Two weeks after the Northeast Championships and two weeks before the British Championships, Trevor and I packed our bags and made the trip up to Dundee for the Scottish Masters Championships. Held at the Dundee Performance Centre, the venue was a real treat for athletes, an indoor warmup track and a lovely outdoor circuit. However, it was completely exposed to the elements, and because we can’t have everything, we were treated to yet another delightful headwind. At this point, it feels like the wind and I are in a long-term relationship, and neither of us is happy about it.
It was great catching up with a number of other athletes from Scotland, Gary Leek, the North East, and also the two Shanes, Toolan and Sheridan, who had come over from Ireland. Trevor breezed through the 100m and walked away as the Scottish 100m Champion. I competed in both the 100m and 200m, and somehow, despite the wind’s best efforts, I was crowned Scottish champion in both events. Conrad Kennedy, our buddy from Gateshead Harriers, also managed to bag some medals, making it a successful outing for our little traveling crew.
The championships themselves were a fantastic experience, friendly people, organised officials, and a really nice vibe all around. Definitely a great warm-up for the British and World Championships. But while the day on the track was a success, the night at the Premier Inn… not so much.
Imagine this: a hotel room that felt like the inside of an oven, with no air conditioning and a fan that seemed to be doing more harm than good. “At least there’s a window,” I thought. And yes, it could be opened, untilt he local boy racers of Dundee decided that the car park was their personal racetrack. From midnight until about 4 a.m., we were treated to the sound of revving engines and screeching tires. Apparently, sleep wasn’t on the agenda that night.
Suffice it to say, we won’t be staying there again. But hey, we left Scotland with some medals and some stories, so I guess it all balanced out in the end!
Stuart Lynn - Masters Athlete 