Scottish Highland Games

Association - Newsletter

The 2019 Games Season unfolded with the usual Scottish

weather, resulting in the cancellation of Perth and Strathpeffer.

Highland Games were to sadly lose some formidable names,

and in August we were to sadly lose one of the most

formidable names in the History of Highland Games, Bill

Anderson MBE.

The competition during the 2019 season on all fronts was

nothing short of spectacular, and witnessed by increased

crowds, including many from overseas. There was also the

Interest from various TV Crews, filming our proud culture and

traditions.

October 2019 will be the end of my second term as President

of the SHGA, the past six years I have enjoyed immensely,

and this has been due to the competition that has been

delivered up and down the country. I hope my successor will

enjoy the same rapport with Athletes and Officials that I have

enjoyed.

I will initially take up the roll of Past President, and continue

to visit and support the members and the athletes during the

coming season. Whether you be preparing for the New Year

Sprint, or a well-earned rest, I wish you all the best for the

remainder of 2019.

Best Wishes.

Charlie Murray.

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

Newsletter

Autumn 2019

In this issue

Chairman’s Message

Awards evening

Drug Testing Report

Fraser MacDonald Profile

Awards and Leagues

Tribute Bill Anderson and

Willie Robertson.

Shane’s season report

Adaptive Games

Bert Hutchison

Sprinter supreme

S.H.G.A. Contacts

Secretary, Ian Grieve

secretary@shga.co.uk

President, Charlie Murray

president@shga.co.uk

Treasurer, Iain Watt

treasurer@shga.co.uk

Vice President, Iain Watt

vicepresident@shga.co.uk

www.shga.co.uk

Fraser MacDonald

SHGA athlete

of the year

Vlad Tulacek

Bill Anderson

Heavyweight athlete of

the year

Kyle Randalls

Scottish Born Heavyweight Athlete of the Year

John Thomson

Veteran Athlete of the Year

S.H.G.A. Presentation Dinner

The annual presentation Dinner will take place on

Saturday 19th October at the Gilvenbank Hotel

Glenrothes. This is a joint venture between the

S.H.G.A. and the Fife Highland Games Association.

Tickets priced at a very reasonable £15.00 can be

purchased by contacting Ian Grieve, 54 Crawford

Gardens, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8XQ, Tel 01334

476305 Email ig2shga@gmail.com

Or online/paypal at the following link

http://www.shga.co.uk/awards-night

Isaac Small

Youth Cyclist of the Year

Kyle Macfarlane

Youth athlete of the

year (Male)

Natasha Turnbull

Female athlete of

the year

REVIEW & SUMMING UP

Shane Fenton looks back on another season

Once again another season is over all too quickly. The weather as ever brought a bit of everything, it certainly wasn't a sun-

cream summer. Torrential rain at the beginning of August forced the cancellation of both Perth and Strathpeffer over the same weekend. The extremely wet weather had a major bearing on the ground conditions of a few other games, anyone who attended

Birnam or Stirling would have witnessed that, the 800m cycle race at the latter was run in a slower time than the running equivalent.

The 2019 season saw the introduction of a few changes, to help address the gender equality issue, one major innovation was the introduction of five new leagues for female competitors in running and jumping. This would give the female athletes an equal opportunity to compete for prizes similar to their male counterparts. It was hoped

this might attract more females to participate in Highland games events.

The outcome certainly gives some food for thought. I can only comment on how they fared in the leagues not overall participation. In the previous 2 years when there was only the one league, both 2017 and 2018 saw only 14 females pick up points during the season. This year with the 3 different leagues [same as the male competitors] a total of 51 females were among

the points. Whether participation is up who knows, what it does show however is that the number of female athletes who picked up prize money at individual games has increased almost 5 fold, which has to be a good thing, albeit many only competed at a couple of games. We would really like to build on this by having more participation by more athletes at more events; SHGA is

looking at this for 2020 and any suggestions for helping make that happen will be welcome – please get in touch with the SHGA secretary.

