on the day in this category was the Youth’s 800m handicap, where such was the size of the entry the race had to be split.

The only athlete who could possibly overhaul Lauren was Dunfermline West Fife’s Craig Stephens, and he would need to win to claim the title.

He ran in the first of the two races but failed to reach a place. Lauren ran in the second 800m race and she was also finished unplaced – but that didn’t matter as the title was already hers.

This was a fine reward for the Lothian pair who have competed regularly on the games circuit from late May.

There was success for other Lothian athletes at Pitlochry with Robert Inglis ending the season on a winning note by racing from the backmark to take the tape in the open 1600m handicap.

Robert was also third in the Scottish Highland Games Association scratch 1600m Championship and fourth in the Open 3200m handicap.

One of the Lothian club’s veteran athlete’s Jill Horsburgh was also in action and she kicked off with a sixth place in the 800m, followed by a fifth in the 1600m then another sixth in the 3200m.

Another veteran, John McStewart from Armadale was also in the money with a third place in the Open 90m handicap.

John’s three grand-daughters were also taking part in the games, twins Ashley and Sarah from Blackburn contested the Open 90m and 200m but were out of the prizes.

Hannah Stewart, aged 10, who has had a good first season on the circuit, finished in third place in the Youth’s 800m handicap along with brother and sister Iain and Alice Horsburgh who just missed out on prize money places.

Hannah’s third place also secured her third place behind Lauren Arbuckle in the Youth’s points league.

All trophy winners will receive their awards at the end of November at the Scottish Highland Games Association’s annual presentation dinner in Glenrothes.

Away from the highland games circuit Lothian Running Club athletes have been in action at a number of events.

Ross Milne and Matt Richardson were the club’s representatives at the City of Stirling 10k event on Sunday.

Ross was an excellent 13th in 32 minutes 10 seconds while Matt also turned in a fine performance to finish 155th in 39mins 45secs.

And the club quartet of Edel Mooney, Mark Kassyk, Lorna and Colin Eades finished 20th overall and fourth mixed team at the Comrie Hills Relays last Sunday, Edel ran the fastest leg by a female.