Shettleston runners show their mettle
March 26, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
photo shows Tewoldeberham and Paul at Grangemouth
ATHLETICS REPORT by Alex Mackay
Shettleston Harriers competed at Maryhill on Saturday 24 March and at Grangemouth the next day. The Nigel Barge 10 K on Saturday saw Thomas Fay winning in 31.55mins from club mate Lachlan Oates by 30 secs. Matthew Turner finished 4th with brother Gary in 25th position. Peter Ward was 49th with Sarah Ward finishing 80th.
On Sunday at the 46th ‘Round the House’ road race at Grangemouth Shettleston’s Tewoldeberham Mengisteab finished 2nd behind Ross Houston of Central Ac. Mike Deason was 4th with Paul Sorrie 7th. Kevin Brydon finished in 24th position.
Meanwhile, on Thursday 23 March, Emma Arbuckle, running at the Renfrewshire Schools Cross Country, came away with the gold medal to add to her recent bronze. At Balloch Park Natasha Mackay, running in the Dunbartonshire Schools Cross Country, finished 4th just getting run out for the bronze medal a couple of metres from the line.
Gold medal Olympian Hemery wants coaches to listen to youngsters
April 15, 2010 by localnews · Leave a Comment
Jump to it: David Hemery coaches hurdler David Martin at Scotstoun Picture: Stuart Maxwell
Gold medal-winning Olympian David Hemery visited Glasgow recently to give a masterclass to some of Glasgow’s aspiring sprinters, 400 metre hurdlers and coaches at Scotstoun Stadium.
David, 64, is one of Great Britain’s greatest hurdlers and a vocal supporter of athletics. Aged 24, he won a gold medal in the 400 metre hurdles event at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, shattering a world record.
He also holds gold medals from the 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games and enjoyed bronze and silver successes in the Munich Olympics of 1972.
David’s visit followed a seminar at Pitreavie Athletics Centre in Fife last year, when Glasgow athletes heard him speak on ‘how you recommend coaches work now and how you engage the enhanced self-awareness and self responsibility of the athletes’.
David said: ‘You’ll get far more from athletes when they learn from their own experience as well as from the coach. It’s a partnership.
‘It’s important they’re not utterly coach dependent because when they get into the heat of competition they have to be independent. So, if you can help them generate that level of self-awareness you’re helping to grow them and they engage their minds and focus and grow as people.’
David has a warning for parents, teacher and young people after years of observing athletics.
‘Sport is sliding off young people’s agenda,’ he said. ‘That, I think, is a great shame. Now I hear that physical education is sliding off the primary school agenda. I think there needs to be a balance, especially with young people.
‘Athletics is a basic run-jump-throw environment and I’d like to see that, and perhaps the ability to swim, in every school so the youngster can choose different activities.
‘It doesn’t have to be traditional sport, it can be mountain biking, dance, it doesn’t matter what it is but as long as it’s something they have a passion for and can work on to achieve their fitness level.
‘The cost to the country is going to be huge if children never get fit.’
He has a simple philosophy in spotting hurdling talent. ‘Some people enjoy jumping over things. It’s more fun than running in a straight line- but again, it’s important people try things.’
David added: ‘I was lucky that I had two coaches who really cared about me. If we could encourage coaches in this era to be on the children’s agenda as much as they are on their own agenda, that is something I would love to see.
‘We have to ask children what they enjoy doing more of and give them a spectrum of things to try.’
Bank boosts stamina for aspiring athletics and badminton champions
March 17, 2010 by localnews · Leave a Comment
Teamwork: Claire Gibson, Gordon Thomson, Guy Learmonth, Kieran Merrilees, Middle: Susan Rice, Front: Kirsty Gilmour Picture: Stuart Maxwell
Bank of Scotland has re-affirmed its commitment to sport by extending its sponsorship of scottishathletics and BadmintonScotland.
In January, Bank of Scotland parent group Lloyds Banking Group announced a partnership with the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympic Games as part of a strategy to develop grassroots sport.
Susan Rice, Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, said: ‘We are committed to helping these sports develop young athletes right up to elite performer level, to achieve their dreams of winning medals and trophies at major championships.
‘Of course, sport isn’t just about the winning; it’s also about taking part. That’s why we are so proud that our partnership helps to increase participation amongst young people in Scotland.’
Anne Smillie, Chief Executive of BadmintonScotland, said: ‘Badminton is one of the highest participation sports in the country and accessible to all. It’s a Commonwealth Games and Olympic sport. Really, the bank’s involvement allows us to do so much towards developing the sport from grassroots right through to elite level.’
The funding, Anne said, will allow BadmintonScotland’s programmes to continue up and down the country.
‘Bank of Scotland’s help also allows us to stage national championships from under 11 to under 23 level. They’re involved with international championships, and that attracts players from 30 nations, so it touches every aspect of the sport.’
Meanwhile, a new report says Glasgow is on course for increased sports participation and performance in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Glasgow 2014 Sports Development Legacy report focuses on achievements in athletics, badminton, cycling, disability swimming, hockey, rugby union, swimming, table tennis and netball.
The city’s commitment to coach education and mentoring, hosting international events and creating links between schools and sports clubs to increase participation are also outlined.
The report found that 112 partnerships have been formed between schools and sports clubs. These partnerships cover athletics, rugby, hockey, badminton, netball, tennis and golf.
It said that more than 500 young Glasgwegians per week are regularly playing table tennis, with 17 primary schools and six secondary schools signed up for a Glasgow City Cup.
A rugby union coaching programme has now been extended to the East End, with 60 primary and 15 secondary schools taking part city-wide.
More than 3,000 schoolchildren took part in a badminton festival as part of the International Badminton Championships, while four secondary and 12 primary schools are also receiving cycling coaching.
Awards as Sports Council goes distance
November 17, 2009 by localnews · Leave a Comment
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The Sports Council for Glasgow breasted the tape at their 30th anniversary recently with a family gathering and awards dinner at St Andrews in the Square.
Twenty-one sports and more than 30 clubs were represented, with the evening compered by veteran Herald athletics journalist Doug Gillon.
Attended by 140 people, 59 of them, who have been volunteering in Glasgow sports clubs for 30 years or more, received a special plaque and certificate recognising their long service.
Two founder members of the Sports Council also received special awards. Bob Stephen and Dick Rafferty from athletics and boxing were elected to the very first executive committee of the Sports Council in May 1979.
Colin Atkinson, chairman of the Sports Council for Glasgow, said: ‘The evening was a great success and was enjoyed by all. Too often, the tremendous work done by volunteers goes largely unrewarded. I hope that by organising these awards and this presentation ceremony, the Sports Council for Glasgow has recognised the importance of volunteers to sport in the city and helped to express to the recipients how valuable their commitment has been over the last 30 years and more.’