The introduction of two leagues for the girls, which is the same as the boys, up to 400 and over 400 has been a success. Last year a total of 103 Youth athletes picked up points, this year with the separate leagues 43 girls and 55 boys gathered points, the

overall total is on par with last year with the girls number increased which was the object of the exercise. The Men's leagues sees the numbers on par with 2018 in brackets, 90-200m 67[66], 400-800 64[65] 1600-3200 43[49].

Cyclists gaining league points was also much the same as last year with 28 [31] Open riders and 14 [14] youth cyclists picking up points. Actual participation numbers was good with most games enjoying good fields of riders for their events. Female participation was also slightly up. We should mention Charles Fletcher who had an exceptional season winning 5 SHGA titles as

well as a British 800m title down in England.

Heavy event competitors gaining league points was well up on last year with 40 throwers [same as 2017] compared to 32 last year winning points. Vlad Tulacek and Lukasz Wenta both went over the 800 point mark, in fact Vlad was only one short of 900. Kyle Randalls total of over 600 was the most by a home grown Scot for a number of years. An injury in the first half of the

season curtailed Scott Rider's participation, he still managed to amass over 400 points. Stuart Anderson, Jamie Gunn and Dan Carlin were all over the 200 mark.14 overseas throwers also made points table. The inaugural junior heavy event league saw 8 competitors among the points. Hopefully this number will increase as the seasons go on.

Tug o War as ever is a hit or a miss, this season was more of the latter with few competitions seeing more than 3 or 4 teams.

There are teams out there as the league’s show, if only they would all participate on a regular basis. Numbers and registration was once again a bit of a headache. Following comments at the end of the 2018 season from

commentators and judges the SHGA introduced a numbers front/back system. This works if athletes remember to put on their numbers front& back. Many are still turning up without their numbers and having to get a hand made one on the day, which is usually one number only. The numbering of day registered athletes is also a problem at times as they are unlisted with numbers

on the programmes. There was some instances when athletes simply refused to register. What can be done, many games committees are not interested whether athletes are registered or not, they're just happy they are competing at their games.

We also note the outstanding Long Jump of Tony Daffurn in updating his own SHGA Long jump record from 25’ 1” to 25’ 3.5” both recorded at Mull Highland Games.

We should also mention right at the start of the year the historic New Year Sprint celebrated its 150th anniversary. Uninterrupted by war or weather that century and a half has been consecutive.

The event was founder members of the SHGA and Frank Hanlon should be congratulated in playing his part in the continuation of the meeting. For the record the £8000 first prize was won by Greg Kelly East Kilbride AC. Only the 6th athlete in the history of the race to achieve double success.

Bill Anderson M.B.E. and Willie Robertson

The Games community sadly lost two outstanding personalities this year in former heavyweight athletes and judges, Bill Anderson, M.B.E. on 21st August and Willie Robertson on 28th October.

Bill Anderson reigned supreme as the country’s top ‘heavy’ for over 30 years. Between his debut at Alford in 1956 and his final appearance in Sydney, Australia in 1988 he won the Scottish Heavyweight Championship a record 18 times, including two

shared with great rival Arthur Rowe, his final win coming in 1987 when almost 50. He also collected World, British, European and American titles as well as World Caber Championships while his heavy hammer record of 123’ 5” set at Crieff in 1969 still stands. Widely considered the greatest ever ‘heavy,’ after competing he became a highly respected judge and was a tremendous

ambassador for the Games worldwide thanks to his achievements, and pleasant companionable nature. Willie Robertson competed with distinction as a ‘heavy’ on the pro. circuit between 1975 and 1980, his best performance being

3rd in the Scottish Championship of 1976. He was an excellent all round ‘heavy’ who featured regularly in prize lists. A great enthusiast and likeable character with a sense of mischief, he was not beyond occasionally testing rules to their limit. A versatile

sportsman, he also excelled at rugby and twice represented Scotland at wrestling in Commonwealth Games while in amateur athletics he represented Scotland at wire hammer. Later he coached successfully helping many young throwers including Kyle Randalls and Ciaran Wright and also judged at several Games.

JACK DAVIDSON

Bert Hutchison-Sprinter Supreme!

When discussing Scotland’s all time best pro. sprinters although the name of Bert Hutchison of Tullibody may not resonate like

such as Willie McFarlane, Ricky Dunbar, and George McNeill, there is no doubt he deserves to be ranked among the elite and arguably the best ever.

