Well since the last report we have definitely had ALL of the weather which has resulted in
some cancellations/postponements of events as well as the small detail of our big top
leaving a little sooner than expected, but thankfully the nights are getting lighter and winter
seasons continue for loads of our athletes with some cracking results in January and into
February.
We start this report at the Jump Glasgow 2025 meet at the Emirates on the 10th of January,
where U20 athlete Matthew Monachello opened his 2025 pole vault campaign with a 2.90
effort – well done Matthew! Also on the 10 th at the Emirates at the Shot Put Pilot Invitational,
U20 Logan Mitchell had the best throw of the event with 15.74m.
Saturday the 11 th saw some really challenging wintry conditions at the Scottish Athletics Inter
District Championships and British Athletics Cross Challenge in Glasgow, but U20 athlete
Jonathon Downey (representing his university on this occasion) defied the weather to finish
a fine 37 th for 3 rd U20 male.
Opting for the warmer option, Jennifer Beattie travelled to Manchester on Sunday the 12 th for
another run out over 600m at the Sale Harriers Open meet – the trip was made worthwhile
with a 1:47.93 run out on the day. Also enjoying the controlled conditions on the Sunday
were U20 athletes representing at the SAIL meeting at the Emirates. Eve Starritt was 4 th in
her 200m (28.92s) and then back in action in the 800 for 5 th place (2:27.32). Orla Duff was
4 th in the 400m (71.88s) and 6 th in the long jump (3.35m). Laura Mitchell was 6 th in the high
jump with 1.45m and 5 th in the shot (6.84m). For the U20 men, Matthew Monachello was 4 th
in the 200m (25.20s) and 2 nd in the 400m (54.87s), followed by a 6 th in the long jump (4.64m)
– busy day for Matthew!
On the 18 th of January, all roads once again led to the Emirates, where a number of our U20
and senior athletes were in action at the 4J Studios SA National Indoor Open. Brooke
Dunlop was in action in the 60m hurdles, posting a 4 th place run out (10.10s). On the flat
60m, Adam Todd ran 8.04s for 7 th in his heat. Moving onto the round track, Jennifer Beattie
was 7 th in her 800m (2:30.99) and Laura Haggarty had a strong season opener over 1500m
for 4 th place (4:45.74). In the 200m Adam Todd was back in action, finishing 4 th in his heat
(25.48s). In the field events, Logan Mitchell was once again top of the tree (though this time
sharing the honours with younger brother U17 Rhian) with a 14.32m throw. Rounding up our
senior and U20 results, Brooke Dunlop was 8 th in the long jump with 5.09m.
Friday the 31 st of January saw the welcome return of 3k on the Green, and a number of our
athletes enjoyed the fair conditions for a good run out along the Clyde. First back was Ross
Granger in 13 th overall (10:12), followed by Adam Todd in 30 th (11:01), Sophie Granger in 59 th
(12:12) and Jackie Duncan in 91 st (15:10). Some good age graded runs in there for the new
Club Standards!
Sunday the 2 nd of February saw some of our road athletes come out of hibernation for the
Glasgow Winter Warmer event. In the 10k, David Sherrington was 3 rd overall and 1 st V40 in
35:44 and Eilidh Ballantyne was 35 th overall and 5 th senior lady in a shiny new PB of 42:55.
Thomas Samson was 280 th in 55:14, and Catriona Hastings was 533 rd in 1:02:58. Apologies
if I have missed anyone – club search was not bringing anyone up so had to rely on what
I’ve seen on socials!
Also on the 2 nd we had a squad of Masters athletes at the Emirates for the 4J Studios
Scottish Athletics Indoor Masters Champs. We really must be one of the best represented
clubs in Scotland, with our Masters squad growing year on year and claiming loads of
medals in the process. First up on the short track was Alistair Craig who was 7 th in the V40
60m (8.61s), closely followed by Douglas Dickson who claimed the first medal of the day
with a fine bronze in the V55 60m (8.78s). Moving onto the round track, Robert Lindsay took
silver in the V50 400m (59.30s). New recruit Robert McHarg was next out, coming
agonisingly close to breaking the World V60 record in the 800m – storming away with the
gold in a scorching 2:11.46. Not content to let the boys have all the fun though, Laura
Haggarty dominated the V40 800m to take the gold in a new PB of 2:18.86. Teammate
Jennifer Beattie took bronze, also in a PB of 2:27.69. In the 200m, Robert Lindsay sailed
through the heats in 27.28, and was 5 th in the final in 27.58. In the V55 category, Douglas
Dickson was 5 th in 29.53. In the 1500m events, Mark Alexander was 6 th V45 in a new PB of
4:51.16, and Robert McHarg once again ran away with the competition, scoring a decisive
second gold in 4:38.60. Also doubling up on the gold medals, Laura Haggarty once again
took the win in the V40 category (and the race outright) in 4:46.87. Laura also set two new
CBPs on the day – huge well done! In the field events, Robert Lindsay took gold in the V50
shot (9.76m), as did Alex McIntosh in the V65 category (8.67m). Alistair Craig was bronze
V40 with 8.73m. Also in action in the long jump pit, Alistair claimed a silver with 4.97m, and
then rounded up his day with a gold in the triple jump (9.22m). All in all a very successful
day for our Masters athletes!
Finally in action on Sunday was Jacqui Sandler who was taking part in the ever popular X-
Border 10k where she finished in 496 th overall (139 th lady and 20 th V50) in 53:27 – great
running Jacqui!
Due to the cancellation of the West League XC match due to the weather there has been no
change in the league standings, however there are still two opportunities to earn winter
league points at National XC and the Allan Scally relays before the final awards are decided.
There are a couple of available slots at the Scallys and we will operate a waitlist once these
have been filled. We will shortly be announcing the summer league races so that people
can start to plan ahead and get entries into the relevant races – thank you to everyone who
fed back on the Facebook poll.
