Inverness Mountain biker prepared for National Championship

10 July 2008

A year ago he was second in the race, but this year he has shown outstanding form with two first places in the British Cross and three firsts in Scottish Cross Country circuits, putting him in the lead of both series. Competing in his first overseas trip, the Benelux Cup in Holland, he finished an impressive fifth place.
 
“It was against Belgium, the Netherland and a couple of other countries,” said Kenta. “I was really pleased about it and I feel I could have done better if I had a better gridding. It was my first race so I was put at the back which meant I had to get through everybody else before I could catch up with the leaders.
 

“Still, I’ve had two firsts and a second so far in the British series so it’s been pretty good.”
 
It’s a typical understatement from the 16 year old who only began cross country cycling four years ago when his father, a runner at the time, injured his knee and was advised to take up cycling instead. 
 
“He enjoyed it and bought me a bike,” recalls Kenta.   “I did my first race, the Scottish Cross Country Series Primary Schools race, and got fourth.  I enjoyed it so much that I’ve been riding and racing ever since.”
 
Since then his progress through the sport has been rapid.  Particularly skilled on the technical side of racing in the 16km cross country event, Kenta won the 2005/2006 Scottish series juvenile category and was a silver medallist at the Scottish SXC Championships in 2006.
 
That autumn he was selected for Scottish Cycling’s “Talent Team” Performance Programme, which aims to assist Scottish athletes achieve medal success in Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games Competition.  At the same time he was inducted into the Highland Institute of Sport, whose teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
 
“I’ve been using the Highland Institute car a lot which has been really helpful and I do fitness testing with them down at Heriot Watt University,” said Kenta, who is sponsored by 777 MTB Racing and Kenny’s Audie VW specialists.  “At the end of this year I want to move up to the Olympic Development programme.  Long term I’d like to get paid to ride my bike.”
With these ambitions he realises the need to adopt a more structured training programme. 
 
“Up until now I just get out and ride my bike for fun and I haven’t been training as much as I could be,” he said.  “It’s early days yet but I’ll probably start taking it seriously this winter.”
 
In the meantime he has his major goal of the season to achieve.
 
“The British championship is my most important race of the year.  I got second last year so the pressure’s on because I really want the title.  I’ve always wanted it but have never been able to get it so far.  But I know everyone in the race, what they’re good at and it’s just a case of doing my best.”

U18 Scottish Girls - Sammy Vass

06 June 2008

Tain 16 year old, Sammy Vass, who earned her first Scotland cap last summer, taking on England, Wales and Ireland at under 16 level, has moved into the national under 18 team this summer for the European Girls Golf Team Championships at Murcar Links (8-12 July).

Sammy qualified for the event after sparkling performances in her first Scottish Ladies Championships, staged last week by her favourite Moray Old Golf Course at Lossiemouth last week.

“It was my first time I had played in the event and I was very keen to play as it is my favourite course in Scotland and have done well there before,” said Sammy.  “Unfortunately, the timing of the event clashed with my exams so I didn’t think I would be able to compete.”

As a member of the Highland Institute of Sport, Sammy benefits from an extensive range of athlete support services.  Over the last year she has benefitted from sports medicine, sports science and strength and conditioning.  Last week it was career and lifestyle guidance that made the crucial difference.

“I spoke to the Performance Lifestyle Advisor at the Highland Institute of Sport and she arranged for me to sit my higher English exam in the junior room in Moray’s club house,” she said.  “It was great of them and it meant I could play after all.”

With her exam taken care of Sammy was able to focus fully on the task in hand.

“In the first round I had to play Kelsey MacDonald, the No.1 seed,” she said.  “She is a good friend and a very good golfer, a +2 handicap to my 3, so I knew I had to play my best to have a chance. I played the best I could, 3 under par.  We had 11 birdies between us and I managed to win on the last.”

With confidence and form brimming, Sammy faced former Scottish Universities Champion, Ann Ramsay, in the afternoon. She was 3 under again and won on the 16th green. 

“After a long and exciting day I had to sit my higher English in the clubhouse,” she said. “I felt it went well though I was getting a bit tired towards the end.”

Sammy’s performances on the course, particularly against Kelsey MacDonald, have earned her a place in the Scottish team competing in the European Championships.  This will be her first experience in a Scotland under 18 team and she will find herself in formidable company.  Curtis Cup players, Carly Booth (Comrie), Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) are the other members of the Scottish quartet.

Sammy, whose mother Margaret is a former Scotland and GB junior player, started golf aged nine, coached at Tain Golf Club by Mike Sangster.  For just over two years, Martin Piggot, Head PGA Professional at Fairways in Inverness, has been her mentor, helping her reduce her handicap from 9 to 3.

Supported by the Highland Institute of Sport for the last year, Sammy is noticing improvements in her game.

“I worked on my swing with my coach Martin Piggott over the winter and it seems really solid,” she said.  “With the Highland Institute I’ve been working on Strength & Conditioning training for the last year and it’s been a great help.  The training is specific to golf, I’ve noticed more power, I’m hitting the ball further and I’m generally stronger.”
 
With the combination of Martin Piggott’s coaching expertise and the Highland Institute providing the support services, Sammy hopes to further reduce her handicap this season and earn a place in the Home Internationals team.  Her preparations for the European Championships begin this weekend when the team assembles for practice.

Sportscotland - New Chair Person

02 June 2008

For immediate release

Thursday 22 May 2008

MARTIN ANNOUNCED AS NEW SPORTSCOTLAND CHAIR

Louise Martin CBE was announced today by the Scottish Government as the new Chair of sportscotland. 

Louise, who is an existing sportscotland Board Member said: “I have enjoyed a long association with sportscotland both as a Board Member and in my capacity as Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and believe the organisation has a significant role to play in driving Scottish sport forwards.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to take up the position of Chair at this crucial time for the organisation, as it prepares to relocate to Glasgow and at the same time, ensuring it is well placed to lead the delivery of a sporting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Welcoming the appointment, Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland said: “We are delighted to welcome Louise on board as our new Chair, and we look forward to working with her over the coming months and years.

“Her track record speaks for itself and I am sure her wealth of sporting experience at both national and international level will be of immense benefit to our organisation at this important juncture for Scottish sport.”

Scotland’s No 1 plays at Europeans

15 May 2008

Alan Clyne has recently returned from the 36th Men’s European Team Championships which were held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  The Championships saw the biggest ever entry with 47 teams taking part.