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The Herald Scotland
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
2025 UK Athletics Champs carry more intrigue than they have for years
Going into this weekend, two Scots know their ticket to Tokyo is already confirmed. Josh Kerr, as reigning 1500m world champion, has automatic qualification into this year's World Championships and Megan Keith courtesy of her victory at the British 10,000m Championships in June but is absent this weekend, has ensured her place in the British team for the World Championships is also secured. For the rest, however, this weekend is vitally important. Selection is dependent upon athletes having secured World Athletics' qualification mark, as well as finishing inside the top two at this year's UK Championships. A third athlete can also be selected, at the discretion of the British selectors, as long as the athlete has the qualification standard under their belt. With Kerr absent from the 1500m start list - the Olympic silver medallist will instead contest the 5000m this weekend rather than his specialist distance - things are somewhat more open than they may have been otherwise. 2022 world champion, Jake Wightman, has been plagued by injury since winning that world title three years ago but the past few months had suggested the Edinburgh runner was finally approaching something close to full fitness once again. The 31-year-old had been favourite for the British title this weekend but his last-minute withdrawal due to a stomach bug is a blip in his season that he could have done without. Jake Wightmanwas a last-minute withdrawal from the UK Championships (Image: Getty Images) Wightman's withdrawal means that his compatriot, Neil Gourley, is now the Scot with the best chance of victory, with the Glaswegian aiming for his third consecutive and fourth overall British outdoor 1500m title. However, Englishman Elliot Giles will push Gourley hard for top spot. The women's 1500m will be equally interesting. Englishwoman Georgia Hunter Bell has been the stand-out British athlete this summer and as an Olympic medallist and British record holder over the distance, is tipped to successfully defend her 1500m outdoor title that she won for the first time last summer. Former British number one, Laura Muir, will be her closest challenger. Muir's competitive appearances have been few and far between this year due to an injury-hit winter and the Milnathort native has looked some way off her best when she has competed. But despite this, it seems unlikely that Muir won't do enough to book her ticket to Tokyo, even if she doesn't add to the four British outdoor titles she already has to her name. Kilbarchan's Jemma Reelkie will also be on the 1500m start line, as will Glaswegian Erin Wallace. The women's 800m carries a degree of jeopardy for Reekie in terms of World Championships qualification. With 800m Olympic champion, Keely Hodgkinson, missing this British Championships due to injury, assuming she'll be fit come the World Championships, she's all but guaranteed to be the selectors' pick. Which leaves no room for error for Reekie as she aims for a top two spot. Jemma Reekie will be hoping to win the 800m title (Image: Reuters) With Hunter Bell doubling-up and running the 800m as well as the 1500m this weekend, the Englishwoman is tipped to win the 800m British title for the fist time. Taking into account Reekie's experience and pedigree, she's expected to come at least second but with 2024 Olympian Phoebe Gill on the start line, a ticket to Paris is by no means guaranteed for the Scot. Reekie's compatriots, Wallace and Sarah Calvert could also push the favourites hard. In the 3000m steeplechase, new Scottish record holder, Sarah Tait is on for a top two finish but will need to drop nine seconds on her personal best to secure World Championships selection. In the sprints, Alyson Bell and Alisha Rees are in action, Nicole Yeargin is in the 400m while on the field, Nick Percy has already thrown the discus qualifying distance and only needs to finish inside the top two to ensure he's heading to Tokyo.
The National
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The National
2025 UK Athletics Champs carry more intrigue than they have for years
As always, it's not only British titles on the line, but also places in the GB team for the World Championships, which take place in Tokyo next month. Going into this weekend, two Scots know their ticket to Tokyo is already confirmed. Josh Kerr, as reigning 1500m world champion, has automatic qualification into this year's World Championships and Megan Keith courtesy of her victory at the British 10,000m Championships in June but is absent this weekend, has ensured her place in the British team for the World Championships is also secured. For the rest, however, this weekend is vitally important. Selection is dependent upon athletes having secured World Athletics' qualification mark, as well as finishing inside the top two at this year's UK Championships. A third athlete can also be selected, at the discretion of the British selectors, as long as the athlete has the qualification standard under their belt. With Kerr absent from the 1500m start list - the Olympic silver medallist will instead contest the 5000m this weekend rather than his specialist distance - things are somewhat more open than they may have been otherwise. 2022 world champion, Jake Wightman, has been plagued by injury since winning that world title three years ago but the past few months had suggested the Edinburgh runner was finally approaching something close to full fitness once again. The 31-year-old had been favourite for the British title this weekend but his last-minute withdrawal due to a stomach bug is a blip in his season that he could have done without. Jake Wightmanwas a last-minute withdrawal from the UK Championships (Image: Getty Images) Wightman's withdrawal means that his compatriot, Neil Gourley, is now the Scot with the best chance of victory, with the Glaswegian aiming for his third consecutive and fourth overall British outdoor 1500m title. However, Englishman Elliot Giles will push Gourley hard for top spot. The women's 1500m will be equally interesting. Englishwoman Georgia Hunter Bell has been the stand-out British athlete this summer and as an Olympic medallist and British record holder over the distance, is tipped to successfully defend her 1500m outdoor title that she won for the first time last summer. Former British number one, Laura Muir, will be her closest challenger. Muir's competitive appearances have been few and far between this year due to an injury-hit winter and the Milnathort native has looked