Congratulations to Douglas Paul who competed at Kelvin Hall over the weekend at the Indoor East & West District Championship.He took gold in the High Jump with a PB of 1.65 and also broke the Championship Record.He also took a silver in the Long Jump with a jumped of 5.40m and was beat by only 1cm.

“Well Done Douglas and keep up the good work”.

Published: Thursday, 17th April, 2008 10:20

WEST Fife teen Owen Miller always liked running but it was only two months ago that his family realised he had the ability to be a champion.

A keen member of Dunfermline and West Fife athletics club, the 16-year-old decided to enter a Scottish Disability Sport cross-country race in February.

Despite being a confident runner, Owen, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, had never thought about attempting a cross-country race before.

But the Woodmill High pupil stormed to victory in the event and then won the over-15s boys’ disability race at the national championships.

He followed that with his greatest achievement to date, first place in a disability invitational race at last month’s world cross-country championships in Edinburgh.

Owen’s mum, Wendy, of Macbeth Road, Dunfermline, said the whole family was proud of her son.

“When we found out about the disability runs we didn’t know if he would be able to compete because some people don’t see Asperger’s as a disability,” she said.

“We asked him if he fancied doing a wee bit longer distance and trying cross-country.

“It’s been a long time coming and he’s over the moon about it.”

The cross country season has now come to a close but Owen will be returning to the highland games circuit, where he is already an established runner.

“The prospect of winning a bit of money always makes him run that little bit faster!,” Wendy joked