Medals a-plenty for pupils
Central AC’s young athletes had a successful weekend at the Scottish Schools Championships in Grangemouth.
Eight medals came at the two youngest categories - Group C (age 14) and Group D (under 14) - with Scott Hopper of McLaren High taking a starring role in the former.
He threw 12.52m in the shot to earn a silver and next day he returned for the javelin looking to go one better and ended up clear winner with a big throw of 39.23m.
Cameron MacMillan (Dollar Academy) was also on the podium in the 1500m after running a personal best 4:28.58 for bronze.
In the high jump, Louise Carroll (Balfron High) and Katherine Fowler (McLaren High) were against each other.
Both athletes went clear up to 1.40m and at 1.45m Louise cleared first time and Katherine cleared at the second time of asking.
At 1.50m both athletes couldn’t quite go over but with only two athletes going clear this gave Louise the bronze medal on countback while Katherine had to settle for fifth.
She had another chance at a medal in the 200m and grabbed it, running 26.74 to win bronze.
Louise also entered the 75m hurdles and achieved her aim of reaching the final where she placed seventh in 13.10 while in the endurance events Catriona Kane (Dunblane HS) ran a pb in the 1500m of 5:20.34 for eighth and Amy Cully (Wallace High) reached the 800m final after running 2:32.21.
In the youngest Group D (under 14) age group, many competitors were taking part at this level for the first time but came away with an impressive tally of medals and personal bests.
Robb Ferguson (Lornshill Academy), won gold in the javelin after throwing a pb distance of 35.71m and followed this up in the 80m hurdles where he added to his medal collection with a silver in a time of 12.86.
Also winning gold was Connor Bell (Balfron High) who ran a measured 800m to record a pb 2:09.23 with Ruaridh Burns (Stirling High) fifth in a pb 2:14.09.
Alva Academy were well represented in this age group with Danielle Abel, Hannah Tams and Kate Gilvear all turning out.
Danielle was competing in the 75m hurdles for the first time ever and also stepping up from her usual under 13 age group.
However she was undaunted by the challenge and finished in an excellent fifth place in the final with 13.51.
She also managed a top eight finish in the long jump jumping to a pb 4.12m for sevent .
Hannah and Kate were both contesting the 100m. Hannah had a good outing as she reached the final where she was eighth in a season’s best 13.91 and Kate ran a pb 14.56s in her heat.
Forth and Endrick took a big step towards regaining Scottish Welfare FA’s interassociation Rolls Royce Cup on Sunday with a 6-2 first leg win away at Greenock.
In perfect conditions they came from behind, conceding the lead to a daft penalty after 24 minutes.
They hit back immediately and the equaliser came when a Greenock defender hit a panicky clearance past his own keeper.
Balfron Rovers’ Ross MacKenzie then put FEFA ahead with a header from a corner in 37 minutes and just before the break Andy McNally (Drymen United) made it 3-1 with a splendid solo effort.
Three minutes after the restart Graeme McKenzie (Gartocharn) pounced on a rebound from a blocked shot to score for a 4-1 lead. A second penalty in 57 minutes gave Greenock some encouragement but the three-goal margin was restored midway through the half when McNally scored again. That was quickly followed by McKenzie’s second goal and at 6-2 ahead FEFA were quite happy to play a possession game to take home a handy lead for the return leg at Balfron.
Team: D Heggarty (Buchlyvie Utd); C Hannah (Blanefield Thistle), S Degg (Drymen Utd), A Orr (Aberfoyle Rob Roy) and A Ferguson (Aberfoyle Rob Roy); C Smith (Blanefield Thistle), R Mackenzie (Balfron Rovers), R Georgson (Drymen Utd) and G McKenzie (Gartocharn); A McNally (Drymen Utd) and A Garry (Buchlyvie Utd). Subs: D Cowan (Drymen Utd) and F Scott (Thornhill)
The second leg is at Balfron on Sunday, July 7.
• Leaders Thornhill were back to winning ways last Friday in the James D Bilsland-sponsored Forth and Endrick League - but in an unexpected and disappointing way.
Listed to meet struggling neighbours Gargunnock, they collected full points when their opponents conceded the match.
And Gargunnock have also sadly intimated to the league that they would not be able to fulfil their outstanding fixtures this season.
Since their withdrawal has taken place in the second half of the season, the result of their matches played will stand and their unplayed games will be awarded to their opponents as a 3-0 scoreline.
Free scoring Drymen United kept the pressure on with a big win at Blanefield Thistle, scoring seven without reply from their hosts. United’s marksmen were Scott Cowan (3), Andy McNally (2) and Dave Connelly (2).
Killearn moved into third spot with an excellent return to form at Aberfoyle. Rob Roy scored through Andy Innes but Killearn replied with goals from Alan More (2), David Cameron, Carlos, Armando and Tam Carey and the 6-1 win gave notice that they are not yet out of contention.
Buchlyvie United collected full points for only the second time this season when they came out on top with an odd goal win in a seven goal thriller against Gartocharn.
There was a rearrangement of fixtures on Tuesday to accommodate the Balfron Rovers v Blanefield Thistle MacGregor, Ferguson Cup semi-final. It was a well contested match with Balfron coming out winners with goals from Ross MacKenzie, Cammy Rubython and an own goal.
Rovers now meet Drymen in the final tonight (Friday) at Drymen.
In the league Thornhill edged a narrow win against Buchlyvie to keep their place at the top ahead of Drymen who had a technical 3-0 win over Gargunnock.
Killearn rather surprisingly slipped by dropping two points with a 3-3 draw against Gartocharn.
There are no league fixtures tonight to allow clubs to attend the MFC final but the eight survivors will be in action on Tuesday. Thornhill meet Gartocharn with the match played at Thornhill. Drymen welcome Buchlyvie with the match of the night at Balfron where Killearn are the visitors. The remaining fixture is at Blanefield who host Aberfoyle.