Sport round-up
NETBALL
The Scottish Schools’ Cup run continues for Perth Academy’s netball team.
Talented students have now worked their way into the semi-final of the open gold competition following a win in the north-east.
They defeated Robert Gordon College of Aberdeen by 50 points to 30 to keep hopes alive of clinching the top crown.
The semi-final will see the Academy come up against either Craigmount Blue or Mackie Academy. That fixture was getting played last night.
Netball coach Anne Gibson said: “The girls realise that they are within touching distance of the final.
“They are determined to play their best to achieve this aim. They realise that they are setting a standard for other schoolgirls to reach.
“And this is seen with Kilgraston, Strathallan and Perth High School all having teams reaching semi-finals in the same competition.
“The girls have such a close bond. Although injured in the last round, one player made the trip to Aberdeen to cheer the team on.
“Any occasion there was a turnover in a ball against them, they tried hard to get possession back to feed the ball back up court to the shooters.”
Regardless of how far the team now goes, they have done their school proud.
“The school have been very supportive and are rightly proud of how far the girls have come,” added Anne.
“Miss Henry, a PE teacher, is our fantastic driver and motivational coach.
“The girls appreciate all that the PE staff do for them throughout the year.”
Elsewhere in the Scottish Schools Cup, Strathallan are through to the open silver semi-final and will face Williamwood High School B.
The Perthshire school defeated Woodmill High School 41-19 in the quarter-final. Strathallan’s S2 side are preparing for a silver semi-final, with St Georges School for Girls the opponent.
And success has also been forthcoming in the open bronze event, where Kilgraston will contest a semi-final match against Elgin Academy.
At S1 level, both Perth Academy and Perth High teams are into last four of the bronze section.
Callendar Park in Falkirk for what was the final cross country meeting of the season.
In atrocious conditions, which were certainly suited to the purists, 22 hardy road runners braved the wind, snow, rain and mud.
The top ladies led the team to a 16th place finish while the men’s team came in 26th place overall.
The participation in cross country this year has led to some very impressive results. And credit has been directed towards Fabienne Thompson and Simon Grieshaber for all their work.
Elsewhere at the weekend, nine members ran the Skull Trail Race in Fife in sunny but very muddy conditions.
Those navigating around the five-mile course were tasked with taking on some icy cold water.
Second overall was Duncan Ryan, who finished in 29 minutes and he was followed by Stewart Reid and Neil Muir, the latter first in his category.
Also running for the Perth club were Stewart Dallas, Steph Reid, Louise McLaren, Angela Thomson, Steph Boyd and Steven Brooker.
In the final week of the parkrun winter challenge, 53 road runners were congratulated for participating in at least one of the away venues.
Ten members completed all five set by the club, with the top three placed being Andrew Miller, Ronnie Glen and then Alan Bothwell.
Anna Bell was close behind in fourth as the highest-placed female, against her own personal target.
On Saturday, the club celebrated its annual prizegiving and recognised the impressive achievements of runners.
Medals and trophies were handed out for the Club Championship, the Summer Series and Hills Are Alive Series.
And there was also the introduction of the club’s newest medal for competing during the cross country season.
Numerous distance prizes were dished out, as well as club standard awards on what was another bumper night for the ever-growing group.
Perth Road Runners gather on a Tuesday at 6.25pm, with the meet point being in the foyer of Bell’s Sports Centre.
New and prospective members are welcome to join.
Intrepid runners from the Strathearn Harriers didn’t let the trying conditions dampen their spirits at the weekend with a number of members competing in events.
Andrew Brown ran at the national cross country event in Callendar Park, Falkirk, on Saturday. And in what was described as a “quagmire” he completed the 10k course in a very creditable time of 56.57.
Also on Saturday, Tony Wayte took part in the Glentress Trail half-marathon, where he said conditions were “pretty grim”. He completed it in two hours and 12 minutes which earned him first MV60.
On Sunday, Julia Greenlees and Jason Miles-Campbell took on the Glentress Trail marathon, which is two laps of the half distance event.
Conditions are understood to have been slightly better than on the previous day. Julia ran a time of six hours and 10 minutes which earned her first FV60.
Jason unfortunately had to withdraw after the first lap with a niggling injury.
Elsewhere, Clare and Tony McClelland took part in the Skull Mountain Trail Race in Markinch, described as a mud and water event.
They finished together in a time of 50.21 in 149th and 150th place.
CURLING
Rob Niven has been appointed as the new chair of British Curling.
Niven, from Kinross-shire, was selected for the position following a rigorous and open recruitment process.
He has a wealth of experience in the
DARTS LEAGUE
Perth Pub Darts League results from Monday, February 24 - Letham Club 5 Scone Arms 7, Chapel Hill 4 Saints 8, Atholl 10 Strathord 2, Ormonds A 8 Last Cast 4, Methven Arms B 7 Strathmore 5, Luncarty FC 9 Luncarty 3, Ex Servicemans Club 7 Methven Arms A 5, Bee Bar 7 Ormonds B 5.
Best games - S Melloy 16 and 17 (Atholl), N MacDougall 18 and 19 (Atholl), R MacDougall 17 and 19 (Atholl), K Bloice 20 (Saints), S Cameron 18 and 18 (Last Cast), B MacLeod Snr 18 (Ormonds A), Grant Fyfe 19 (Ormonds A), J Honeyman 18 (Luncarty FC), S Blues 15 (Luncarty FC).
180s - S Melloy (Atholl), A Baillie (Atholl), R Williams (Saints), S Cameron (Last Cast), B MacLeod Snr (Ormonds A), R Mathieson (Methven B), A Christie (Ex Servicemans).
Checkouts - S Cameron 114 (Last Cast), D Craik 160 (Ormonds A), R Mathieson 76 bull finish (Methven B), C Stewart 110 (Luncarty FC), S Blues 119 (Luncarty FC).
The League Doubles will take place next week, hosted by the Last Cast in the Bridge of Earn public hall. There will be a practise board up in the hall bar but the main boards will be set up at 7.30pm. The cost of entry is £1 per player.
The chase for the Perth Pubs Domino League title continues to be a close battle.
That was after the top two teams, Ormonds and Saints Club, both won last Friday night.
Ormonds defeated third-placed Kinnears while Saints managed to get the better of Kirkside.
The Bee Bar had a morale-boosting win against Caledonian, while a mid-table clash saw Half Moon defeat Our Boys.
Three matches remain and the latest league positions are: Ormonds 18pts, Saints 16pts, Kinnears 12pts, Caledonian 11pts, Half Moon 11pts, Kirkside 8pts, Our Boys 8pts and Bee Bar 4pts.
Fixtures for Friday, February 28 (tonight) - Bee Bar v Ormonds, Caledonian v Kirkside, Kinnears v Half Moon, Saints v Our Boys.