Edinburgh Athletic Club

Team Edinburgh made a bit of athletics history at Sport City Manchester on Sunday 27^th July when they became the first Scottish club or team to win a Premier division in the National Junior Athletics League.  Despite losing to Sale on the day by 20 points they finished top of the league after the 4 matches and will join Sale as the North representatives in the final at Derby on the 14^th September.

George Sinclair, stalwart of athletics in Edinburgh for close to 60 years, should take great personal pride in Team Edinburgh’s achievement as it was George’s vision of the way forward for club athletics, which prompted him to apply for the Sportsmatch grant, which financed the then Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s first appearance in the Tyne Division 10 years ago.  If proof if any were needed that he was ahead of his time it should be pointed out that there are now 5 Scottish regional teams, competing in the League – Team Edinburgh and Kingdom Athletics in the North Premier Division and Team Forth Valley, Team Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Athletics in the Tyne division.

However while Edinburgh Woollen Mill/Edinburgh Southern ladies section reached the final on several occasions finishing 3^rd in the 2002 final,  victory in the Premier Division always eluded them.  Edinburgh has a proud tradition of club success at UK level but you have to go back a long way to find the male and female athletes of the capital competing under the same “name” and recording such a historical victory. 

Team Edinburgh is a composite team and it is athletes from Edinburgh Athletic Club, Corstorphine Amateur Athletic Club and Lasswade Athletic club, who have combined to become a serious force to be reckoned with in junior athletics North and South of the border.

The final is on the 14^th September and will provide an invaluable competitive opportunity on the road to Delhi for any of our Youth Commonwealth Games hopefuls, who gain their places in the Scottish team.

When we made our debut in that first match in York on the 19^th April 1998 George had a daughter competing for EWM and his grandson competed in 3 events in Manchester for Team Edinburgh -  so work that one out!

(Moira Maguire)

Commonwealth Youth Games Standard – Stretford, 19 July 2008 

Congratulations to Chris O’Hare who achieved the Commonwealth Youth Games standard in the 1500m at a BMC meeting at Stretford. Chris took over 5 seconds off his pb with a time of 3m 50.54s which is 2 seconds inside the CYG standard. He has already achieved the qualifying standard for the 5000m and now has to wait to see if he is picked to represent Scotland at the Games which will be held in India in October.

Full results from BMC meeting available on http://www.britishmilersclub.com/results/2008/trafford-res.htm

Forth Valley League Final – Grangemouth, 19 July 2008

 Well done to all the athletes who took part in the Forth Valley League. Our ‘A’ team won Division 1 and were also overall field champions and our ‘B’ team finished 3^rd in Division 2.

The Forth Valley League is for boys and girls, age groups Under 11 to under 15.

The League has just announced another 5 years of sponsorship from JSB plumbing.

JSB plumbing is owned by John Brigain a former coach with Edinburgh Southern Harriers. 

Full results are not yet available but will be shortly on
http://www.jsbplumbing-forthvalley.fsnet.co.uk/2008/2008_season_results.htm

British Schools International – Bedford, 19 July2008

Congratulations to Josh Crawford  (200m), Megan Gaffney (300mH) and Katy Turnbull (Hammer) who were selected to compete for Scottish Schools at the British Schools International.

Full results available on http://www.niathletics.org/download/1/Results%2008-SIAB%20TF%20International.pdf

Scottish Mens League – Grangemouth, 13 July 2008

 Edinburgh AC won the final match of the Scottish Men’s League Division 2 and in doing so also won the Division 2 title. This means we are back up to Division 1 where we belong! Thanks to all the athletes for there support.

Scottish Women’s League – Wishaw, 13 July 2008

 Our women’s team won the final Scottish League match and also convincingly won the 2008 league. With the Lothian team, which we also contribute athletes to, finishing 3^rd women’s athletics in Edinburgh is looking very strong.

Detailed results from the match are available on http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=80&itemType=fixtures&itemId=7162

IAAF World Junior Championships – 9 July 2008

 Lindsay Sharp reached the semi-finals of the 800m at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz after finishing 4^th in her heat in a time of 2.08.80 but couldn’t make the final after clocking 2.09.00 in her semi-final.

Full results available on http://www.iaaf.org/wjc08/index.html

Scottish Young Athletes League – Grangemouth 6 July 2008

Edinburgh AC won the last of the League matches easily ahead of Ayrshire and Giffnock and have finished in first place in the Central section of the league.

We now have the Scottish final to look forward to on 17 August where a place at the UK final can be won.
(Keith Ridley)

Full results on http://172.20.1.53/ProgressMessages?proxy=172.20.1.53&action=setup&index=6&id=23388865

Celtic Games – 2nd August, Pitreavie
The club has a large representation in the Scottish team for the Celtic Games at Pitreavie on 2^nd August.
12 of our young athletes will be representing Scotland against Ireland, Wales and Ulster:

 Under 16
Emily Dudgeon                     800m
Cameron Goodall                  80m Hurdles
Corey Hastings                    Long Jump
Chris Thomson                     Javelin
Tom Holligan                        4 x 100m

 Under 18
Toby Harris                           100m Hurdles
Iona Mckay                           Triple Jump
Anna Seago                          Javelin
Allan Hamilton                     4 x 100m
Amy Rogers                          4 x 100m
Fiona Trew                            4 x 300m
Josh Crawford                      4 x 400m

 Congratulations and good luck to all.
(Keith Ridley)