Rhona Auckland, the new European cross country champion, has been backed to match the best in the world, beginning with next month's Great Edinburgh International, writes Mark Woods.
The 21-year-old Aberdonian's coach Ken Hogg says that his prospect is geared up to building on her success at under-23 level and translate that on to the track in 2015.
With ambitions of making her mark in the build-up to Rio 2016, Auckland, who was 12th over 10,000 metres in last summer's European Cup, is likely to draw up a plan to get more top-level experience in the months ahead.
"The thing that is coming together for her now is she has put together a fair bit of experience in a short period," Hogg said. "She was at the Euro Cross last year of course and then ran as a GB Senior at the Great Edinburgh Cross. Then she won the Scottish title against a strong field. She ran a very good 10,000m time at Highgate and then performed well for GB at the Euro 10,000m champs in Skopje. And, of course, she's had a great season so far in cross country with Bellahouston and Liverpool and now this."
The sole blip was Auckland's failure to land a spot in Scotland's team for the Commonwealth Games but Hogg claims one setback would never knock the Edinburgh University student off course. "I don't think it made her any more determined because she is a very competitive athlete anyway," he said. "She was close to the qualifying time but not close enough as it happened. Who knows how she would fared but it is immaterial now."
SPEEDWAY
Glasgow Tigers fans will know more about the future of the club on Monday when a major announcement is to be made at a press conference, writes Nigel Duncan.
It follows the decision confirmed a few weeks ago that owner Gordon Pairman is selling up. He said at the time: "I am a believer that, for a team to succeed, on the track and in the bank account, it needs local ownership and leadership, and, as that is something I cannot do, it is definitely time for a change."
A club statement said: "On Monday, a major announcement will be made on the future of Glasgow Tigers speedway club, Ashfield Juniors FC and their combined home at Ashfield Stadium."
Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Monarchs newcomer Erik Riss, who is the world longtrack champion, said his goal "is to be good at speedway as I am at longtrack".
By signing the German, Monarchs have completed their team to defend the Premier League title.
The 19-year-old will be a debutant in British speedway but has pedigree as the son of the former leading motorcyclist Gerd Riss. His arrival follows a strong recommendation from his team-mate Kevin Wolbert.
Riss said: "I am very pleased to be joining. I know that Edinburgh are the champs and I know Kevin Wolbert though not yet any of the others. I have two bikes I have been using in Germany. I will be bringing them to Edinburgh and get something else for Germany.
"I will stay over there when we have busy times and return to Germany when I have matches. It is my goal to be as good at speedway as I am at Longtrack but that might take some time."
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