You’re never too old to take up athletics! That was the message that resounded through Fife AC’s results section last week as over 70 veteran athletes George Black and Carole Melville both topped the UK age rankings for 5km.

In extremely un-summer like conditions the Fife AC Summer Races leapt into life last week with the St Andrews 5km last Wednesday and the Beveridge Park 5km last Friday.

Newburgh’s Carol Melville placed 17th female overall at St Andrews in a superb 25 minutes 53 seconds while Kingskettle athlete George Black finishing 60th overall warmed up for faster 5km times to come with 24.39.

Scottish junior internationalist Jamie Crowe (Dundee Hawkhill) headed the field defying the soggy, wind-swept conditions to register a winning time of 16 minutes 42 seconds chased home by Cellardyke under 20 athlete Zach Delaney – 16.57.

In conditions more suited to cross-country it was a day for juniors as under 17 athlete Logan Rees, Crail, claimed third spot in 17.29.

World over 50 veteran record holder Fiona Matheson (Falkirk Victoria), who only two weeks ago prevailed over younger opposition to win the Scottish 10 mile Road title, was a clear female winner placing 11th overall in 18 minutes 52 seconds. Former GB track internationalist Hayley Ovens (Edinburgh AC) placed 24th, second female with under 20 club colleague Rachel Dunn in 27th.

Eleven year old Alex Thomson, St Andrews, headed the field in the junior one mile clocking 7 minutes 26 seconds chased home by first girl 12-year old Abby Hay, Lordscairnie – 7.47.

Leading Results: 1 J Crowe (Dundee Hawkhill Under 20) 16:42, 2 Z Delaney (Fife AC U20) 16:57, 3 L Rees (Fife AC U17) 17.29, 4 E Lumsden (Anster Haddies) 17:29, 5 S Clark (Fife AC Veteran 40) 17:32, 6 C Russell (Leven Las Vegas RC V40) 18.00, 7 T Rees (Fife AC U15) 18.11, 8 D Clarke (Fife AC) 18.15, 9 C Love (Dundee Hawkhill V40) 18.26, 10 B Gibson (Dundee Hawkhill) 18.48, 11 Fiona Matheson (Falkirk Vic. Veteran over 50) 18.52, 12 I McNulty (Dundee Hawkhill V40) 19.02, 13 G Rees (Fife AC U14) 19.04, 14 E Paton (Fife AC U20) 19.13, 15 B Cruickshank (Fife AC V45) 19.14, 16 K Anthony (Fife AC V50) 19.30, 17 M Gillies (Dundee Univ.) 19.31, 18 S McKenzie (Anster Haddies) 19.35, 19 J Knox (Anster Haddies V45) 19.38, 20 J Coderch (St Andrews Univ. V50) 19.51, 21 R McInstray (Fife AC U20) 19.52, 22 D Newman (Fife AC V40) 19.53, 23 C Harvie (Fife AC) 19.54, 24 Hayley Ovens (Edinburgh AC) 19.57, 25 J Mill (Dundee RR V40) 20.09….28 T Martin (Fife AC) 1st over 60. 20.13, 60 G Black (Fife AC) 1st over 70. 24.39.

Women. 1 F Matheson (Falkirk Vic.) 1st over 50. 18.52, 2 H Ovens (Edinburgh AC) 19.57, 3 R Dunn (EAC) 1st junior. 20.12, 4 K Sharratt (Fife AC) 1st veteran. 21.24, 5 A Cruickshanks (Anster Haddies) 2nd junior. 21.45, 6 L Gault (Wee County Harriers) 21.59, 7 I Morledge (St Andrews Univ.) 22.08, 8 H Ritchie (Fife aC) 2nd over 05. 22.23, 9 P Cruickshanks (Anster Haddies) 2nd veteran. 22.39, 10 J Dunlop (Dundee RR) 22.56, 11 M Martin (Fife AC) 3rd over 50. 22.54, 12 E Methven (Anster Haddies) 3rd veteran. 24.03…19 C Melville (Fife AC) 1st over 70. 25.53, 35 M Mitchell (Fife AC) 1st over 60. 33.54.

Junior One Mile. 1 A Thomson (Fife AC) 7.26, 2 L Wyse (Fife AC) 8.14, 3 R Wyse (Fife AC) 8.38, 4 A Preston (Fife AC) 8.56, 5 C Allison (Unatt.) 10.49, 6 B Cowan (Fife AC) 10.59, 7 T Bruce (Unatt.) 10.29. Girls. 1 A Hay (Fife AC) 7.47, 2 C Hay (Fife AC) 8.08, 3 A Dalgleish (Unatt.) 8.19, 4 M Howe (Fife AC) 9.10, 5 A Brierley (Fife AC) 9.20, 6 R Methven (Anster Haddies) 9.38, 7 E Caton (Unatt.) 9.49, 8 K Dalgleish (Unatt.) 9.50, 9 L Brierley (Fife AC) 10.34.

