A SECOND champion Scots hammer thrower has hit out at the plans to build a new Meadowbank stadium – without a throwing field.
Pensioner Bill Gentleman, a British masters champion and record holder, today backed the comments by his friend and fellow athlete Chris Black.
Last week, Commonwealth Games medallist Mr Black vowed to burn his Scotland team blazer in protest at
the decision to demolish the existing stadium.
Mr Gentleman, 67, a former Musselburgh Grammar School teacher and a trained opera singer, won last year's city council Get Up and Go Award, designed to encourage older people to participate in city life.
He said: "It is ironic that I have twice won the Get Up and Go Award on the back of my achievements – to date one gold, eight silver and one bronze in World Masters Throwing events – and that last year's award was presented by Jenny Dawe, leader of the council which (is] going to do away with important facilities.
"What bothers me is the other end of the age group. Where will aspiring young local throwers with potential be able to train in the future?"
Councillors voted last Thursday to knock down the ageing facility, build a smaller arena on part of the site and sell the rest for housing.
The full article contains 219 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
