Games LEAD through sports

Sports festivals could be developed in local communities to promote involvement in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Keen young athletes will lead the way to create this interest with support from the LEAD 2014 Campaign. The campaign is a youth leadership and volunteer mentoring programme aimed at university students and high school pupils across Scotland as part of the Games build-up.

Triathlete Grant Sheldon and swimmer Cameron Brodie – who are working towards competing in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – were among the top young sports people who launched LEAD 2014 at Stirling University on Friday 3 February. The campaign will hone and develop leadership skills among the young generations. This could include LEAD 2014 protegees helping run sports events in their own communities. Organised by sportscotland, the Youth Sport Trust and Glasgow 2014, LEAD 2014 the main idea is to inspire a real interest in the Games and support for them so that volunteers will come forward at the right time and young people will be enthused to take part in sports.

Time to put the best foot forward

The clock has started ticking, so now is the best time to start training for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10K taking place in Glasgow on Sunday 13 May.

To encourage the runners on the day, the organisers will have musicians at each 500m along the route – double the number of music spots in previous years.  So drummer Dawn Gillies  and piper Iona Brodie from the award winning Williamwood Pipe Band, braved the cold January afternoon of Wednesday 11 January to strut their stuff  in Glasgow. They were supporting Clyde 1 radio presenters Knoxy and Sheban Littlejohn who are both running in the event – making it their very own 10 k –  and helping to highlight that registration has opened online. www.runglasgow.org

Harriers gear up for the holidays

By Alex Mackay

While most people were enjoying their Christmas holidays Shettleston Harrier athletes tested their fitness over a variety of events.

Highlights at the Kelvin Hall Yuletide meeting included a 3m 47cm clearance for Ian Paget in the pole vault and an easy victory for Nicola Mackay in the shot with 8m 77cm. In the endurance events, Euan Penrice recorded 2.26.33 over 800m and his older sister Laura recorded 11.18.21 for 3000m.Veteren athlete Denis Williams, running indoors for the first time, ran 10.07.94 in the 3000m. The sprinters and jumpers were also busy, with John Ruddy running a swift 7.45secs over 60m and Ava McLean recording 9.66. The Glasgow School of Sport jumpers also posted some impressive distances in the long jump through Mahad Ahmed (5.73), Joseph Amonzo ( 5.55) and Ingles Lumfuankenda (5.16).

Daniel Bradford, running the Ribble Valley 10km on Boxing Day, recorded a new personal best of 31.40 to follow up his run of 17th in the North Eastern Counties Championships a few weeks ago.

Matthew Gillespie and Lachlan Oates have been rewarded for their good form with selection for Scotland at the Celtic International Event in Edinburgh next week. An Inter-area event is also included and a number of Shettleston athletes have been selected for the West District or for the Scottish Universities team. Unfortunately a number of senior men had to turn down selection, including Matt Sullivan,Tewolde Mengisteab, Jethro Lennox and Tom Owens, but those who are running include:

Senior Ladies – Lindsay MacNeill and Shona Robertson

Senior Men – Paul Sorrie

Under 17 Ladies – Stella Winters and Laura Penrice

Under 15 Girls – Myrtle Breckenridge

Under 15 Boys – Ryan Flannagan

Universities – Michael Gillespie and Adam Peters

 

Double Gold for Lindsay of Shettleston Harriers

by Alex Mackay

At the end of the year, Lindsay MacNeill of Shettleston Harriers, claimed the West District Senior Women’s title with an aggressive run over a muddy Irvine course.

Returning to the form which saw Lindsay being a regular member of the international team, she tracked the other athletes during the first lap before pushing clear over the last half mile. It was a great day for the ladies with Shona Robertson taking the Masters title in the over 40, when finishing 9th overall and with Avril Mason closing in the team in 18th position Shettleston took the team title for the first time in the club history.

Avril did a great job getting out a strong team with Carole Setchell (23rd)

and new member Neah Evans ( 24th ) supported by Susan Breckenridge

(69th) and Joanne Harkins (89th ).

The ladies were delighted with their success and it set up the men to defend their district title.  Trying to claim the title for the 5th year in a row did not get off to a great start. Thomas Fay suffered a pulled hamstring in the first 100m and Tewelde Mengisteab also failed to finish because of a back problem. It looked as if the Club was in trouble.

Strength in depth is the key to success in team competitions and with 17 athletes starting for the club and strong competition to make the team we were never in danger.

Inverclyde athletes broke clear to fill the first three positions but then Shettleston athletes closed in.

Junior star Lachlan Oates returned to great form finishing first in the under 20 athlete then finishing 4th in the Senior race and leading his team to victory.

Medical student Michael Gillespie,  just off night duty, finished 5th and with Scottish Hill Running Champion Jethro Lennox coming in 9th,  it made a good base for the team.

Later, Mike Deason was competing in a 28 mile race so the 6 miles of Irvine must have been light relief for him when finishing the course in 11th position. Matt Sullivan returned to cross country for the first time this season after helping the club dominate the Hill Running scene in Scotland during the summer and took 5th position for the team.

