Alice Makes Her Mark at National Level
February 23rd, 2005There was a very encouraging turn out of Gala Harriers at the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday, with 29 senior and junior runners making the trip over to Irvine’s Beach Park.
Highlight of the day was the bronze medal won by Alice Haining in the U13 girl’s race. There was a very encouraging turn out of Gala Harriers at the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday, with 29 senior and junior runners making the trip over to Irvine’s Beach Park.
Highlight of the day was the bronze medal won by Alice Haining in the U13 girl’s race, which was run over a 3200 metre course. Alice ran a very intelligent race keeping out of trouble at the start before working her way slowly through the field of 102 runners. She made her move with 800 metres to go and held off a chasing group to take third place in a time of 13.49. Laura Goodson set off at a terrific pace and was laying in third place for much of the race before she tired near the end to finish in a time of 16.35. Gillian Inglis took on a 4000 metre course in the U15 girl’s race and recorded a very encouraging and respectable time of 18.12 to finish 24th from the 87 runners in the race. The U13 boy’s event saw Cameron Fair from Selkirk run an excellent race to fi!
nish a highly creditable 15th in a time of 13.36. Danny Martin and James Haining also took on the 3200 metre course with Danny finishing 41st and James 74th from a field of 91 runners.
Gala Harriers ladies can be very pleased with themselves finishing 6th team on the day and recording some fine individual performances. Ladies’ captain Tish Affleck led by example to finish top harrier in 21st place in a time of 34.03 over a tough 8km course. Tish was followed home by Leanne Haining, who used the same tactics as her daughter to work her way steadily through the field and finished with a great sprint to finish 33rd in a time of 36.23. Katy Anderson ran another strong race to finish 41st, with Rachel Fagan and the ever improving Fiona Dalgleish taking 46th and 47th spots. Gillian Duncan led in the next group of harriers ladies finishing 74th with Nicola Meikle close behind in 78th and Eileen Nicol in 80th. Karen Renton was the last of the lady harriers to finish but she !
did so in style overtaking three runners on the run in, to finish 96th in a time of 44.49.
the effects of a cold to run 57.30 to finish 316th, while it was a more steady but not too sedate Graeme Pogson who finished 328th. It was left to Alan Gordon to complete the men’s team but he didn’t get off to the best of starts. Alan was so caught up in cheering his daughter Claire over the finish line of the ladies race that he didn’t hear the gun go for the start of his race. Alan finished 338th at the end of the day from the 380 starters, which wasn’t too bad given he was 380th for the first 400 metres.
Next race for the harriers is the final round of the Winter XC Series at Dunbar on Sunday 27th of Feb.
