26 January 2015

Scotland’s talented young athletes were given the chance to race in front of a packed crowd at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match at the Emirates Arena on Saturday 24 January as British Athletics’ Club:Connect initiative kicked off for its second year.

Launched in Glasgow twelve months ago, the campaign was set up to reward and recognise the great work clubs do. This year the event incorporated the national relay championships for Scottish clubs, and with six grants of £250 awarded to the winners from the U13, U15  and U17 relays, there was plenty of incentive to succeed.

After a jam packed morning of qualifying heats involving over 600 youngsters and 150 teams, the Club:Connect relays didn’t disappoint.

Edinburgh AC claimed the first of the club grants up for grabs thanks to a terrific performance by the U13 girls quartet in the opening 4x200m final. Taking the lead from the gun, the Edinburgh foursome stormed round the track in 1:56.72 with Ayr Seaforth AC clinching second in 1:59.38 and Giffnock North AC third in 2:00.04.

In the U13 boys 4x200m Giffnock North took the top spot, racing to the line in 1:55.19, with Ayr Seaforth AC second once again, clocking 1:58.69, and Edinburgh AC taking third in 2:00.22.

A spectacular performance by Edinburgh AC in the women’s U17 4x200m secured another win for the east of Scotland club. Sitting in second place behind Giffnock, a storming last leg saw the Edinburgh quartet take the top spot once more. After the race, the quartet said:

“We wanted that win a lot. I just wanted to go off hard. I was so nervous before the race but I’m really happy with it – it’s the first time I’ve ever fallen over at the end of a race!”

Victory in the men’s U17 4x200m went to Giffnock North AC in a thrilling race, 1:34.69 the winning time. Cumbernauld AC took second in 1:36.13 closely followed by Inverclyde AC just four hundredths of a second behind.

Central AC clinched victory and a winners cheque in the U15 girl’s 4x200m, leading from the gun with Edinburgh AC in hot pursuit. The winning quartet clocked 1:49.01 with Edinburgh second in 1:49.60 and Ayr Seaforth third 1:50.75

In the boy’s U15 4x200m, Victoria Park City of Glasgow made the most of a stumble by Edinburgh AC at the first changeover to pull away at the front of the field and cross the line in first place with a time of 1:42.21. Giffnock North AC took second in 1:43.83 with Edinburgh claiming third in 1:44.92.

Next on the Club:Connect calendar will be the Sainsbury’s Indoor British Championships in Sheffield on 14 and 15 February, where athletes can earn points for their club, with the winning male and female clubs each receiving a grant of £500.