Junior athletics at Argyll’s Highland games

The Highland Games season is under way in Argyll with Lorne Games in Oban already held at the end June.

Next on the programme is Inveraray on Tuesday July 18 followed by Mull Games at Tobermory two days later on Thursday July 20. Taynuilt are on Saturday July 22 and finally Oban Games take place on Thursday August 24.

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 Lorne, Inveraray, Mull and Oban, with separate events for both boys and girls between the age of 11 and under 16

he age qualification is under 16 on May 27, 2017, which was the date of the first games on the SHGA fixture list.

The events are 90 metres, 600 metres, 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 four games and trophies presented to the top boy and girl at Oban games on the August 23. Prize money will be an added incentive at each of the four Highland games.

As well as the junior events at the four 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 Scottish Highland Games Association for the day or for the season.

Junior athletes at both Inveraray and Mull Highland Games next week 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 20, 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 For the first time 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.

Just last year at Mull, Allan Hamilton from Edinburgh, Scotland’s number one long jumper, set new Scottish [SHGA] records in both the long jump and triple jump and has ambitions of adding the high jump record this year. The high jump record of 6ft 3.5in set by the great Jay Scott has stood since 1955. Ladies’ mile race at Inveraray games A ladies’ mile race will be held at Inveraray on July 18 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.