Given that his career at the top was relatively brief and his best running was in Australia, it is understandable his achievements are somewhat overlooked, particularly as his CV does not include a win at New Year or at Stawell. However in 1971 aged 22 on a grass track at Mornington, Melbourne he won four Commonwealth Sprint titles over two days,

75 yards,100 metres,130 yards and 200 metres. His 130 yards time recorded by four watches was 11.8 secs., breaking the world record then held by Australian Bill Howard by 1/10th sec., phenomenal running. Over 100 ms. he recorded 10 dead and for good measure in all four races defeated among others George McNeill.

In total he won some 15 handicaps Down Under, almost all as backmarker, including in 1969 the St.Kilda Gift, then the world’s richest race with a prize of $2,000. Other notable successes included the 1971 130 yds Victoria championship at Seymour in

12.1 [“easing off”] while he also recorded 11.9 secs at Bendigo. Before going to Australia in 1968 he was making a name for himself here, having finished a very narrow 2nd-by 6”-to Bob Swan in the 1968 Powderhall Sprint and later that year clinching the British Pro Sprint title at Lauder from quality athletes like

Ivor McAnany, Eddie Cain and Stuart Hogg. By then he was being coached by Jim Bradley who encouraged him to try Australia where he was coached by Monty Hirst whom he rated very highly.

He loved the training and competition out there and reckons he improved some six or seven yards. Unfortunately cartilage issues plagued him and once he returned here finally in 1973 never reached the same heights

again.JACK DAVIDSON

Athlete Profile

Fraser MacDonald

Home Dingwall/Larbert

Age 30

Height 5’10”

Weight 75kg

Occupation Teacher

Married As of October 16th, yes!

Track PBs

Don’t do amateur seriously

LJ 19’4”

TJ 38’10.5” HJ 1.65m

Most Prized possession Steph 😊

Favourite Country Iceland/Croatia

Favourite Food Steak – rare

Sporting Hero Maurice Greene

Best thing About H.G. Competing against friends

Worst thing about H.G. Competing with injuries and rain.

Favourite Film Boyz N the Hood and Leon

Hobbies

Weights

Gaming

Sitting down and watching TV

Coach/Club Self

Best performances 2 lap race at Skye (from behind) Sprints at Halkirk

Tain sprints and jumps after an illness

Dream dinner guests

Maurice Greene

Usain Bolt

Chris Hoy

What would I save if house is on

fire Myself and Steph I guess…

Ambitions left in H.G. Complete a full season without injury!

SHGA Youth Relay

With the support of Pitlochry Highland Games the

SHGA organised their annual youth relay in

September, winners were Pitreavie AC.

DRUG TESTING REPORT AND PROGRAMME

All the results we have received to date and we are happy to report that there have been no positive results. Only four tests have been carried out at two venues this year due to an event being cancelled at short notice. We are grateful again for the financial support from Sport Scotland helping us to carry out our drug testing programme which allows us to carry out this large number of tests.

Ian Gurr (SHGA Drug Liaison Officer)

S.H.G.A. Sponsors 2019

Tomintoul Distillery

Ashers

Ice Cream

Allison-Stiven

Marquee Hire

Martin Smith

Outside Catering

Glenfiddich Distillery

Erin Macfarlane

Female Youth of

the Year

Adaptive Highland Games

From an initial call in January 2018, to ask in what way the SHGA addressed Adaptive Highland Games talks

regarding this were held with the Mey Highland Games, in supporting and delivering this at their annual event

in August which was a huge success.

In Mey 2019 the President of the SHGA was to visit the Help For Heroes Base at Catterick, better known as

Phoenix House to deliver a two day basic introduction to Highland Games Throwing Events. The purpose of

this was to allow them to deliver training to other personnel at their Base, the success of this was delivered at

the 2019 Mey Highland Games with 23 Help For Heroes Athletes Competing. There are to be talks in the next

few months with Help For Heroes and Invictus officials to see how the Sport can be delivered short term, and

more importantly over the long term, to allow members of the Armed Forces, some who have suffered life

changing injuries, the opportunity of Sport And Competition, has gone a long way to help in their recovery.

