Scottish Inter-Regional Championships 2010

The Scottish Inter-Regional Championships, hosted by North Lanarkshire (NL) Leisure, on Sunday 16th May at Wishaw Sports Centre kick off this year’s Stewarts Golden League.

The Inter-Regional Championships see six regional teams compete across all athletics disciplines for the Innes Trophy, in memory of former scottishathletics official John Innes, and £3,400 of prize money.  Individual athletes also compete for points to win the Stewarts Golden League Series jackpot of £1,000.

The Inter-Regional competition concludes a full weekend of athletics, which starts with the Bank of Scotland Scottish U15 and U17 Closed Championships, on Saturday 15th May.  Included in Sunday’s line up of events is a run, jump and throws competition, a Wishaw Whizz Kids sprints race and a mascot race, all hosted at midday by Olympian Yvonne Murray, who is the Senior Athletics Development & Events Officer for North Lanarkshire Council.

Murray said: “Getting kids involved by putting on fun activities, like Wishaw Whizz Kids and a mascot race, adds to the atmosphere and gives them a chance to participate.”

Blane Dodds, Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Leisure said: “The Inter-Regional’s were a huge success last year.  Events like this are exactly the kind North Lanarkshire Leisure wants to partner with in the build up to hosting the 2011 International Children’s Games.  What better way to build North Lanarkshire Leisure’s profile in hosting major sporting events than hosting competitive meetings like this with some of Scotland’s top athletes in attendance.”

The West Coast regional team took last year’s Inter-Regionals title with a total of 467 points.  First place finishes from high profile athletes included Elidih Child (Tayside & Fife) in the 400m (56.55), Alison Rodgers (West Coast) in shot put (15.79) and discuss (45.48), Nicola Hood (West City) for 2000m (6.54), Claire Gibson (West Coast) in the 1500m (4.17.53), Ally Hay (Central) in the men’s 1500m (3.48.67) and Tsegai Twelde (West City) in the 5000m (14.26.32).

The Inter-Regional Championships are one of five track and field meetings between May and August that make up the Stewarts Golden League Series. To win the series, athletes accumulate points, using the IAAF Black/Shields scoring table, against performance at events in the series. The athlete with the best overall points total at the end will collect a cheque for £1000.

Competitions in scottishathletics’ 2010 Stewarts Golden League series include: Inter-Regional Championships at Wishaw Sports Centre, Sunday 16th May; Scottish National U20 & U23 Championships at Grangemouth Stadium, Sunday 13th June; Scottish National Senior Championships at Pitreavie, Saturday 17th/Sunday 18th July: Stewarts Golden League Open Graded at Linwood, Saturday 7th August and Stewarts Golden League Open Graded at East Kilbride, Wednesday 25th August.

The Scottish Inter-Regional Championships run from 10:00 to 17:00 and entrance is free.