Smiles better! Glasgow Jaguars finish third at NAL finale

Monday 7th August 2023

Kathryn Christie on her way to 400m PB run (photo by Gordon Innes)

Report by Moira Maguire

Scotstoun proved to be a first-class venue for hosts Glasgow Jaguars in the third and final match in the Premier Division of the National Athletics League.

The visiting clubs were delighted with their Scottish experience and enjoyed a superbly organised competition, matched by warm hospitality and unexpectedly benign weather.

Team captains were piped into the arena by Andrew Murphy, retired Scotland and GB international decathlete, who later pulled on his vest again to compete in the Shot!

Lauren Stoddart represented Glasgow Jaguars in the ceremony as team captain (with support later from Andrew Peck).

English clubs showed their respect by travelling with strong teams, providing excellent opposition, and Glasgow Jaguars were delighted with another third place behind League winners Thames Valley Harriers and only a tantalising one point behind Woodford Green and Essex Ladies.

Provisional results suggest that this moves them to a fifth place finish in the league, which from a 16th place ranking at the start of the season marks another significant step forward for the club and it is noteworthy that for the first time this season the men’s team were at full strength.

Photos from Gordon Innes on Facebook

With strong fields, A string victories were in short supply but Scottish Junior record holder Dawn Russell, duly delivered winning the Javelin with a throw of 43.35.

Making her debut for the club Beth Ansell won the 800 with 2.07.21 and there were maximum points in the men’s 1500, where another athlete making his debut for the team Jamie MacKinnon ran strongly to win a competitive 1500 in 3.51.63 with Ross O’Brien winner of the B event in 3.55.30.

There were also maximum points in the Triple Jump with Henry Clarkson making a welcome return to competition this season claiming victory with 15.46 and U17 newcomer, Louis Whyte, showing himself at home at this level of competition, winning the B event with 13.20.

Magnus Tait held off fellow Scot and TVH athlete, Michael Cameron for victory in the 2000m steeplechase.

Scott Connal in hurdles action at Scotstoun (photo by Gordon Innes)

Scott Conall returned to the track after injury with a second place in the 110MH in 14.67, backed up by a second place finish in the B event for Euan Wallace.

It was a second place this time for the women’s 4x100M relay with Lois Garland, Erin Campbell, Rachel Callan and Chloe Lambert successfully getting the baton round in 47.21.

Sadly, it was less good news for the men’s 4×100 team, who crossed the finish line in first place but were disqualified after a faulty change over.

The women’s 4×400 matched the second place of the short relay in a swift 3.49.53with Georgia Morrison, Chloe Lambert Lorne Kerr and Kathryn Christie, with a fine PB of 55.42 in fourth place in the individual event under her belt, showing the club’s ability to be competitive at this level.

Jamie MacKinnon and Ross O’Brian made it a 1500m A and B race victory double (photo by Gordon Innes)

Andrew Peck was in PB form with a second place finish in 51.81 behind fellow Scot Nick Percy of Shaftesbury, who set a new Native record of 61.02.

The women’s steeplechase is a strong event for the club and Lauren Stoddart had a fine second place in as season’s best of 7.03.56 matched by a second place finish in the B event for Becky Dunphy in 7.20.91, also a season’s best.

There were fine third places for Emily Craig in the 400MH in 61.29, Sara Barbour in the pole vault with 3.62 and Andrew Peck in the Shot with 13.96, Lois Garland is growing in confidence and was third in a competitive 200 in 24.58 having finished fourth in the 100 with a PB of 11.95.

As the club develops strength in depth, A string athletes are achieving fourth or fifth places and B athletes are picking up valuable points.

Cian O’Donnell delivered a fine win in the B 100 in 10.72 after Ethan Pottie had a fine fourth in the A event in 10.68.

Scott Hannaway finished in a fine second in 49.20 in the B 400 after Greg Kelly had finished fourth in the A event with 49.03. Lorne Kerr had a strong run to finish second in the B 400 in 56.80.

Connor Henderson was delighted with a season’s best of 53.11 to win the B event with Bradley Francis fourth in the A event in 54.37. Carolyn Cameron was third in the B 3000M and second in the 1500M, with Alicia Paton sixth in the A 3000M and Margot Wyroll fourth in the A 1500,

Over the barriers it was a fine fifth place for Erin Campbell in the A 100MH in 14.36 and a third place for Hannah Wallace in the B event.

Andrew McFarlane was fourth in a very strong men’s vault with 4.22 with Mark Herbert Ruiz on his debut second in the B event with 3.92.

It was a fourth for Hannah Wallace in the Long Jump with 5.42 and third for Anne Forbes. This was matched by the fourth place of Robyn Taylor in the A Triple Jump with 11.12 and a second place for Laura Buchan in the B event with 10.38.

In the field . . . Meghan Porterfield and Amy Kennedy talk throws (photo by Gordon Innes)

A fourth place in the Discus with 42.52 for Meghan Porterfield in the A event and a second place for Kiera Maxwell in the B event with 41.40 brought more valuable points.

It was third in the B Hammer for Lewis Craigie with 41.90 after Callum Hendry finished in a creditable seventh place in the A event with a PB of 45.91.

In a very competitive women’s event it was fourth place for Katie Ord in the A event with 47.19. It was a sixth place in the A javelin for William Bailey in 45.88 and a second place in the B event for David Lees with 43.52 in the final event of the day.

In a quite remarkable season, every athlete who has competed for the team this year has played their part as have the Officials, who have contributed 45 points in each match.

Without the sponsorship from Glasgow Life, Joma and Tru Wealth and the support from Scottishathletics this pathway would not have been available and the 78 athletes, who have pulled on the pink and black this season are indebted to them.

*Huge thanks from scottishathletics Comms to Moira Maguire and Gordon Innes for unstinting support around Glasgow Jaguars coverage. Appreciated.