The second race in the series is the Strathkinness/Blebocraigs 4.5 mile race on Wed. 8th May.

Ewan Lumsden (Anster Haddies) was a clear winner of the opening race in the Beveridge Park 5km Series at Kirkcaldy last Friday timed at 17 minutes 11 seconds. 

It was good to see Liam Hutson back in action for the club after returning home to Kirkcaldy from working down south. Liam placed a fine 4th overall in 18 minutes 04 seconds with the potential to drastically improve that time over the months ahead.

George Black’s 22.29 was a course record and topped the UK over 70 rankings…but briefly..with more to come ! Statistician Paul Roarty was quick to point out that with age related performances George’s time compares to a 25 year old male running 16:02 !

First woman home Karen Kennedy (Carnegie) placed 16th overall in 20 minutes 16 seconds.

Results: 1 E Lumsden (Anster Haddies) 17.11, 2 A Cameron (Central AC) 1st junior. 17.49, 3 S McKenzie (Anster Haddies) 17.50, 4 L Hutson (Fife AC) 18.04, 5 J Kay (Fife AC) 1ts over 50. 18.09, 6 A Keenan (Carnegie) 18.12, 7 S Borland (Dundee Hawkhill) 2nd over 50. 18.13….25 A Lawson (Unatt) 1st over 60. 21.06, 39 G Black (Fife AC) 1st over 70. 22.39. record.

Women. 1 K Kennedy (Carnegie) 20.16, 2 G Murdoch (Carnegie) 1st veteran. 20.27, 3 P Gilfillan (Carnegie) 21.13, 4 J Dunlop (Dundee RR) 21.43, 5 M Dawson (Unatt.) 2nd veteran. 23.47, 6 J Gibbs (Fife AC) 23.58.

A record field of one hundred and three runners celebrated the first birthday of the St Andrews Parkrun 5km at Craigtoun Park last Saturday.

St Andrews runner Nic Brew headed the field in a personal best 18 minutes 03 seconds with leading female Susanne Lumsden 20th overall in 23 minutes 19 seconds.

Placing 14th overall 73-year old George Black, completing his third race in four days, set an over 70 record and personal best for the course of 22.19 to top the UK rankings. George had only just revised his over 70 course record at the Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy 5km Series fifteen hours earlier !

The Saturday morning Parkruns are weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. 131 Parkruns are currently operating in the UK.

A severely depleted Fife AC team contested the opening match in the Scottish Men’s Track & Field League at Kilmarnock. Ben Logan won the discus (35.25m) as well as placing second in the shot (11.31m) while Dan Newman warmed up for the London marathon less than twenty-four hours later with 3rd in the steeplechase (12:39).

Division 2. 1 Arbroath & Dist. 293, 2 Inverness H. 270, 3 Giffnock North 195, 4 Whitemoss 145, 5 Corstorphine 116, 6 Clydesdale 90, 7 Fife AC 42, 8 Pitreavie 0.

 

Over 40 Kirkcaldy veteran Colin Brown was the club's first runner home at the Virgin London Marathon in 1499th place clocking 3 hours 02 minutes 04 seconds. Over 70 veteran Andy Wright, Kingsbarns, excelled to finish 16846th in 4 hours 28 minutes 33 seconds. Other finishers :- 2410 Keith Taylor 3:12.19, 3238 Bryce Aitken 3:19.25, 6609 Dan Newman 3:41.31, 14443 Derek Adamson 4:16.28.

Supporting husband Colin down in London Lorraine Brown had a stint in the park at the Crystal Palace Parkrun 5km placing 8th overall, first female in 20 minutes 15 seconds.

 

This Sunday, April 28th, Fife AC is hosting a hill running event for juniors. There are races for all junior categories up to Under 20 as part of the Scottish athletics junior hill league and championship for 2013; so whether you are competing in the league programme or just fancy giving hill racing a try, come along.

Registration opens at midday, at the Purin Hill car park near East Lomond, (car-park is one mile up the hill midway off the Falkland road A912). No entry fee, and a snack and drink will be provided for all runners. We have been lucky with the weather on race day before, but just in case, be sure to bring plenty of warm and waterproof clothing.

Entries are now open for the Scottish 5km Road Race Championships at Silverknowes on Wed. 1st May. Also doubles as a Sri Chinmoy weekly series race for all abilities.

Graham Bennison