NOT without controversy, the Scottish National Athletics Championships take place for the first time on the six-lane track at Pitreavie Stadium tomorrow and Sunday.
Notwithstanding the "Save Meadowbank" campaign of which he is a prominent member, coach Bill Walker maintains that taking the event away from an eight-lane facility is unhelpful to the athletes: "There will be quite a few athletes who will not reach
finals as a result of that," he said today.
Although over the last half century or more the Pitreavie track has staged some memorable meetings, there has always been a problem with the position of the finishing line which is different for the 100 metres and the 110 metres hurdles and, despite the stadium's recent upgrading, that is still the case.
"It means there will be no photo-finish for the 110 metres hurdles," explained Walker, who as well as distinguished coach is also a photo-finish expert.
Fortunately, perhaps, Scotland's Olympic hurdler, Edinburgh-based Allan Scott has not entered, preferring instead to travel to Gateshead on Sunday for the Grand Prix meeting.
Another concern has been the hammer and discus cage which was due to be replaced.
So far that hasn't happened but officials were sufficiently concerned to consider the possibility of switching the events to Grangemouth Stadium, which some consider should have been the venue for the meeting.
Apart from Scott, there will be no Lee McConnell in the women's events, the tall, long-striding former high jumper having picked up an injury in the 400m second round in Beijing.
Susan Scott, our 800 metres runner and Andrew Lemoncello, our steeplechaser, complete the quartet of Scots who made it to Beijing.
But it is not yet clear whether either will be at Pitreavie this weekend.
With a total prize-money of £7480, however, with £120 going to the winner, £50 for second and £25 for third, to be won from the National Lottery Fund there is plenty of incentive.
One man who was in the money at Oban Highland Games yesterday, where his sprinting earned him several hundred pounds was sometime Capital clubman Allan Stewart.
Stewart won the 100 metres in a ground record 10.85 secs, then added the 150 metres in 16.88 (just missing the record) and the 400 in 51.66.
"I hope to do both 200 and 400 in the Scottish this weekend," said Stuart, the national one lap champion in both 2002 and 2003.
Coach John Scott is looking to Jayne Nisbet (Edinburgh AC) to do well in both high jump and triple this weekend, but defending champion Gillian Cooke (EAC) is out, the victim of injury which has also ruled out Nony Mordi (Fife AC).
Dunfermline's Nick Smith defends his 100 metres title, while Mark Mitchell (EAC) must be in with a strong chance of winning the 800 for the first time.
Another Pitreavie star Eilidh Child defends her 400 hurdles title with clubmate Steph Walker looking to go under 60 seconds for the first time.
