Gala Harriers in East District Action
February 15th, 2004Stirling University was the venue for the final East District XC league race of the season with Gala Harriers fielding a complete team for the first time this season. Euan Jardine is having one of his best seasons and ran a superb race to finish the three-lap course in 17th place in a time of 24.53. Most of the Gala runners finished grouped together, probably trying to shelter from the blizzard conditions which were present throughout the race.
Neil Renton was 89th in 28.07, with Martin Clarke 109th in 28.47, Jack Knox 114th in 28.58, Alastair Laurie 118th in 29.12, Dave Nightingale 119th in 29.14 and last but not least Malky Gowans 168th in 31.46.
In a typically generous gesture, Martin Clarke and Jack Knox decided to give all the runners a sporting chance by letting them have a 50 and 300 metre start respectively. Some cynics have suggested that this was more to do with the fact that they thought the race started at 3.00pm and not 2.30!
Spittal Cross-Country not for the faint hearted
February 15th, 2004Round 3 of the Winter XC series was run in bitterly cold conditions along the sea front and cliffs of Spittal on Sunday There was much evidence of festive overindulgence if the larger than normal waistlines of some of the runners was anything to go by but a couple more races like this will soon see them shrink away.
There was a good turn out of juniors, with 44 braving the chill conditions over their 3km course. Gala Harrier’s Sarah Mathers put in another excellent performance to win the girls race and finish 10th overall in a time of 12.49. Taking part for the first time this season was Alice Haining, the St Peters PS pupil ran a storming race to finish 16th overall and come 1st in the u11 girls category in a time of 13.34.
Scott Marshall also ran in the series for the first time and finished a very creditable 20th in 14.04 and was followed in by ever present Kirstie Thomson who finished 23rd overall and 2nd in her age category, with a time of 14.40. James Haining will have to put in some heavy training over the next couple of weeks if he is to catch his sister but he should be very pleased with his 25th place finish and time of 14.48.
Last junior runner home for the harriers was Lucy Jones, a strong sprint finish over the last 50 metres put her in 31st spot and 3rd in her age category with a time of 16.09.
The 75 runners who lined up at the start of the senior race could take some comfort from the sight of three surfers riding the waves in the rough seas next to the start. There are people crazier than they are!
The Gala men once again took the team race but only by one point from Dunbar RC. Iain Arnott ran another good race to finish 5th in 24.34 and was closely followed home by Rob McCrirrick who claimed 9th place in 24.59 and completing the team winning performance was Martin Clarke who finished 18th in 25.56.
Jack Knox has a battle on his hands if he is to retain his super vet’s title. His namesake Jim Knox from Teviotdale Harriers has overcome serious injury and is setting Jack a tough target to catch him. Jack ran strongly as usual to finish 20th in 26.21, just edging out George Runciman, running for Lauderdale, who took 21st spot in 26.23.
Robin Murray claimed 26th place in 26.51 and was followed by Alastair Laurie, 31st in 27.28. Jim Langsdale is enjoying his first season of cross-country and finished a creditable 35th in 28.30.
Leanne Haining always competes hard and worked her way through the field to finish strongly in 41st place in a time of 29.15 and also finish 3rd in her ladies vet’s category. Graeme Sutherland also running for Lauderdale ran a good race and was well placed at 44th in a time of 29.48.
Karen Renton has run well throughout this series and claimed 3rd place in her vet’s category in a time of 34.41, finishing 64th overall. Rosi Capper completed the harrier’s entry and finished 70th in a time of 39.24 to take 2nd place in her ladies veteran’s category.
Next race in the series is in Gala on the 1st of February.
