Tag: athletics

Scots Paralympians congratulated

First Minister: athletes at the top of their fields inspirational

As the 2024 Paralympic Games draws to a close, First Minister John Swinney has commended Scottish athletes for their world-class performances which will inspire future generations.

21 Scottish athletes took part individually or in team events, securing 11 gold medals, eight silver medals and one bronze medal – contributing to ParalympicsGB’s overall medals tally of 124 medals.

Athletes from Scotland broke records in pursuit of gold medals, including Stephen Clegg’s record-breaking S12 backstroke time, Jenny Holl’s effort as pilot for Sophie Unwin on her way to gold and a world record in the Women’s B 3,000m individual cycling pursuit, and Sammi Kinghorn achieving a gold medal while setting a new Paralympic Record for the Women’s T53 100m.

The First Minister said: “I want to pay tribute to and congratulate all of the ParalympicsGB squad, including the 21 Scots on the team, for your performances in Paris.

“You are all athletes at the top of your field, and Scotland has been cheering you on throughout these Games.

“Your performances will inspire people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to take up sport, achieve their own goals and become more active in their own lives. The next generation will be inspired by where you are now, and the Scottish Government and partners will work to ensure there will be opportunities for them to follow suit.”

Forbes Dunlop, CEO of sportscotland, said: “On behalf of everyone at sportscotland I want to congratulate every single one of the Scottish athletes who have represented Paralympics GB in Paris over the last couple of weeks.

“There have been some extremely strong performances from our athletes, including personal bests, Paralympic and World records and a very impressive haul of medals, demonstrating the enormous level of commitment and talent across the team. 

“All of this success is down to years of hard work from the athletes, their coaches and their wider support teams including Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and the sportscotland institute of sport and we are proud to be part of the ‘team behind team’ supporting the athletes.”

Gavin Macleod, CEO of Scottish Disability Sport, said: “Congratulations to all the Scottish Paralympians and their significant support networks in Paris.

“The performances are testimony to the inclusive approach Scottish Governing Bodies of sport are taking to ensuring para-athletes are supported.

“Not all of us will be able to reach the heights of these international high-performance athletes however, what we can do is commit to working in partnership to ensure that children, young people and adults can access quality PE, comprehensive sporting opportunities and the chance to move more every day.” 

Edinburgh University student wins U20 Scottish Athletics National XC Championships

Matthew Knowles, a running enthusiast from Edinburgh University, saw off tough competition at the weekend to win the men’s U20 Scottish Athletics National Cross-Country Championships.

Knowles, 19 who also works part-time at the specialist running shop, Up & Running is no stranger to gruelling races, having previously represented England and GB at a number of under 20 mountain running events.

Matthew also helps to lead a free weekly social run group from Up & Running, aimed at encouraging local runners of all abilities.

PICTURE: Bobby Gavin

Eilish McColgan launches scheme to support upcoming athletes

A three times Olympic athlete has hit the ground running in a bid to support fellow Scottish sportswomen.

Record breaking British and European middle and long-distance runner Eilish McColgan has a string of records under her belt – and this month (June 2022) broke her mother Liz’s Scottish record to win a 10,000m race in the Netherlands with a time of 30 minutes 19.02 seconds.

And now she hopes to give others a helping hand to boost their own sporting careers.

Thirty-one-year-old Eilish and her partner, Olympian Michael Rimmer, 36, have jointly set up Giving Back To Track; a non-profit organisation that aims to inspire women from all walks of life to reach their athletic best.

Not only have they created a fund to provide financial help to female athletes in Scotland, aged between 16 and 22, but they have also launched a community scheme that supports Eilish’s local club, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers.

Giving Back to Track was formed just six weeks ago after what Eilish described as a “brainstorm” moment earlier this year. “I realised how incredibly lucky I’ve been to have support and sponsorship and now that I’m a little more comfortable I wanted to give something back,” she said.

“I know how hard it is to get started in this career, so we thought we’d put a call out to ask other female athletes in Scotland if we could help – they don’t need to be runners, they can be from any disciplines within running or track and field.

Giving Back to Track has already awarded six £1000 bursaries along with sports clothing from sponsors and career guideline advice from Eilish and Michael.

Eilish, whose mother Liz McColgan won the 10,000m world title in 1991, said initially the scheme will focus on her local club Dundee Hawkhill Harriers and will support young women and children from the community.

“No child should be priced out of a sport,” she said. “There are so many costs involved; the cost of track facilities, buying training kits, transportation and paying for club fees and this is where we are able to help”.

If the scheme runs smoothly, Eilish and Michael hope to extend the sponsorship more widely: “We’re really just at the starting point – we’d actually love to grow it to include guys as well and not just in Scotland but in England, Wales and Ireland,” she said.

Last month (May 2022) Eilish claimed the European and British 10km road race at the Great Manchester Run, shaving two seconds from Paula Radcliffe’s unbeaten 19-year record, with a time of 30 minutes and 19 seconds.

Team GB medalist joins capital Cancer Charity at the starting line on World Cancer Research Day

Team GB 1500m runner Josh Kerr has joined Worldwide Cancer Research at the ‘starting line’ to help highlight how discovery research can lead to life-saving advances. 

Josh, who returned from the United States to his hometown of Edinburgh this week, took time out of his schedule yesterday to back the charity’s World Cancer Research Day drive, sharing his hope that continued investment in science will help those affected by cancer.   

Edinburgh-based charity Worldwide Cancer Research aims to end cancer by starting new cures across the world – and has funded over £200m of pioneering discovery research in over 30 countries to help with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The charity is currently funding 70 active research projects – charting numerous breakthroughs, including research which resulted in a clinical trial that will aim to repurpose a psychiatric drug available on the NHS as a preventative treatment for bowel cancer.

