Prize pot shares as strong performances bring sunshine to Grangemouth

Saturday 12th August 2023

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Results (and Sunday start-lists)

Four seasons in one day of Grangemouth weather – and four athletes staked claims on our prize pot on day one of the 4J Senior Champs.

Fine performances by Jack Lawrie over the hurdles, Chris Bennett in the hammer circle and Adam Clayton and Krishawn Aiken in a tight Men’s 100m final all posted performances worthy of B standard ‘shares’ of the overall £2000.

Others will seek to land their slice of the pie on Sunday but the theme on day one was often of repeat champions.

Lawrie, for his part, is now a seven-times winner of the Men’s 400m title. For Olympian and triple Commonwealth Games athlete Bennett, that’s five-in-a-row in the Men’s hammer. And Kirsty Law relished gold medal No 14 in the Women’s discus.

So that particular trio now have a remarkable 26 gold medals between them – on a day when Mhairi Porterfield took her own 27th Senior Champs medal at the age of 42 with silver in the shot.

Law bemoaned the Grangemouth wind on a day of sunshine and showers, sometimes heavy albeit short. None of it dampened the enthusiasm of spectators, coaches, volunteers and Officials.

The men’s 100m final promised excitement and it did not disapoint.

Only three hundredths separated winner Adam Clayton at 10.46 and 2022 champion, Krishawn Aiken, at 10.49. Ethan Pottie took the bronze at 10.60 in a race which saw the top six all run 10.81 or quicker.

‘There is better depth now and I had to work really hard over the closing stages,’ said Adam.

‘I know Krishawn is good at closing and I’d actually not started as well as I would like. But I am delighted with it. I’ve never won a Scottish championship indoors or our at Senior level before and wanted to put that right.’

Jane Davidson is no stranger to hurdles podiums at Scottish championship events but moving to the flat paid a huge dividend for the Aberdeen AAC athlete.

Jane clocked 11.83 to win an exciting final from Commonwealth Games relay athletes, Sarah Malone and Rebecca Matheson. Rebecca and Kaya Slater tied for third on 12.07.

It was a second PB of the day for Jane after opening the day with a time against her name at 12.34.

Lawrie claimed the gold in the Men’s 400 Hurdles final and in so doing made it seven titles in that event.

Jack now has eight medals in to edge one ahead of Francis Smith. He also made sure of a slice of the Prize Pot with 51.  Inside the bronze standard at 51.50.

‘I have had plenty wins here in the Scottish Champs – not quite seven in a row – but I am happy with gold once again.

‘It is always a pleasure to race here in this event and I’m still trying to improve and push the event on if I can.’

Bennett was another athlete to claim a bronze standard in terms of prize pot shares.

The Olympian threw out to 70.84m to win the Men’s Hammer title for the fifth year in a row.

‘It’s the first time I’ve thrown far enough to hit the standards for the prize-money so I will take that and the gold medal,’ he said.

‘I want to thank the Officials and the volunteers who make the Senior Champs happen. We appreciate all their support and events to make it run smoothly.’

Chris Bennett (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Kirsty Law has been a regular in terms of the prize pot but missed out this time.

Windy conditions made it hard for the discus throwers and Kirsty, with 52.27m her best, had to settle for her 14^th Scottish title in the event.

‘I often find it hard to throw well at Grangemouth and the wind today wasn’t helping at all,’ she said.

‘But I am always proud to wear the Scotland vest in Scotland and pleased to compete at the 4J Scottish Champs.’

Moments after Lawrie’s win, the Women’s 400m Hurdles final served up a good race between Emily Craig and Mhairi Patience. Patience was ahead until around 300m before the defending champion surged through over the home straight hurdles to take gold.

Mhairi was all smiles with 10m remaining as Emily closed out and the silver medallist laughed later: ‘I was smiling because I didn’t know if I would actually reach the finish!’

The 800m finals saw wins for arguably the two pre-race favourites.

Visiting Cook Islands athlete Alex Beddoes won the Men’s and Sarah Calvert took the Women’s gold with a superb closing 300m or so. Alex is a training partner of Guy Learmonth; with Guy unfortunately a DQ in his 400m heat after a fine run.

In the men’s field events, there was a nice Triple Jump double for coach Linda Nicholson. Henry Clarkson took the Senior Men’s gold with a leap of 15.36.

‘I’m happy with that as it wasn’t far away from last week at the National Athletics League with Glasgow Jaguars,’ said Henry. ‘Back to back over 15m is good consistency.’

Following him onto the podium was the U17 Men’s TJ champion, Louis Whyte, as the youngster from Moorfoot Runners continues to make an impression in the jumps.

In the Para events, there was a win in the 400m ambulant race for Law and District AAC athlete, Steven Stone, in 53.04.

And in the FrameRunning events good to see race action over both 100m and 400m for Edward Fish of Aberdeen AAC and Julie McElroy of VP-Glasgow.

Senior Champions

Men’s Pole Vault: Andrew McFarlane (Edinburgh AC) 4.50m

Women’s High Jump: Allie Routledge (Aberdeen AAC) 1.74m

Women’s Discus: Kirsty Law (Inverness Harriers) 52.27

Men’s Triple Jump: Henry Clarkson (Edinburgh AC) 15.36

Men’s 400m Hurdles: Jack Lawrie (Pitreavie AAC) 51.24

Men’s 800m: Alex Beddoes (Cook Islands) 1:55.47

Women’s 800m: Sarah Calvert (Livingston AC) 2:06.42

Men’s 100m: Adam Clayton (Giffnock North AC) 10.49

Women’s 100m: Jane Davidson (Aberdeen AAC) 11.83

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: Michael Cameron (Edinburgh AC)

Women’s Discus: Kirsty Law (Inverness Harriers) 52.27m

Men’s Hammer: Chris Bennett (Shettleston Harriers) 70.84m

Women’s Triple Jump: Robyn Taylor (VP-Glasgow) 11.78m

Women’s Shot: Teddy Tchoudja (Shettleston Harriers) 14.13m

Men’s Javelin: David Sketchley (Harrow) 53.04m

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: Michael Cameron (Edinburgh AC) 9:28.49

Women’s 5000m: Constance Nankivell (Edinburgh Uni) 17:04.28)

Women’s 400m: Jill Cherry (VP-Glasgow) 54.18 

Edward Fish and Julie McElroy meet at the end of their Frame Running race (photo by Bobby Gavin)

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Louis Whyte on his way to gold in the U17 Triple Jump (photo by Bobby Gavin)

U17 SCOTTISH CHAMPIONS

Men’s 100m: Rory Brogan (Edinburgh AC) 10.97

Women’s 100m: Tehillah Ikechukwu Okonkwo (Law and District AAC) 12.19

Men’s Javelin: Andrew Scanlon (Leevale) 46.95m

Women’s Shot: Courtney Barbour (Giffnock North AC) 12.20m

Men’s Pole Vault: Finn Bryce (Aberdeen AAC) 3.55m

Men’s Triple Jump: Louis Whyte (Moorfoot Runners) 13.15m

Women’s Discus: Abbey Kennedy (Kilmarnock Harriers) 32.03m

Women’s 300m Hurdles: Anastasia Cotorobi (Pitreavie AAC) 44.76

Women’s High Jump: Anne Reid (Elgin AAC) 1.64m

Men’s Hammer: Joshuia Reibbitt (Carlisle) 50.65m

Men’s 400m: Omar Bajo (Edinburgh AC) 48.99

Women’s 300m: Hannah Falvey (Balgooly AC) 40.39

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Tags: 4J Senior Champs, Grangemouth