Exceptional showings from Harriers athletes

PERTH Strathtay Harriers inclusion programme has produced many fine athletes over the last six years and 2016 has seen some exceptional performances from this group.

Scottish Disability Sport places athletes into groups with a physical, sensory or learning disability and there are multiple classifications within each section.

The Perth club has athletes from across the disability spectrum training and competing throughout the year.

Their success started early in 2016 with U/13 girl Freya Howgate winning her T37 classification cross-country series of races in January and March.

Freya went on to win Scottish national and UK titles later in the year.

In June at the Scottish Junior Championships, Perth had a large turnout of athletes winning more gold medals than ever before.

Niamh Sandeman won each of her three racerunning races to complete a wonderful day.

One of many highlights for Matthew Doig was his trip to Denmark in July to compete in the European Racerunning Championships.

Personal best performances and five gold medals made it a trip to remember. Matthew went on to compete in England later in the year and win even more medals.

The Harriers run a number of fully inclusive training sessions and a specialist group to cater for a wide variety of supported athletes all year round.

Michael and Kevin Rice have won medals at senior championships for a number of years and 2016 was no different with podium finishes for both at the Senior National Championships both on the track and in the field.

In her first full season of wheelchair racing, Paige Bailey travelled throughout the UK setting personal bests in her sprint and throwing events.

The support of Perth and Kinross Council to the club has been instrumental in their ongoing success. Credit also goes to the Gannochy Trust for their long-time commitment to the development programmes.

James Wade on his way to victory against Ronny Huybrechts

Robert Thornton had it easy against Zoran Lerchbacher.