A sporting look back at 2018 – July to December
JULY Kieran’s a Spider
Sharpshooter Kieran Moore, who scored 61 goals for Lochgilphead Red Star in the club’s title-winning 2017/18 league campaign, signed for Scotland’s oldest senior football club.
Kieran, 18, put pen to paper with Queen’s Park Football Club – known as The Spiders – after being invited to train by manager Gus MacPherson.
Life in the fast lane
The Mach 1 stages rally, organised by Dunfermline Car club, was held at Machrihanish airbase.
Kilmartin’s William Beattie and Willie Beattie junior in their mk2 Escorts competed in class three, but electrical problems ended their interest.
Donald Bowness in his Vauxhall Nova finished eleventh overall and first in class two. Another local man, Jamie Miller, finished third in the class in his new Citroen C2R2 Max.
Class one saw Innes Mochrie and Paul Hunter compete in Innes’ newly built Rover Metro, coming third in their class. AUGUST Loopy for Sportive The inaugural Kilberry Loop Sportive, organised by Mid Argyll Triathlon and Cycle Club, attracted 86 athletes.
Billed as a non-competitive and all inclusive event, the 40-mile course took cyclists north out of Tarbert, over to Ormsary and Kilberry and returning to Tarbert.
In-form McGlynn wins
Conditions were perfect at Tarbert Golf Club for the 47 players who contested the James Mundell Memorial Open.
Ryan McGlynn’s one-under-par, 62 net score, included four birdies and his was the score to beat.
Duncan Johnstone gave it a good go with a net 64, which included a back nine of 34, but none could match the early leader.
Celebrating rugby
A good crowd turned up to watch around 100 youth rugby players take part in the first Dalriada Festival event of the season.
Players from P4 to S2 came to
OCTOBER James will be back
A successful Argyll sports coach opened up about his struggles with mental health.
In a candid television interview broadcast at half-time during the shinty/hurling international between Scotland and Ireland, Kyles Athletic coach James Perlich spoke openly about his experiences in the hope of giving others the confidence to consider their mental health.
He confirmed he will take time away from shinty to get back on an even keel, but added: ‘I’ll be back.’
SEPTEMBER
Lochgilphead from Lochaber, Islay, Oban and Taynuilt to play in games for P4-5, P6-7 and under-14 boys age groups.
The friendly triathlon
Exceptionally wet weather did nothing to stop the 17th MacQueen Bros Mid Argyll Triathlon as 112 triathletes and 14 teams took part.
The first male/senior male home was Craig Ross of the Glasgow Tri Club, with Lucy Fraser winning the senior female first prize.
BFG Lochgilphead – made up of Felix Maddox, Gregor McGeachy and Ben Smith – won the junior team title and Mid Argyll Triathlon Club’s Sue Allen put in superb performances to dominate the 60+ category.
Inveraray promoted
In the final match of their 2018 season, Inveraray Shinty Club secured promotion to the Marine Harvest Premiership after a three-year absence.
In a strong away performance they came from a goal down to beat Beauly 3-1.
NOVEMBER Points mean golf prizes
Lochgilphead Golf Club held its annual prizegiving along with a delicious buffet provided by Ele, Morvern Murray and Kirsty Flanagan whose home made desserts were ‘to die for’.
Winners included Ele Hunter, Donna McKellar, Grant McDougall, Keith
DECEMBER Strollers centre stage
Lochgilphead Rovers’ walking football squad has been busy, taking part in tournaments at Stenhousemuir Football Club and Glasgow Green.
There were heroic tales from matches and players who, despite advancing years in a few cases, remain deceptively slow around the park.
If you want to participate in walking football, head for Lochgilphead sports centre at 5.30pm on Tuesdays. Apparently, no skill is required – just a wee bit of enthusiasm.
Cowan, Douglas Whyte, George J Morrison, Adrian Angus, Jim Hunter, George Morrison and Ryan McGlynn.
Karate and Katas
Participants from Lochgilphead, Oban and Perth took part in a karate tournament hosted by Kyokushinkai Karate Club at Mid Argyll Sports Centre.
In the eight to 10 years category, Lochgilphead students took first, second and third places with James Snelgrove, Mirrin Bowden and Sam Gillespie respectively.
In the Kata (set patterns) category, first was James Snelgrove; Donald Self came second and Cameron McIver third.
Lochgilphead club assistant instructor Ethan Lekalake took first place in the adult Kata.
Most spirited fighter award went to Sam Gillespie.
DECEMBER Murrayfield magic
South Argyll Schools under-16 rugby team travelled to Murrayfield for the Scottish Schools Bowl final.
After a valiant effort in their first national final, the Argyll outfit succumbed 10-49 to The Royal High School.
There was more Murrayfield magic when Ardfern’s Archie Spencer, a former Lochgilphead High School pupil and Mid Argyll, Oban High and Oban Lorne player, played for Merchiston Castle School in a 40- 7 victory in the under-18 Cup final.