Noticeboard: GB vests; Inverness Half; Glasgow XC; World Unis XC

Thursday 14th January 2016

Emma Canning – pictured at Scottish Age Groups last year (by Bobby Gavin)

Two Scottish athletes have been named by British Athletics for a Combined Events international match in Spain next month.

It is a first GB vest for Tom Chandler of Central AC at U20 level while Emma Canning of Whitemoss AAC follows on from her appearance in France a year ago.

Chandler and Canning were named in a team of 12 athletes for U23 and U20 categories for the event in Salamanca in Spain on February 20-21 – with double world junior champion Morgan Lake in the elder age group.

The selections follow on from podium places for the Scottish duo at the England Athletics CE champs in Sheffield last weekend. Emma took a silver medal at U20 level, with an improved points tally on last year and third-best of all-time for Scottish U20 women, with Tom landing a bronze and posting the second best all-time points tally for Scottish U20 men.

All at scottishathletics congratulates both athletes, their coaches, their families and the clubs involved in developing these talented, hard-working teenagers over a number of years.

Glasgow-based student Emma trains at East Kilbride with Whitemoss, where she is coached by Iain McEwan, while Tom is now at Brunel University in London but was coached for a number of years by Central AC’s Kenny Pearson.

We understand his selection is Central AC’s first outside of endurance events since the 1980s, so an exciting moment for all at that particular club! And, hopefully, motivation for other athletes and coaches.

The full team selection announcement for the U23 and U20 CE competition in Spain is on the British Athletics website.

+++

The Inverness Half Marathon has received a major boost by being chosen to host the 2016 Scottish North District championships.

Sunday 13 March will see around 2000 runners compete in the highland capital and north-based members of scottishathletics will contest championship medals. The top three senior men and women will receive awards, as well as the top three in the over-40 and over-50 age groups.

John Newsom (Inverness Harriers), who was third in the 2015 Inverness half marathon, is the reigning North men’s champion, having won the title in the Glen Moray race at Elgin in September, while Leigh Strachan (Peterhead AAC) is the women’s title-holder. It is hoped both will take part again this year.

Inverness Race Director Malcolm Sutherland is delighted to be hosting the championships and has decided to offer a couple of bonus prizes.

‘It’s fantastic that we’ll be holding the North championships,’ said Malcolm.

‘I think this is the first time our race has been given this honour and it will certainly add to the excitement on the day. As an added incentive for the leading runners we are offering a free place in the Baxters Loch Ness marathon (September 25) to the first man and woman in the North championships.’

Scottish North District Road Running and Cross Country official Sophie Dunnett said: ‘I was delighted with the offers we received to host our four championship events for 2016 which will start with the half marathon at Inverness in March.

‘This will be followed by the 10K champs at Benromach, Forres in May then the 10-mile championships at Nairn in June. The year will be rounded off with a return to Knockfarrel for the hill championships in November.’

The 2015 Inverness open race champion,Scotland international Tewolde Mengisteab (Shettleston Harriers) and Shona McIntosh (Hunters Bog Trotters), have confirmed they will defend their respective men’s and women’s titles.

As well as the half marathon, there is a 5K. Anyone wanting to take part in either of the races can enter online at www.invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk. Closing date for entries is 23 February.

With thanks to Fraser Clyne

+++

Glasgow XC training session at Bellahouston

The Glasgow Athletics Association Endurance Group training sessions have been very well attended this winter, as athletes and coaches build towards the National XC next month.

And the next session takes place this Saturday (16 January) with the venue being Tollcross Park. The session is up to 10 x 4 minutes reps with a 2-minute recovery and will be led by Stevie Cullen (Garscube Harriers). Please meet at the flagpole on Saturday in readiness for a first rep at 10.30am.

Following this weekend, there is one more GAA session prior to the National XC. That is on Saturday 13 February and is back at Tollcross Park.

* Remember, clubs and coaches are reminded we are taking entries now by post for the National XC on Saturday 27 February in Falkirk. Entry forms are available online.

+++

There is an opportunity for Scottish students to bid to make British teams being sent to a World Universities XC event in Italy later this.

British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) will send teams of six men and six women, with national governing bodies involved in the selection process.

To be considered, there are certain road performance standards and the BUCS XC Champs on Saturday 6 February in Gloucester are the trial races.

There is more information on the England Athletics website and in the selection policy document.

World University Cross Country Championships 2016

Tags: BUCS, Central AC, Emma Canning, Glasgow XC Sessions, Inverness Half Marathon, Tom Chandler, Whitemoss AAC