Sunshine, Battles and PB’s for the Harriers
February 15th, 2003Another busy weekend for Gala Harriers saw members in action at the Pentland Hills and ‘Bonny’ Grangemouth!
Martin Clarke, Laura Howie and Robin Sloan, took part in the ‘Carnethy 5′ Hills Race on Saturday. Weather conditions would
have been perfect, with glorious sunshine over the Pentland Hills, had it not been for the fact that the severe overnight
frost had turned the hills into solid ice. Running up the hills was hard enough but the downhill sections were very tricky,
slippy and bone jarring. As a result it was more a case of survival for the harriers and times were irrelevant on the day.
There were a few ‘weel kent’ faces on the hill with Rob Hallidy, Robert Cranston and Alan Coltman from Teviotdale Harriers
as well as Mike McGovern and Euan Jardine from Moorfoot RC.
Before the start of the race everyone was treated to a re-enactment of the Battle of Roslin, which was fought 700 years
ago, in 1303. To commemorate the great battle a two-handed claymore sword was put up as a prize between the Scottish and
English club teams competing in the race, with Ambleside AC taking it south of the border this year.
Nothing quite as theatrical at Grangemouth but there were some very determined Gala runners at the start of the popular
Round the Houses 10km road race.
Suzanne Carson was looking to better her PB time set last year and was delighted to lower it by 20 seconds to 37:15,
chasing the ever improving Rob McCrirrick all the way to the line, who in turn knocked a whopping 2 minutes off his
previous best time.
Rob’s new PB of 37:12 minutes made him second harrier home behind Neil Renton, who showed a return to form by recording
34:56. Alistair Laurie (37:58) and Jennifer MacKenzie (61:15) set other personal best times, with Gala Academy teacher
Jennifer particularly pleased with her first ever effort at the distance.
Other harriers running were Robin Murray (38:38), John Wilson (41:23), Eileen Nichol (43:27), Nicola Alexander (44:42),
Ruth McCann (45:20), Marion Fachini (47:30), Gillian McCrirrick (48:12), Angela Scott (48:30), Aileen Anderson and Anna
White (51:10). Apologies if anyone has been missed out.
Steven Laurie had a great run in the junior fun run and finished 5th in a time of 7:09 from the 200 runners who lined up at
the start of the 2km race.
Next race for the harriers will be the National Cross- Country championships on Saturday 22nd Feb at Linwood in Glasgow.
