RACING

AYR Racecourse stages its two day Spring Festival on Friday and Saturday with Fab Friday Raceday followed by the Ortus Homes Raceday.

On Friday the feature race is the Eight Exclusive Cheltenham Races on Racinguk Handicap Chase over two and a half miles at 3.40 pm which is preceded by a two mile hurdle for the coveted James Barclay Trophy.

The first of seven races on Friday is the Racing UK in HD Now! Maiden Hurdle at 2.00 pm and the action concludes at 5.25 pm with the Racinguk.Com/Winterseasonticket Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle.

The Saturday action is headed by the £15,000 Ortus Homes Handicap Hurdle for the Craigie Cup which is due off at 4.40 pm and which is certain to be a competitive affair.

Other highlights include the McCarthy & Stone Handicap Chase for the Hugh Barclay Challenge Trophy at 4.05 pm and the Ortus Homes Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Race for the Ayrshire Teomanty Cup at 3.30 pm. For more information on racing at Ayr go to Www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or call 01292 264179.

ATHLETICS

SCOTTISH Athletics have announced that one of their major annual competitions will be coming to Ayr this summer.

The U12 SUPERteams event is being staged at Dan Park Stadium on Saturday. June 18.

This event is for teams of four athletes - all aged between nine and 11 - who each take part in shot put, long jump, 100m and then as a team compete in a 4x100m relay race.

Points are scored by each team member and then as a team in the relay event with the accumulated total determining those on the podium.

This will be a very busy day at the stadium as there are around 100 teams from all over the country who will compete which means around 400 athletes, when parents and club officials are taken account of it will mean around 1000 in attendance.

Seaforth officials are delighted Dam Park is once again being considered for athletics events as it has been quite a few years since the last meeting was held there.

Ayr Seaforth successfully applied as part of the Games Legacy for the throws cage which was used at Hampden Stadium during the Commonwealth Games and with it now being installed at Dam Park the stadium is once again on the circuit for athletics competitions with a match from this season's Scottish Youth Development League taking place in Ayr on Sunday, April 24.

The competitions which can come to Ayr are still somewhat limited though as the only thing the stadium does not have is a pole vault area and this would be essential for higher level competitions to take place.