Harriers host their own 10K Race
April 20th, 2003Following on from the success of last year’s Centenary 10 Km road race, Gala Harriers hosted their annual race on Sunday, incorporating the East District Championships.
There was a top class field of athletes lined up at the start outside the gates of Netherdale when Colin Meek (Lothian RC) led the 180 strong field from the start and was always comfortably in control to record a winning time of 32.08 and lift the championship for the first time.
In the ladies race Susan Riddley (Edinburgh Woollen Mills) held off a strong challenge towards the end of her race and recorded a time of 38.13 to lift the Hunter-Kerr trophy, for first female.
Despite a great many harriers helping marshalling, recording and organising the race, there were still 16 who managed to run on the day. First home and 11th overall was Mike McGovern in a time of 35.37, with George Runciman showing a good return to form to record 36.57 and lift the prize for first male local.
Jack Knox found the course a little better, (if not shorter!), than last year and just held off fellow Selkirk runner Martin Clarke to record 37.41, to Martin’s 37.46. Brian Bailey is improving with every race this year and his time of 39.07 was a PB, which will be short lived if he continues to show the same form.
Andrea Pogson found the head wind along the black path hard going, but her time of 42.03 was still good enough to give her the 1st ladies veterans prize, with Rachel Bailey chasing her all the way to record 43.22 to lift the 2nd vets prize. Malky Gowans, recovering from the tragedy that had befallen his beloved Celtic team at Tynecastle on Saturday, shook off his grief to beat ‘Jambo’ sympathiser Graeme Jones in a time of 42.33 to Graeme’s 42.42.
Tish Affleck recovering from a serious foot injury still managed to ‘jog’ round in 44.26 and will probably be embarrassed to find out that she won the ladies super-vet prize but more importantly she will be delighted to be back running again. Graham Sutherland has ran faster 10K times than his 44.47 on Sunday but if he was trying to fool the handicap committee for the club championship 10K in two weeks time he’ll have to run worse than that!
Karen Renton was feeling a touch frail and delicate after a day at the Sevens on Saturday but the perfect ‘pick me up’ must be a good 6 mile run in the morning, because her time of 47.14 was not only enough to make her feel better but also gave her the first ladies local prize.
Gillian McCrirrick ran hard to record 50.13 and Sharon McClenant, running her first 10K race was kept company by Anne Lawrie, who recorded times of 54.23 and 54.28 respectively.
Almost 70 juniors, mum’s and dad’s took part in the 3km Fun Run before the main race. Gary Alexander took 3rd prize in the boy’s race while Kirsty Thomson lifted the first prize in the girl’s race.
Other junior Gala Harriers taking part were Steven Laurie, Cameron Gowans, Gregor Hunter, Hannah Jones, Andrew McCrirrick, Kirsty Renton, Ronan Runciman, Fay, Robin and Amy Sharp, Sarah Douglas, Ashley Hedderly, Amanda Nisbet, Amy Robson, Daniel Whitehead, Lewis Whitehead, Jessica Elliott, Kirsty Summers, Morven Rennie and Zoe Howie. Apologies to any juniors I’ve missed out.
John Hunter took his old wheelchair round the fun run course for the first and hopefully last time. John is still trying to raise the money required to buy a racing wheelchair and should be well on his way now thanks to the sponsorship raised by himself and many of the junior members of the club on Sunday.
All big races rely on the help and sponsorship from local shops and businesses to cover some of the costs of putting on a championship race. Gala Harriers would like to thank the following businesses; Bookers, MacDonalds, Somerfields, Tesco, Iceland, Jackie Lunn and Intersport. Their support and help was very much appreciated.
Photographs and results will be posted on the web site in due course.
Gala Harriers would also like to thank Fiona Wilson, whose team of volunteers from the Gail Wilson Memorial Trust, ran the kitchen and raised over 300 for their charity.
Fiona has asked us to inform readers that they are hosting a sponsored bike run from Heriot to Clovenfords on Sunday 11th of May. Sponsor forms and information can be obtained from Wilson’s Carpet Shop in Galashiels.
13 April 2003
Gala Harriers take on the Highs and Lows of London
The London Marathon is one of the biggest mass participation events in the world and seven Gala Harriers made the trip this year.
All have trained hard for the last four months through the worst weather that the borders could throw at them, so it was with a great sense of anticipation that they lined up with Paula Radcliffe and a host of other world class athletes last Sunday.
Having been soaked and frozen throughout much of their training, it came as a bit of a shock to the system to find themselves running in temperatures over 20 degrees on the day.
Suzanne Carson did literally line up along side Paula Radcliffe, as she was one of 80 elite women athletes who took part in the early race, with the Sports Personality of the Year. Suzanne was determined to get under the elusive 3-hour mark for the first time but found the warm conditions too much for her near the end of the race and recorded a time of 3.02.25.Th
is is still a very fast time and although a minute slower than her time last year, placed Suzanne 9th in her age category and 49th overall.
While Suzanne ran on relatively quiet streets, our other harriers took part in the main race with 40,000 runners. Eileen Nichol ran a very steady and even race to record 3.42.22 and the harrier’s sole male competitor, Dave Nightingale, overcame injury and illness to record 3.56.23. Dave was still fresh enough to sprint down the Mall to the finish and enjoyed every minute of his race.
Angela Foss was very confident of doing well before the race but found the warm conditions too much for her and could only record 4.00.10 but she is determined to give it another go next year. Aileen Anderson is in the TA and has trained hard for her first marathon but she ran into the dreaded ‘wall’ at 23 miles and had to dig in hard to finish very tired but happy in a time of 4.20.18.
Paulette Ashford-Smith was running in her 5th London Marathon but her last based in Gala she recorded a very respectable 4.22.02 and was very pleased with her run. She will no doubt be there again next year but she won’t have to travel so far as she and her family have just moved down South to live. Paulette will be missed by all in the club and everyone wishes them well in their new home.
Kate Grimsditch was determined to run in this year’s race but she had to raise over 1000 before she could get her running number. In the end Kate has raised over 1200 for her charity, Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, she overcame a niggling knee injury to record 4.32.25 and was delighted with her achievement.
br />
5 April 2003
Quiet weekend for the harriers as Alistair ploughs a lonely furrow
It was a surprisingly quiet weekend for the harriers with most runners having a weekend off racing and our marathoneers all winding down before the London Marathon next weekend.
Local GP Alistair Wright has been targeting the Belhaven Dunbar 10K road race all year as his first race of the season. Alistair was the sole harrier representing the club, such was the popularity of the race that no late entries were to be had for the handful of harriers who had hoped to be able to run.
Alistair was confident of breaking 40 minutes over the scenic course, which winds its way through the streets and coastal paths of Dunbar. His time of 38.34 minutes put him 43rd from the 291 starters and although not a PB, it will set Alistair up for the demands of Gala Harriers own 10K road race on the 20th of April.
