ATHLETICS

A RECORD number of North Ayrshire Athletes banished the post-festive blues with the first competition of the year at the Emirates Facility in the east end of Glasgow on Sunday.

The venue for the European Indoor Championships was host arena for the Scottish Athletics Indoor league. NAAC were drawn in the afternoon match in this the first of three league matches which make up a huge chunk of the indoor season. Competing against such powerhouses as Kilbarchan and Edinburgh AC the competition was tough but the club who fielded male and female teams at every age for the first time ever held their own and hope to be well up the league table when the results are announced in a couple of weeks.

Nearly 60 athletes took the trip up to the indoor league match competing in events including hurdles, shot put, 60m 200m. 300m, 600, 800, high jump and long jump.

Lots of personal bests were bagged by a host of the club athletes and it was great to see so many competing for the first time making the club one of the best represented at the event.

Team manager Kenny Morgan said: "It was an excellent team performance and to see over 100 athletes and supporters up from North Ayrshire at the world class facility performing to their best of their ability and mixing with the best in the country is great and just shows how far the club has come over the last few years."

AMATEUR FOOTBALL

Budget Blinds Division One

ARDROSSAN CASTLE ROVERS 5

MAUCHLINE UNITED 0

CASTLE kicked off the new year with THE boys kicked with a convincing league win.

Again it didn't take the boys long to get themselves in front when inform striker David Henry broke the offside trap and smashed the ball home, he then got his second of the game from a justin smith corner.

The boys started the second half like they did the first when Mark "Chuck" Kilpatrick's foot work had the away side's defence all over the place before he thundered home the third.

It was 4-0 when Mark Beveridge cut past but two defenders and bent the ball into the far post.

The fifth goal cane from the spot when Davie Henry was brought down and penalty taker Just Smith unselfishly gave Henry the ball to net for his hat-trick.

Man of the match sponsored by Spicy Hut Ardrossan was David Henry.

ARDROSSAN CR: Pollock; Smith, Brookes, Davidson, Morgan, Wieringa, McLeod, Higgins, Breen, Henry, Kirkatrick. Subs. Beveridge, Knox, Lundy, Forbes, Coyle.

COMMUNITY FOOTBALL

BEITH JUNIORS 2000's

BEITH 8

DRUMCHAPEL UNITED 1

BEITH returned to action on Saturday, following an eight-week lay off, when they welcomed Drumchapel United to the Beith Astro for a Tom McPhilips cup tie.

Thw hosts were pre-match favourites courtesy of their position in a higher league but cup ties have a habit of levelling the playing field and the half time scoreline of 2-1 to Beith could mistakenly be construed as such. However the real story of the half was a catalogue of missed chances by Beith, with the exception of strikes from Jack and Lewis, and the visitors scoring from their only shot at goal which came from the penalty after spot Cammy King was adjudged to have clipped the heels of an opponent heading away from goal.

The second half highlighted the gulf in ability between the two teams as Beith controlled from start to finish and in the latter stages they passed their opponents into submission, scoring another six for

Beith squad: Cammy King, Jake Jacobson, Matthew Sloan, Ross MacKenzie, Jack Craig, Graeme Crawford, Scott Brown, Lee Salisbury, Lewis Steele, Ryan Brown, Cameron Blair and Ben Bonnar.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

WINNING numbers in the Ardrossan Winton Rovers FCwere 2, 7, 10, 15. There were no winners. Next week's prize money is £950.

TABLE TENNIS

North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club's next match of the British Premier League is at St.Matthews Academy this coming Saturday, January 14.

They play BATTS TTC from London, who are currently third in the league and will be a very difficult match for NATTC, who are currently in sixth position.

The NATTC team will comprise: Sean Doherty, Richard Main, Craig Hardie and Christopher Main.

The match will start at 2.30pm and as always, admission is free so the club would appreciate as much support as possible.

DARTS

THE THREE TOWNS DARTS LEAGUE

BOBBY's Bar remain top of the league with a hard fought draw away to the Bar One in the game of the week.

Andy Boulton is The Snack Express Player of the week with 15 Christmas Shop Masters points.

The Flask are the team of the week with 34 Masters points

Results from Monday January 9: Black Bull 2-8 Elms, Bar One 5-5 Bobby's Bar, Vaults 2-8 The Flask, Cross Keys 5-5 Windy Ha, Alton 5-5 Jack's Lounge, Jack's 'B' 6-4 Jack's A.