Scottish Schools Relay Championship Success

Last week we had the privilege of hosting the Scottish Schools Athletics Association Secondary Relay Championships once again.

The Senior School grounds were abuzz with activity and excitement as schools from across the country descended on our Alix Jameson Stadium on our Beaton Road campus to compete in a variety of relay competitions.

The competition began with a new event to the programme, a gruelling 3x800m Group A&B boys’ and girls’ relay. The HGS team of Aaron R. (S3), Ruaridh D. (S4) and Tristan R. (S4) were able to secure a silver medal in a time of 7.28.61.

This was followed by the 4x400m and it was a silver medal again for HGS with the team of Felix T. (S3), Murray W. (S4), Hamish C. (S4) and Henry A. (S6) finishing in a combined time of 3.43.87.

Then, the 4x100m took over with events for boys and girls in four age categories. In the Group D category, the youngest age groups, the girls’ A and B teams qualified for the final with times of 55.67 and 54.91 respectively. In the final, the B team of Louise W. (S2), Olivia A. (S1), Daisy M. (S1) and Amelie R. (S2) were 4^th in a time of 55.68, with the A team of Erika T. (S1), Lilah M. (S1), Elouisa K. (S2) and Roan G. (S2) winning the silver medal 54.27.

In the boys’ Group D event, the HGS A team qualified for the final in a time of 51.36 and was involved in a fantastic photo finish with Robert Gordon’s College, with only 0.08 seconds separating them on the line. It wasn’t to be gold on this occasion but an excellent silver medal nonetheless in a time of 51.18. Team; Joshua Y. (S2), Will M., Isaac Y. (S2) and Freddie B. (S1).

In Group C, the girls’ team qualified for the final in a time of 53.49 and finished in 6^th place with a time of 52.97. Both boys’ A and B teams qualified for the final with times of 48.29 and 49.26 respectively. It was a tense final with Alistair G., the final leg runner, receiving the baton in 3^rd place. However, his grit and determination showed through overtaking Merchiston Castle and Robert Gordon’s College in the final 30m to claim 1^st place and the gold medal. A Team: Rayne L., Cameron N., Cameron M., Alastair G. B Team: Aiden M. (S2), Callum K. (S3), Joshua C. (S2), Olivet O. (S2).

In Group B, the girls’ team qualified first in their heat in a time of 53.75 and finished in 5th place in the final in a time of 52.54 Team: Oluchi N. (S5) Arianna K. (S5), Rachel H. (S5) Madeleine M. (S5). The boys’ team of Michael L. (S3), Zander S. (S4), Lucas C. (S4) and Reuben B. (S4) also qualified for the final, with their time of 46.65 and managed to secure a 5^th silver medal for the school in a time of 46.05 in the final.

The final event of the day was the Group A boys. Led by Athletics Captain Angus R. (S6) the team of Ewan C. (S5), Angus R. (S6), Campbell W. (S6) and Tobey M. (S6) set their sights on this event in the second term. They worked tirelessly with Chris Baillie (sprint coach) to practice and refine their changeovers. Practising after school and during the SQA exams to ensure they were ready for their final relay representing the school. They qualified for the final with the second-fastest time of 54,34. However, in the final, the time and effort they put into their changeovers paid dividends and they finished 1^st, securing the school’s first Group A boys relay title in 20 years, with a time of 44.59.

Results