Half measure suits Hawkins as a yardstick for Glasgow
Derek Hawkins plans to use tomorrow’s Sunderland City Half-Marathon to test out his preparedness for the Commonwealth Games, after a stint in the United States, writes Mark Woods.
The Scot, who has been pre-selected for the marathon in Glasgow, has been receiving guidance from the former world record holder Steve Jones at his mountain base in Colorado and, with the countdown to the Games now under way, Hawkins believes his Wearside outing will lay bare what is left to do.
“I chose Sunderland because I ran the 10k a few years ago so I know it is a flat course and it fits perfectly in my build-up for Glasgow 2014,” said the 25-year-old. “It falls two weeks after I return from altitude training in Boulder, so it’s ideal to find out how that training phase went in a racing environment.” n Another posse of Scottish hopefuls descends on Stanford, California, today in search of Glasgow 2014 qualifying standards at the famous Payton Jordan Invitational, where warm, still conditions are almost guaranteed, writes Sandy Sutherland.
Lasswade’s Ross Matheson, now based at altitude at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, has emerged as an outside bet of making the Scottish team in the 1500 so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ll try and recover well from the Tour de France and give it a good hit in Glasgow.”
ICE HOCKEY
Fife Flyers yesterday signed up Blair Daly, the the back-up goaltender who is a firm favourite with the fans, writes Nigel Duncan. Edinburgh-based Daly joined the club from Edinburgh Capitals and Todd Dutiaume, the head coach, said: “Blair has been with the team since 2005 and has been instrumental in much of Flyers’ success. In the three years of our involvement in the Elite League, Blair has had to come in at key moments and has delivered the goods. He is one of the best back-up netminders in our league with a good attitude and is a great team guy.” metres. The 23-year-old Ross High FP was just half a second outside the qualifying standard of 3:42.20 last weekend – which university team-mate Dave Bishop has already done once last year.
Also close to the 2014 target more than once has been his Lothian rival Kris Gauson. Depending on the seedings for the heats, Matheson could race Bishop and Gauson tomorrow in what would be a telling showdown. Edinburgh AC’s Chris O’Hare, already Bathgate’s Paul di Resta aims to prove a point to Formula One owners when the 2014 DTM Championship gets under way at Hockenheim tomorrow, writes Lorin McDougall. The 28-year-old was disappointed to be released by the Force India team after three seasons in F1, but he is back driving for Mercedes in a bid to reclaim the title he won in 2010. The Scot also finished second in 2008 and third the following year. nSir Chris Hoy aims to build on his promising debut drives as he prepares for the latest round of the British GT Championship at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire. The six-time Olympic track cycling gold medallist finished ninth and 13th for Nissan in the first two races of the season at Oulton Park a fortnight ago, selected for the 1500m in Glasgow, runs in Kingston, Jamaica, tonight for adidas in a 1500m at the Jamaica Invitational World Challenge.
Another New Mexico-based Scot, Luke Caldwell, who last weekend bagged the second of his two qualifiers for the 5000m, moves up to the 10k in Stanford where his target is the Glasgow 2014 standard of 29 minutes.
Edinburgh AC’s Kimberley Reed – who recorded her first Glasgow 2014 standard with but Monday’s two-hour race will pose fresh challenges for Hoy. Practice and qualifying take place tomorrow at the two-mile Corby circuit.
SHINTY
The champions Newtonmore will keep it in the family today as they limber up for the first Badenoch derby of the season, writes Kenneth Stephen. Michael Ritchie, the 42-year-old goalkeeper, and his son son Craig, 17, could be in the side to face local rivals, Kingussie.
’More trail unbeaten Lovat by four points and will want to make sure they keep up the pressure as well as securing bragging rights in Badenoch, although Davie Anderson’s Kings will believe they can finish closer to their rivals than last term. PJ MacKintosh, the Newtonmore manager, said: “It’s a bit of history having the Ritchies in the same squad but the focus will be on getting a result.”
Kingussie can call on key man Lee Bain after suspension and free-scoring Savio Genini is back in the side. Leaders Lovat have their own derby to contend with against Glen Urquhart and are looking for a seventh straight win.
SQUASH
Scotland will face Germany in a bronze medal contest for the third year in a row after losing 3-0 to the second seeds France in the semi-finals of the European Team Championships in Riccione, Italy last night, writes Lorin McDougall. Kevin Moran and Alan Clyne lost the opening two rubbers in straight games and Greg Lobban conceded defeat to Mathieu Castagnet when Scotland were arithmetically out of contention.
Germany also lost 3-0 to the top seeds and holders England, but will be confident of denying the Scots third place, just as they did in Nuremberg in 2012 and in Amsterdam last year. 61.51m in the hammer at Grangemouth in the Scottish Universities Championships, then threw 60.48m, just 52cms short of the target, the next day – is at Bedford to represent Edinburgh in the British Universities Championships.
Ray Bobrownicki (Edinburgh) defends his high jump title and will be looking for another 2.17m Games qualifier in Sunday’s final.
Guy Learmonth is missing Bedford, preparing for a 800m race in Lisse on May 10.