New boy Adam Peters had a big smile on his face claiming his first ever district medal and closing the team in to win from Cambuslang and Inverclyde. Since 1991 the club has taken the title 8 times placing second 11 times and third once. Congratulations to all who have made this possible.

The under 20 athletes,  Gary Turner and Gary McBride, combined well with Lachlan to take silver in the team competition. This was repeated by the under 17 girls with Stella Winters in third position just beating club mate Laura Penrice who finished 4th.

The team was closed in by Victoria McGloin in 21st position. The first race of the day at Irvine was the Under 13 Girls in which Shettleston had four finishers. The team finished 8th with Natasha Mackay 32nd, Claire Mason 49th, Emma Arbuckle 57th and Georgia McDonald 64th. In the under 15 Girls, Myrtle Breckenridge finished 13th with Amy Harkins 21st.

Ryan Flanagan finished a credible 12th in the under 15 Boys race with Daniel Tolland coming in 24th.

The Glasgow Athletics Association is now on Facebook and Twitter!

click “like” on their Facebook to stay up to date on all GAA activity – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glasgow-Athletics-Association/131911086885981?ref=tn_tnmn

Follow them on Twitter -https://twitter.com/#/glasgowath or see the GAA website: www.glasgowathletics.org.uk/

Ciaran wins Christmas event

by Alex Mackay

Ciaran Duncanson held off the fast finishing Cameron Casey, Natasha Mackay and Claire Mason to win the 2011 Christmas Handicap at the East End Healthy Living Centre (EEHLC) on Tuesday 20 December. Only 8 seconds separated the first 5 runners. Ciaran set off quickly to chase the scratch runner Eilidh Gunn, pulling away from the rest of the field to hold off Cameron Casey by 3 seconds at the finish. Ciaran collected the boys’ trophy with Cameron 2nd and Paul Simpson getting the bronze medal. The girls’ event was a close run race with Natasha Mackay beating Claire Mason by 3 seconds with Claire holding off Heather Waddell for silver medal by 1 second. Amy Harkins was the fastest girl on the night when she ran 6.11 for the course. Daniel Tolland was the fastest boy running 5.31, exactly 1 minute faster than his 2010 time. For photos of the medal winners in the club’s photo gallery and detailed results see the website: www.shettlestonharriers.org.uk

Well done to all the athletes who turned out. The club would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2012. Training will resume on Tuesday 10th January 2012 at the EEHLC.

Matthew shines in European Cross Country

by Alex Mackay

Shettleston Harriers athlete Matthew Gillespie helped Great Britain have an unparallelled success at the European Cross Country champions in Velenje, Slovenia earlier this month.

Finishing 41st in a high quality field,  he helped his great Britain team claim silver in

the under 23 event.

It was a great day for Britain claiming team medals in all six team contest.

A law student, Matthew travelled to Brussels the following weekend to compete with the cream of Europe again in the IAAF event. He was accompanied by West District under 20 Cross Country champion Lachlan Oates and his brother Michael.  Scottish 5000m champion Tewelde Mengisteab from the club had to withdraw because of a back injury. Ladies West District champion Lyndsey MacNeill was with them as part of the team management.

Aged 19, Lachlan confirmed his recent good form when he was placed 2nd in the Junior Lotto Cross Cup in Brussels. It was a 1, 2, 3  for UK runners with Lachlan just behind 9th-placed European Cross Country competitor Kieran Clements of England.  This is the second time Lachlan has been supported by Glasgow Athletic Association to compete in Belgium. Just 17 the last time, the experience put him in a good zone to improve his performance this time.

The Senior race is one of the top IAAF events on the Cross Country circuit and assembled a world class field. Three Shettleston athletes had been selected but Tewelde Mengisteab had to withdraw with a back injury which has already forced him to drop out of the recent West District Cross Country Championships. Silver UK Team member at the recent European Cross Championships, Matthew Gillespie and his brother Michael toed the line for the race over 10.5km. World star Isiah Koech of Kenya destroyed a high quality field to win.

By all accounts, Matthew tried to match the African runners at the front but faded towards the end to finish an excellent 33rd in the world class field. Working his way through the field, Michael finished a fine 35th. The club would like to thank Brian Donaldson and Lindsay MacNeill for looking after our athletes in Belgium. The opportunity given to the athletes by the Glasgow Athletic Association can only help their development and the club is very grateful for this support.

Post Christmas workout

Glasgow Athletics Association “Christmas Gathering” for junior endurance runners aged 13 -18. will take place on Friday 30 December 2011 at 9am meeting in Scotstoun Stadium. The distance to run will be between 5 and 8 miles. This is a great chance to meet up with other junior endurance athletes for a pack run (groups based on ability) along the Forth and Clyde Canal paths, followed by two athlete education sessions back at Scotstoun Stadium. Shower facilities available. Athletes interested should email: gordon.phillips@glasgowlife.org.uk to check what spaces are available.

Fast fingers catch the athletes

The Glasgow Athletics Association is now on Facebook and Twitter!