some way off her best when she has competed. But despite this, it seems unlikely that Muir won't do enough to book her ticket to Tokyo, even if she doesn't add to the four British outdoor titles she already has to her name. Kilbarchan's Jemma Reelkie will also be on the 1500m start line, as will Glaswegian Erin Wallace. The women's 800m carries a degree of jeopardy for Reekie in terms of World Championships qualification. With 800m Olympic champion, Keely Hodgkinson, missing this British Championships due to injury, assuming she'll be fit come the World Championships, she's all but guaranteed to be the selectors' pick. Which leaves no room for error for Reekie as she aims for a top two spot. Jemma Reekie will be hoping to win the 800m title (Image: Reuters) With Hunter Bell doubling-up and running the 800m as well as the 1500m this weekend, the Englishwoman is tipped to win the 800m British title for the fist time. Taking into account Reekie's experience and pedigree, she's expected to come at least second but with 2024 Olympian Phoebe Gill on the start line, a ticket to Paris is by no means guaranteed for the Scot. Reekie's compatriots, Wallace and Sarah Calvert could also push the favourites hard. In the 3000m steeplechase, new Scottish record holder, Sarah Tait is on for a top two finish but will need to drop nine seconds on her personal best to secure World Championships selection. In the sprints, Alyson Bell and Alisha Rees are in action, Nicole Yeargin is in the 400m while on the field, Nick Percy has already thrown the discus qualifying distance and only needs to finish inside the top two to ensure he's heading to Tokyo.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Dubai-based gangster Ross McGill was a ‘promising athlete' coached by Tory MSP
McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRUGS mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland, we can reveal. The hood, 31, who kicked off the country's bloody gangland turf war, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, 61, now a Tory MSP. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland 3 The hood, 31, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, now a Tory MSP Credit: Alamy 3 BRAZEN mobsters have torched the cars of rival gang members But we can reveal McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 — and is now a feared hood known as 'Miami' who sparked a bloody underworld turf war. McGill, 31, of East Kilbride, changed tack to get involved in drugs deals and mayhem more than a decade after he ran for Renfrewshire athletics club Kilbarchan. He set a highly impressive personal best time for 100m of just over 11 seconds while being trained by the former Team GB ace Mr Whittle. The MSP for South Scotland since 2016 said of McGill: 'I remember him as a decent athlete in his mid-teens with potential. 'But he did not stay in the training group for long.' We can reveal an image of a fresh-faced McGill wearing a Scotland vest at a meet in Antrim, Northern Ireland. A source said: 'He came second in the 100m at the Celtic games on August 13, 2011. 'He only represented Kilbarchan AC for one year then disappeared. It was very odd because at the time he seemed like he was going to be a really successful athlete. 'But people who knew him remember he did seem a lot more interested in Rangers than track and field.' McGill, exposed by us as the gang war Mr Big, went on to lead the Union Bears Rangers ultras and was pictured with ex-Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard. The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson He is said to be behind a mob called Tamo Junto who have been waging war against caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and the notorious Daniel crime family. Insiders say dealers paid McGill in fake cash for a £500,000 cocaine deal after seeing him as 'a nobody'. Tamo Junto has claimed responsibility for firebombings and machete attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cops have made 48 arrests so far. Mr Whittle won 4x400m relay gold at two European Championships and competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'My wife thinks I'm nuts': Dad battling blood cancer taking on huge cycle challenge
A dad of two battling blood cancer is set to cycle 250 miles across Scotland for charity. Robert Howat, 50, from Kilbarchan, was diagnosed in 2024 with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. Despite the diagnosis, he plans to help fund research by raising money and awareness for Blood Cancer UK. He will join two friends for a cycling challenge coast-to-coast from Stranraer to Eyemouth in June. Robert Howat (Image: Supplied) The ride will take place over two days. To donate to Robert's fundraising campaign for Blood Cancer UK, go to He said: "When I got the diagnosis, I thought, what can I do to show people you can still live fully and help others while you're at it? "I'm on watch and wait, so I go in for check-ups every few months, and I want to show people what you can do with a blood cancer." (Image: Supplied) He will be cheered on by his wife, daughters, and friends, even though his wife called the challenge "mad" and thought he was "nuts" for doing it. According to Robert, he was always fit and healthy and never smoked, so the blood cancer diagnosis came as a shock. He said: "It's been a shock for the family, but I'm still trying to process why it's happened. "I did everything right, I'm fit and healthy, I don't smoke, yet I've been dealt this hand." The former police officer, now working at Glasgow Airport, admitted that the diagnosis and subsequent treatment could impact his ability to train as vigorously as he used to. He said: "I have to be careful, CLL affects your immune system, so I need to avoid infection and balance exercise with recovery. "I can't train like I used to." Mairead Macleod, Scotland fundraising manager at Blood Cancer UK, said: "Having chronic leukaemia, a blood cancer, can be hard enough to navigate, and it's incredible Robert is still able to push himself to raise awareness and funds for Blood Cancer UK. "Blood cancer is the UK's fifth most common blood cancer. "It's because of the determination of people like Robert, we are able to fund more research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blood cancers. "He's pedalling us closer to the day where we beat blood cancer for good." Robert hopes to encourage others grappling with a cancer diagnosis to live fully, saying: "When I was well in the past I've run marathons, done tough mudders, and long bike rides but this is different. "This one means more. "I'm doing it show people you can still live with a cancer diagnosis."