This project is a huge challenge, and won I am very passionate about, and my aim is to see this at more

Highland Games across the country.

Cyclist of the Year

Charles Fletcher

John Paxton Veteran Athlete of the

year (Sprints)

SHGA LEAGUES 2019

MEN 90M - 200 METRES

1 FRASER MACDONALD DINGWALL 90

2 STEWART CLARK STONEHAVEN 61

3 DOUGLAS YOUNG KELSO 35

4 JOHN PAXTON HAWICK 31

5 TONY DAFFURN WISHAW 27

6 ALLAN HAMILTON EDINBURGH AC 26

7 EUAN SMITH CENTRAL AC 23

MEN 400M - 800 METRES

1 EWEN BRADLEY INVERNESS 101

2 DAVID ALLAN CLYDESDALE HARRIERS 86

3 SEAN BATES TULLIBODY 41

4 EWAN DYER PITREAVIE AC 33

5 DONALD BRADLEY INVERNESS 31

6 DANIEL PAXTON HAWICK 28

7 COLIN WELSH KELSO 27

MEN 1600M - 3200 METRES

1 JOHN THOMSON GLENROTHES 46

2 = JAMIE MASSIE FORFAR 28

2 = FINLAY MURRAY TAIN 28

4 RORY DOWD OBAN 26

5 MATTHEW TURNER CAMPBELTOWN 25

6 CRAIG BELL FORFAR 23

7 RON LOEWEN VANCOUVER [Can] 19

WOMEN 90M - 200 METRES

1 SAMANTHA TURNBULL TLJT 35

2 NATASHA TURNBULL TLJT 32

3 LINDSAY YOUNG BANCHORY AC 13

4 STACEY DOWNIE EDINBURGH AC 12

5 NINA CESSFORD TLJT 11

6 = N. MCCHEYNE / S ROSS DUNOON / TLJT 6

6 = E GARDENER/A GOLLAN INVERNESS /EDDERTON 6

WOMEN 400M - 800 METRES

1 = LINDSAY YOUNG BANCHORY 11

1 = EVE GARDINER INVERNESS HARRIERS 11

3 LIBBY SMITH LEVEN 8

4 GILLIAN GORDON INVERNESS HARRIERS 6

5 = EMILY PAXTON CLYDESDALE HARRIERS 4

5 = AILSA HAWICK INVERNESS HARRIERS 4

7 7 athletes on 3pts 3

WOMEN 1600M - 3200 METRES

1 ANGELA BELL FORFAR 22

2 REBECCA BURNS EDINBURGH AC 13

3 = EVE GARDENER INVERNESS HARRIERS 5

3 = SHEENA LOGAN FIFE AC 5

4 = LIBBY SMITH/I HODGSON LEVEN/SHEFFIELD 3

4 = AMY MANNING INVERNESS HARRIERS 3

4 = STEPHANIE OWEN LARBERT 3

BOYS UP TO 400 METRES

1 KYLE MACFARLANE PITREAVIE AC 48

2 STEVEN BATES TULLIBODY 26

3 ROBBIE MORRISON KIRKCALDY 24

4 STEFAN NIGHTINGALE LEITHENBURN 23

5 AARON GLENDINNING LEITHENBURN 22

6 DECLAN OSBOURNE CLYDESDALE HARRIERS 21

7 TOMMY BECK TLJT 17

BOYS OVER 400 METRES

1 ARCHIE SUTTIE ANSTRUTHER 55

2 MATTIE FLEMING KELSO 39

3 THOMAS MACASKILL HAWICK 17

4 KYLE MACFARLANE PITREAVIE AC 15

5 = STEVEN BATES TULLIBODY 14

5 = AARON GLENDINNING LEITHENBURN 14

7 = J WHITE / R NUTTALL TLJT / ANSTRUTHER 10

GIRLS UP TO 400 METRES

1 LUCY NUTTALL ANSTRUTHER 20

2 ROBYN KEDDIE LEITHENBURN 18

3 = ANNA SUTTIE ANSTRUTHER 13

3 = TIEGAN GIBB LEITHENBURN 13