Click “like” on their Facebook to stay up to date on all GAA activity – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glasgow-Athletics-Association/131911086885981?ref=tn_tnmn

Follow them on Twitter -https://twitter.com/#/glasgowath or see the GAA website: www.glasgowathletics.org.uk/

Past the million mark for two attractions

Both Glasgow’s Riverside Museum and the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, have clocked in their 1 millionth visitor.

Less than four months after re-opening, following a three-year, £47 million transformation,
the National Museum of Scotland  welcomed its millionth visitor. That person was among the party from Stockbridge Primary School

The landmark figure has been achieved eight months ahead of predictions, and outstrips the previous record figure for a full year. The Museum’s highest attendance then was 833,324 visits in 2007/08, the year before it partially closed for redevelopment.

Visitors from across the world have poured through the Museum’s impressive new street-level entrance and into the spectacular Grand Gallery, from where they have been able to enjoy 16 new galleries. The beautifully-restored Victorian building only last week won the Andrew Doolan Award for the Best Building in Scotland for 2011.

Over 8,000 treasures are on show, 80% of them for the first time. The Natural World Galleries with their  life-sized T.rex, and the Museum’s re-positioned Millennium Clock, are among the objects proving the biggest hit with visitors. Another firm favourite is the Window on the World, the UK’s biggest single museum installation, which features an array of nearly 900 objects representing the diversity of the Museum’s collections.

A spectacular opening ceremony on Chambers Street in July saw nearly 6,000 people pass through the doors in the first hour. Now the entire first year target has been reached in under four months.

National Museums Scotland is building on this success with a programme of blockbuster exhibitions in its new, larger, purpose-built space for special exhibitions. The first major new shows will feature Ancient Egypt and a Russian Empress when ‘Fascinating Mummies’ and ‘Catherine the Great’ open in 2012.

Gordon Rintoul, Director, National Museums Scotland said: ‘To reach this monumental visitor figure so far ahead of our predictions is an incredible achievement. Years of planning, fund raising and hard work have gone into realising our vision of creating a world-class museum that sits firmly at the heart of Scotland’s cultural landscape. To receive such a positive response from the public is truly amazing. People really are voting with their feet and giving a massive endorsement to all of the dedication, knowledge and creativity of our staff and supporters. We are delighted.’

Equal  enthusiasm was shown at Glasgow’s £74 million Riverside  museum which is now become the city’s most popular attraction since it opened on June 21.  On June 25 more than 15,000 people streamed through its doors.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council was on hand this week to welcome the 1millionth visitor – 7 -year-old Sam Irving and his family from Dumfries. Said Councillor Matheson:’ The public response to the Riverside Museum has been phenomenal and the museum has coped brilliantly. The place has comprehensively beaten  the visitor number projections and is now a ‘must see’ attraction in Glasgow and Scotland.  I’m delighted for Sam that he is our 1millionth visitor and we look forward to many millions more in years to come.’

The Riverside Museum houses more than 3000 exhibits in over 150 interactive displays demonstrating the quality of  ’Clyde Built’.  From massive steam locomotives to recreation city streets of the 1900s, the cathedral-like structure provides a stunning backdrop to showcase the innovation and ambition of  Glasgow which was ‘Second City of the Empire.’

 Sam said it was ‘cool’ to be the VIP 1 millionth visitor.  The family were on their second visit and Sam’s favourite display was  the bikes: ‘Because I like to go out on my  bike at home.’ His mum Susan, added: ‘It’s a fantastic place and great for kids with all the interactive displays. It’s also good for Sam’s dad who was a mechanic and acts just like a big kid himself when he’s here. It’s a great day out for all the family.’

The Museum has played host to big events such as a seafood festival and a spellbinding performance by Scottish cyclist Danny MacAskill whose bike is one of the exhibits. Highlights at the Riverside include the Wall of Cars, the hanging Bicycle Velodrome, the South African Locomotive,  No 9 Tank Engine, Motorbike Deck. For more information see: www.glasgowmuseums.com/riverside

 

 

Many more for tennis!

By David Lamont

The West End now has new, all-weather tennis courts which are floodlit.  Broomhill Tennis and Squash Club President, Claire McKelvie said at the official opening: ‘It is fantastic to see such a huge project come to fruition. It provides excellent tennis playing opportunities all year round. This will enhance the Club’s ability to offer excellent facilities with low fees and no waiting list.’

Located in Crow road close to the Clyde Tunnel, the Club is easily accessible to all parts of the city.

Recently, the long-established club received the Lawn Tennis Association’s Clubmark award. This shows that a club’s coaches have appropriate qualifications and that child protection, equality and health and safety issues are properly addressed.

The new squash season has started with two gents and ladies teams playing in the West of Scotland leagues. There is a range of squash activities for all standards.

A junior tennis coaching programme is available to members and non-members throughout the winter. The Club has special discounts and promotions for new members and it has a bar and social events.

See their website for further details: www.broomhill-tennis-squash.co.uk

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