Joel McFarlane shines on international stage

Joel McFarlane with his gold medals from the age-group Indoor Championships. Picture: Bobby Gavin

Carnoustie High School’s Joel McFarlane is a multiple winner from the Scottish Schools’ Outdoor Championships and the Angus youngster underlined his all-round talent by finishing second in the Under-16 section in the annual Schools’ International Pentathlon Championship at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

Joel, who also won three gold medals in this year’s Indoor Championships, helped the Scottish team finish second in the age-group.

The home side finished runners-up in the girls’ Over-16s and was third in the boys’ Over-16s and girls’ Under-16s. England won all four titles.

Olivia Vareille (Holy Cross High School) was the top Scot with an eighth individual placing in the girls’ Under-16s, Holly McArthur (KIlsyth Academy) just missed out on a medal with a fourth place in the girls’ Over-16s and Scott Connal (Lenzie Academy) was also fourth in the boys’ Over-16s.

Joel’s cousin, Daniel McFarlane, who is home schooled by his parents in Inverness, was ninth in the  Over-16s.The McFarlanes are both talented youngsters who hope to go and reach the top of the sport. They are both keen to become multi-discipline specialists and could be decathlon rivals and team-mates in years to come.