5 LUCY DENHOLM CLYDESDALE HARRIERS 12

6 = SOPHIE SWANN HAWICK 10

6 = POPPY FLOCKHART EDINBURGH AC 10

GIRLS OVER 400 METRES

1 ERIN MCFARLANE PITREAVIE AC 38

2 ANNA SUTTIE ANSTRUTHER 13

3 = HANNAH STEEL LOTHIAN RC 10

3 = ISLA THOMS BALMULLO 10

5 LUCY NUTTALL ANSTRUTHER 9

6 KENZIE McINTOSH CLYDESDALE HARRIERS 7

7 ALICE MCCARTNEY HELENSBURGH AC 6

OPEN CYCLING

1 CHARLES FLETCHER GRANTOWN ON SPEY 191

2 JAMES MELVILLE ALEXANDRIA 128

3 PAUL GALLACHER KIRKCALDY 124

4 CRAIG HAMILTON EDINBURGH 82

5 PAUL ANDERSON PERTH 62

6 CEDRIC SACHET FRANCE 57

7 KYLE CARTMEL DUFFUS 52

YOUTH CYCLING

1 REUBENS TRHOMSON GRAMPIAN TIGERS 102

2 ISAAC SMALL DEESIDE 62

3 DECLAN SANGSTER GRAMPIAN TIGERS 31

4 HEIDI THOMSON GRAMPIAN TIGERS 28

5 VICTOR ATKINSON MUIR OF ORD 22

6 RORY EASTHAUGH GRAMPIAN TIGERS 21

7 LEWIS DEY FORRES 15

OPEN HEAVY EVENTS

1 VLAD TULACEK CZECH REPUBLIC 899

2 LUKASZ WENTA EAST KILBRIDE 813

3 KYLE RANDALLS FALKIRK 691

4 SCOTT RIDER DARTFORD 455

5 JAMIE GUNN HALKIRK 252

6 STUART ANDERSON LOCHEARNHEAD 230

7 DAN CARLIN RENFREW 200

JUNIOR HEAVY EVENTS

1 JOHN SHANKS KIRRIEMUIR 212

2 JAMES RAMSAY GLENISLA 200

3 BYRON HART GLENISLA 72

4 CHARLIE FARNDON BLACKFORD 34

5 WILLIAM RAMSAY GLENISLA 16

6 SHAUN DUTHIE KIRRIEMUIR 12

7 ROWAN HART GLENISLA 7

MEN'S JUMPS

1 STEWART CLARK STONEHAVEN 129

2 TONY DAFFURN WISHAW 121

3 EWEN BRADLEY INVERNESS 118

4 FRASER MACDONALD DINGWALL 68

5 FINDLAY DONEGAN ELGIN 43

6 ALAN HAMILTON EDINBURGH 34

7 ANDREW MURPHY GLASGOW 32

WOMEN'S JUMPS

1 STEPHANIE OWEN LARBERT 29

2 EMMA IMHOFF ITALY 13

3 EMMA THOMSON 13

4 ALICE DOWD OBAN 9

5 = S DUCK CZECH REPUBLIC 8

5 = HELEN SEVERINO/K DOWD ITALY/OBAN 6

7 = E CAMPBELL/ K CAMPBELL BANCHORY 5

TUG O WAR

1 STRATHARDLE 71

2 ELGIN 53

3 = MOFFAT 26

3 = ELGIN 'B' 26

5 CORNHILL 18

6 STRATHARDLE 'B' 17

7 STRATHDEE 15

SHGA AWARDS 2019

Athlete of the Year – Fraser MacDonald

Heavyweight Athlete of the year – Vlad Tulacek

Scottish Born Heavyweight Athlete – Kyle Randalls

Cyclist of the year – Charles Fletcher

Veteran Athlete of the Year (Distance) – John Thomson

Veteran Athlete of the Year (Sprints) – John Paxton

Youth of the Year (Male) – Kyle Macfarlane

Youth of the Year (Female) – Erin Macfarlane

Youth Cyclist of the year – Isaac Small

Outstanding female athlete – Natasha Turnbull

Jimmy Murray T.O.W. Trophy – Ally Henry