Josh said: “With the average cancer research project taking around 20 years, it’s definitely a marathon not a sprint. But without that important first step in the research process, there can be no end to cancer. 

“That’s why I’m joining Worldwide Cancer Research at the starting line today and would encourage others to get involved too.”

Josh clocked a spectacular new Scottish Record for the 1500m at 3:29.05 when in Tokyo this summer. Next, he wants to make his Commonwealth Games debut for Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022.”

Josh continued: “The start is such an important part of running; from mindset, the stance, and timing. The same goes to cancer research.

“Without charities like Worldwide Cancer Research believing in scientists all over the world and backing their bold new ideas, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Survival rates have doubled, but still 1 in 2 of us will get cancer. We can do better.”

Dr Helen Rippon, Chief Executive, Worldwide Cancer Research said: “World Cancer Research Day is a chance for us to shine a light on the incredible global effort to drive forward advancements that will change, and ultimately, save lives.”

“We are so grateful to Josh for joining us at the starting line today. Without the all-important start of first-stage research, there can be no end to cancer. That’s why we won’t stop until cancer does.”

Since it was established in 1979, the Edinburgh-based charity has funded over £200million of research in over 30 countries to start new cancer cures.

For more information about Worldwide Cancer Research or to find out how you can help start new cancer cures, please visit: 

https://www.worldwidecancerresearch.org/support-us/donate/

Marjory Cook

Old friends from Craigroyston and the world of running will be deeply saddened by the death of Marjory Cook.

Marjory was a long-standing member, and former Welfare Officer, of Edinburgh AC and a hugely committed athletics official. Without people like Marjory our sport simply couldn’t operate.

She was also, in my younger days, while teaching at Craigroyston, the Head Cook there. She was indeed Mrs Cook the cook and she brought the same warm, encouraging, smiling approach to her work at Craigie as she did to athletics.

Her death has come as a great shock. I was with her (at a Zoom meeting) on Wednesday evening.She’ll be hugely missed by all who knew her.

Alex Wood

Sport in the sun at Spartans

DSC02690

More than 250 children from six local primary schools descended on Ainslie Park yesterday for Spartans School Sports Day.

Pupils from Blackhall, Craigroyston, Flora Stevenson’s, Forthview, Pirniehall and St David’s took the opportunity to take part in a range of sports – from triathlon, boxing and mountain bike relays to judo, fencing and football.

The sun shone, the day was a great success and the happy kids all left Spartans with a medal!

Spartans Community Football Academy youth worker Jamie Tomkinson, who organised the sporting festival, said: “It was good to see so many children enjoying the different activities and having fun. Many of them were trying out some of these sports for the first time and it was great to see their energy and enthusiasm.”

Big events like this take a lot of organising, and among those involved in making the Sports Day such a success were Edinburgh Leisure, Spartans CFA volunteers, Edinburgh Judo, Nike volunteers, FetLor, Granton Youth Centre, MY Adventure, Fencing Fun’s Keith Cook and Kabo.

Some pictures:

DSC02365

DSC02416

DSC02474

DSC02541

DSC02582

DSC02619

DSC02632

DSC02657

More pictures of the Sports Day on our Facebook Page

 

May date set for Spartans’ sports day

spartans 2

Hundreds of local primary school children will be taking part in a major sports event being organised by Spartans Community Football Academy Event at Ainslie Park in May.

SCFA Youth and Community Worker Jamie Tomkinson said: “The Spartans Community Football Academy Sports Day will be held on the 20th of May. Eight local primary schools are involved – we reckon that will be around 350 P7s over the course of the day!”

Twelve different sporting activities will be delivered by local agencies on the day: Kabo boxing, Edinburgh Judo, Edinburgh Leisure, Fet-Lor, Granton Youth Centre and MY Adventure will all be supporting the programme – and Keith Cook, who is a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will share his fencing skills. NEN, North Edinburgh’s community newspaper, has been invited to cover the event.

“Lorna Cruikshank, one of our young volunteers, will deliver a hockey station and we have a local samba band coming along to create an atmosphere and do a show for the opening ceremony!” Jamie added. “Many organisations have come on board to support the day – Ainslie Park Leisure Centre are letting us use one lane of their pool for the triathlon and Nike, who were a major part of last year’s success, will be volunteering throughout the event.

“There’s a lot of organising to be done and we are putting the finishing touches to the programme but the Sports Day is going to be a lot of fun – we’re all really looking forward to it and I’m sure the P7s are too!”

 

 

Glasgow 2014: Johnstone hails ‘inspirational’ Games

‘Investing in sport is money well spent’

ClydeAs Team Scotland heads toward the magical fifty medal mark Green MSP Alison Johnstone has hailed Glasow’s inspirational Commonwealth Games. The Green MSP for Lothian – and Co-convener of Holyrood’s cross-party group on sport – says the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is sure to inspire a new wave of enthusiasm for sport.

Commenting as the Games enters its closing weekend, Ms Johnstone, a qualified athletics coach and former competitive runner, said: “Glasgow 2014 has brought people from across the globe together. While spectators cheer on their countrymen and women the applause for each and every athlete from all parts of the crowd is testament to the generous and knowledgeable Scottish audience.

“I’ve no doubt that many people, young and old, will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of those they’ve cheered on this week. We need to look at formal links with coaches and educators in our schools.

“Physical education and games aren’t the same thing and we need to invest in physical literacy for our young people as this will pay dividends in terms of long term health and well being. The challenge now, if we’re to deliver a meaningful legacy, is to make sure the facilities and coaches are in place for this to become a reality, and that no one is priced out of a more active lifestyle.

“Investing in sport is money well spent.”