Richard started the outdoor season at Meadowbank on 12th May 2001 where he competed in the District Championships. He won the East District Pole Vault  with 4.10 metres (a new championship best performance) which gained him Scottish selection for the U 20 International in Greece.

At the International in Corinth on 27th May he gained 3rd. place with a new personal best height of 4.40 metres.

He entered a busy period with winning the U 20 National Championships at Grangemouth on 10th June with another personal best clearance of 4.50 metres. This was also a new C.B.P. beating the previous record of 4.46 metres which had stood since 1968 (31 years).

Richard then had a poor day by his standards in winning the Over 17 Scottish Schools Championships Pole Vault at Grangemouth on 16th June.

He only achieved a height of 4.00 metres. (Very windy conditions and a wait of two hours to compete in his event did not help !)

However he had some consolation the day before at the same championships by only being denied

winning the Long Jump on countback. A new personal best jump of 6.47 metres his reward.

On 23rd June he gained 4th place in the pole vault at the Scottish Senior Champs at Scotstoun with 4.20 metres. His thoughts , however, were on the AAA's the following weekend. At the U 20 AAA's Championships at Bedford on 1st July he surprised us and himself by winning the British Champs Pole Vault in another personal best clearance of 4.60 metres. (1cm below the Scottish age group record).

By this achievement he has now attained 2nd equal ranking in the U.K. and put himself in the frame for a G.B. place at an International in France later this month.

Michael Hurren