DESPITE high winds, low temperatures and squally showers at the recent North of Scotland Schools Championships, former Merkinch Primary athlete Alexina MacArthur had a fine win in the Under-15 800 metres. Alexina, who now attends Inverness High School, made the distance in an excellent 2 minutes 25.83 seconds at the Queens Park, Inverness track.

And at Grangemouth a few days later, in the British Aerospace Scottish Schools championships, Alexina came in second with 2:23:3, less than three seconds behind Claire Wilson of Lerwick (2:20:96).

Queen’s Park will see the Scottish Athletic Federation Under-13 and Under-15 Championships on Sunday 9th July. Such a prestigious occasion marks the recognition that Queen’s Park is one of the finest venues outwith Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A recent £270,000 upgrade has seen an administration building being built, photo finish being installed and a refurbishment of the back straight to competition level.

MERKINCH soccer player Nicola Cooper from Kessock Avenue was one of the winning Caley Thistle Under-16 girls team who finished the season on a high note on 18th June by adding the Jack Wood League Cup to their haul of silverware. In the final at Keith the Inverness girls beat Inverurie by a resounding 6-nil. The girls are the first North side to win the Under-16 Cup, and the first winners of two national cups in the same season – in May they lifted the BP Tourfest trophy. In fact, they completed their 14-match North League programme without dropping a single point!

MERKINCH Primary’s School Sports was rained off on the 21st – the longest day it may have been, but certainly not the driest. DVWP the date was rearranged for the following Wednesday – unfortunately after we went to press.

WHEELCHAIR athletic champ Uisdean Macrae of Nelson Street is through to the finals of the 75m dash and the softball in the Scottish Championships in September.