THEY also serve who only stand and throw. The athletics focus is more

frequently turned on the track elite, but all eyes were on Scotland's

javelin throwers, Stewart McMillan and Gavin Broomfield, yesterday at

Wrexham, writes Doug Gillon.

With victory in the women's match against Wales, Northern Ireland, and

the Northern and Midland Counties already comfortably secured, the

outcome of the men's contest hung on the two spear carriers.

McMillan was a lowly fourth in the A event, with 58.75 metres, and

Broomfield took third with 52.12m in the B contest, but it was just

enough, and Scotland held off Wales by just four points.

The best performance came from Scotland debutant John McKenzie who

reached 16.04m with a wind-aided victory in the triple jump, but there

were also wins for Gary Brown (800m, 1-49.08), Geoff Parsons (high jump

2.23), and Mark Davidson (400m hurdles 52.6). Davidson has left

relegated Edinburgh Southern and is likely to join another first

division club for next year.

Ken Campbell, after a six-hour bus trip, could not repeat his

record-breaking heroics of 24 hours earlier, and finished second in the

sprint hurdles with 14.62.

Aileen McGillivray was denied a double by the photo finish. She and

Helen Miles were both given 12.24 but Miles got the verdict. McGillivray

took the 200m in 24.30.

Lynn McIntyre was one of several A string winners for the Scots.

Glasgow's McIntyre took the 3000m in

9-27.36. Other winners included junior Alison Curbishley (400m

hurdles, 60.54), Rhona Pinkerton (high jump 1.77m), and Ruth Irving

(long jump, 6.02m). Match result:

Men: 1, Scotland 143; 2, Wales 139; 3, Northern Counties 128[1/2];

Midlands 128; 5, Northen Ireland 59[1/2]. Women: 1, Scotland 150; 2,

Wales 122; 3 equal Northern Counties and Midlands 111; 5, Northen

Ireland 52.