Muir’s Freshers fast track

Highland runner Alex Sutherland is bidding for glory in the world masters athletics championships which get under way in Perth, Australia, this week.

The Caithness man, who now lives close to Loch Ness, will compete in the track and cross-country events with the aim of building on the success he has achieved at domestic level this year.

Sutherland, 69, won the over-65 age group title cross-country for the third season in a row at the Scottish masters championships at Forres.

He said: “In Perth I’ll be taking part in the crosscountry on October 26, the track 5,000metres on October 29 and the 10,000m on November 2.

“I’m at the top end of the 65 to 69 age group category.

“It must be the only activity where people look forward to getting older and entering another age class. It’s likely to be around the mid-20s temperaturewise in Perth.”

Sutherland will return home the day after his second race then he will have a short turnaround period before another international engagement.

The Highland Hill Runners club member has been selected to represent Scotland in the masters crosscountry match against England, Wales and Ireland at Glasgow’s Tollcross park on November 12.

Lochaber AAC’s Finlay Wild won the Meall a’Bhuachaille race at Glenmore in which Tim Gomersall (Highland Hill Runners) held off Graham Bee (Inverness Harriers) to take second position.

Bethan Nadin (Highland Hill Runners) won the women’s prize.

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Photograph: Colin Rennie STRIDING OUT: Rory Muir in full flow.

Alex Sutherland: Australia contest