Junior Athletics at Argyll’s Highland Games circuit
The Highland Games season is under way in Argyll with Lorne Games in Oban already held on the June 24. Morvern Games at Lochaline is on Saturday July 14. Next on the programme is Inveraray on Tuesday July 17 followed by Mull Games at Tobermory two days later on Thursday July 19. Taynuilt and Southend are both on Saturday July 21 and finally the Oban Games take place on Thursday August 23.
Several junior track and field events are being held to encourage more local young athletes to take part. This applies to the Highland Games in Argyll, which are affiliated to the Scottish Highland Games Association (SHGA). Junior events will be held at Inveraray, Mull and Oban, with separate events for both boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 16.
The age qualification is under 16 on the May 26, 2018, which was the date of the first games on the SHGA fixture list.
The events are 90metres, 600metres, high jump, long jump and shot putt, with the two track races being on a handicap basis according to age and ability.
There will be an overall junior championship with points awarded over the series of games and trophies presented to the top boy and girl at Oban Games on August 23. Prize money will be an added incentive at all of the Highland Games.
As well as the junior events at the SHGA games, there is a full programme of senior events (16 years and over) in two categories with local events confined to athletes born or resident in Argyll and open events. To compete in the open events, athletes will have to register with the SHGA for the day or for the season.
Junior athletes at both Inveraray and Mull Highland Games should enter on the field between 10am and 10.30am with the first event likely to start at 10.45am. For Mull Games on July 19, competitors from the mainland are advised to travel on the first ferry from Oban at 7.30am.
Further information on the junior events at Inveraray, Mull and Oban can be obtained by contacting Bill MacCallum on 01546 602664.
Scottish Jumps Championship at Mull Games
For the second year Mull Games have been awarded the Scottish Highland Games Association Jumps Championship which is a national competition for most points in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. This championship will attract some of Scotland’s top jumpers to compete on a field which is regarded as the best surface for jumping of all the games in Scotland. In 2016 at Mull, Allan Hamilton from Edinburgh, Scotland’s No1 long jumper, set new Scottish (SHGA) records in both the long jump and triple jump. Allan has been troubled by injury this year but still hopes to be at Mull. Tony Daffurn from Wishaw, the SHGA Athlete of the Year in 2017, will be at Mull, as will young Aidan Quinn, who is Scotland’s top under-20 triple jumper by some distance. Both Tony and Aidan have ambitions of breaking the triple jump record of 50ft 1in. One ground record which has withstood the passage of time is the high jump record of 6ft 3.5in set by the great Jay Scott and has survived since 1955. Jay set the record using a modified scissors technique and did not have the luxury of landing on crash mats.
Ladies’ mile race at Inveraray Games
A ladies’ mile race will be held at Inveraray on July 17 and is open to ladies 16 years and over with no upper age limit. The race will be handicapped according to age and ability with starts given to the older and slower runners. All entries are on the day and the race is likely to be in the early afternoon. In addition to generous prize money, an annual trophy will be awarded to the winner.