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In stark contrast to Saturday’s race, Gala harriers fielded 28 runners for the Simply Scottish Jedburgh Half Marathon on Sunday. The extra hour in bed obviously helped Mark Bryson, Struan King, Rachel Fagan and David Hunter, because they all set personal In stark contrast to Saturday’s race, Gala harriers fielded 28 runners for the Simply Scottish Jedburgh Half Marathon on Sunday. The extra hour in bed obviously helped Mark Bryson, Struan King, Rachel Fagan and David Hunter, because they all set personal best times.

Mark’s time of 1.18.53 gave him an 8th place finish and was the first time he had run under the magical 80-minute barrier. Also running under 80 minutes for the first time was Struan King, his time of 1.19.56 was good enough for 12th place out of the field of 300 runners.

Rachel Fagan seems to set PB’s every time she runs a half marathon and Jed was no exception, her time of 1.28.48 smashed her previous best by four minutes but was not quite good enough to give her a prize, finishing as 4th lady.

David Hunter lived up to his ‘most improved runner’ title, which he picked up at the harrier’s recent presentation night. David removed another massive chunk from his half marathon times to record a highly respectable 1.33.40. George Runciman, running in a Lauderdale Limpers vest, continues to get back to form with a 1.24.13 finishing time and was followed in by Roger Kerr and Alastair Laurie, who were running the distance for the first time in a many years, in times of 1.26.14 and 1.27.40 respectively.

Robin Murray, maybe a wee bit tired from his race on Saturday, managed 1.29.08, while Graham Pogson was unlucky to get a bad stitch in the last mile and had to be content with 1.30.04. Kate Jenkins was a little disappointed with her time of 1.30.08, being more used to ultra hill running and not short road sprints. Sally Barr followed Kate home in a time of 1.31.30, which wasn’t going to get her a prize this year but she was still pleased with her performance.

New club members John Cairns and John Paterson both ran well to record 1.34.28 and 1.35.20 respectively and bracketed Mike Alkin-Young and Laura Howie who were pleased with their times of 1.34.54 and 1.34.58.

Mind you Mike maybe regrets sprinting past Laura at the finish, because he missed out on the bottle of wine Laura picked up as a spot prize for being 50th finisher.

Graham Sutherland running for Lauderdale ran his fastest time this year in 1.38.00 and Eileen Nichol who suffered a little after her fast start, to finish in 1.38.11 closely followed him over the line. Lucy Alkin-Young ran well to record a respectable 1.47.27, with Bill ‘Flea’ Elliot not too far behind in 1.48.50. Sharon McClemont and Margo Crosbie talked most of the way round the race but it didn’t seem to affect their times and probably took their minds off that horrible hill at ten miles, to let them finish together on 1.50.10.

Finishing just over the two hour mark, was a large group of harrier ladies, starting with Rosi Capper (2.04.54), Anna White (2.06.11), Tania Bridges (Lauderdale) (2.08.31), Ann Lawrie (2.09.20), Tina Hulton (2.10.12), Angela Scott (2.10.47) and Heather McCloone (2.10.50).

Running in the five mile junior race was Rory Methven, who fairly flew off at the start but suffered in the final mile as a result, to record 33.34 and finish in 4th place.

With the ‘Crailing straight’ road closed to traffic for the race, there was a wheelchair 10Km race organised by Jed Renoldson. Only three athletes took the opportunity to compete, with Gala’s John Hunter in illustrious company with the other two athletes being Olympians.

John, trying out his new racing chair, was only hoping to break the hour mark but was delighted to complete the course in 42.40 minutes and is now searching the race calendar to find his next event.

It is hoped that the Jed race will now become an established wheelchair race and attract many more wheelchair athletes.

Many thanks must go to the organisers, sponsors and helpers at the race, who were responsible for an excellent day for everyone involved.

Posted on Monday, October 27th, 2003 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Race Reports.
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