IT IS hard to keep up with Matthew Turner on the track and equally hard for the local press to keep up to date with all his successes.
Matthew, a farmer’s son from Kilkenzie, won two Scottish Schools titles and one Scottish Under 20 title in the early summer and since then he has been competing regularly both on the track and on the Highland Games circuit. During July eighteen year old Matthew excelled at the Highland Games in Argyll dominating the running events at Inveraray, Mull, Southend, Luss and Kilmore and breaking two long standing records at the Mull games. Recently at Brodick Highland Games he won all the senior track events with ease.
His most recent success was last Sunday competing at Scotstoun in Glasgow in the Scottish Senior Championships. Matthew was the only under 20 athlete to reach the 800metres final and he gave the older and more experienced runners a run for their money finishing in 3rd place in 1 minute 53.3 seconds behind winner Ian Munro of Cambuslang Harriers who won in 1:51.7 and Graeme Oudney of Pitreavie, 2nd in 1:52.2.
Matthew has also been in action at meetings in England recently competing for team Glasgow and helping his team reach the UK Final with wins in the 800M and 4 x 400M relay.
Only 2 days later he was back in Scotland running in an invitation 1000metres race at Grangemouth. This race was part of the Celtic Cup international meeting, which was televised live by Sky Sports, and once again the Kintyre flyer won his race in impressive style recording 2 minutes 30.3 seconds and finishing a full 5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
Matthew’s next local appearance will be at the Oban Games next Thursday, August 23.
