Brindley U20 Heptathlon Record in busy weekend #4Jathletics

Monday 3rd February 2020

Scott Brindley’s new Scottish U20 Record was the headline-grabbing act at the 4J Studios Combined Events Champs.

A hectic weekend of action at the Emirates Arena culminated with the North Ayrshire AC athlete adding the Scottish title to his recent England Athletics heptathlon success.

Brindley went close to Scott Connal’s Record of 5367 points on that occasion and this time eclipsed it with a tally of 5409 points to take gold ahead of silver medallist Adam Hoole of Team East Lothian (4778) and Callum Newby of Edinburgh (4479).

If any consolation was needed for Connal after losing that erstwhile Record, it came with his deserved coronation as Senior Men’s champion with a tally of 5330 after a series of strong performances. Cal McLennan of Edinburgh AC took the bronze medal in the Senior Men’s category.

All of this was making it something of a good weekend for coach Colin Sinclair, with his group amassing a series of medals.

Aidan Brindley was another one, as Scott’s younger brother, made it a double for the family and for North Ayrshire AC by taking the U17 Men’s title with 4320 points. There were medals there, too, for Alister Mackay of Inverness Harriers and Lewis Thomson of Perth Strathtay.

English visitors dominated the Women’s Senior and U20 events. There was a fourth place for Emma Canning of Edinburgh AC in the Senior Women’s event with 3792 points and a fifth place at U20 for Hannah Wallace of Cumbernauld AAC.

Rosie Sharples of Falkirk Vics took the U17 Women’s gold with 3414 points. There were other medals there for Amy Kennedy of Cumbernauld AAC and Abbey Orr of VP-Glasgow.

In the younger age groups, there were golds or top Scottish performances by the following athletes: U13 Boys Luc MacLeod of Banchory Stonehaven and U13 Girls Laurie Hunter of Pitreavie AAC; U15 Boys Daniel Martin of Giffnock North and U15 Girls Stroma Fraser of Inverness Harriers.

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Giffnock North AC top the podium in the 4 x 200m Club Relays at the Emirates Arena (photo by Bobby Gavin)The 4 x 200m Club Relays are always a popular event and it was brilliant to see so many clubs from right across Scotland support the event.

Finals in some of the younger age groups will now be held at the Muller GP in Glasgow on Saturday 15 February.

The Senior titles were decided on the day, however, and there was success for Giffnock North AC and Edinburgh AC.

Giffnock took the golds in the Men’s race in a time of 1:29.31 with Greenock Glenpark Harriers savouring a rare national medal as they took silver in 1:30.36. The bronze medals went to VP-Glasgow in 1:31.36.

Edinburgh AC women took their race in a tighter finish as they clocked 1:42.29 only just ahead of silver medallists Giffnock, who crossed the line in 1:42.43. Like the men, there were bronze medals for VP-Glasgow women, as they came home in 1:44.87.

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Mark Davidson’s determination is writ large as he tackles the sprint hurdles at the Emirates Arena (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Our Masters Championships once again drew a strong field as athletes from V35 and above battled for medals.

Commonwealth Games medallist, Mark Davidson, was among a host of Scottish medal winners with the Aberdeen AAC athlete delivering a series of fine performances. There was also a 1500m appearance for V80 Fife AC athlete, George Black.

In the Masters Combined Events, there was a silver medal for Central AC’s Ron Todd and also for Kathryn Ballard of North Ayrshire AC.

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Tags: 4 x 200m Club Relays, 4J Studios Combined Events Champs, 4J Studios Masters Champs, Club Relays, Edinburgh AC, Emirates Arena, Giffnock North AC, Scott Brindley, Scott Connal