Harriers Compete in Final East District League Race
February 5th, 2006There was healthy turnout of Gala Harriers at the final East District Cross Country League race on Saturday in Livingston. Conditions could not have been better for cross country running, with a flat, fast, firm course bathed in afternoon winter sunshine. Unfortunately for Euan Jardine he is at his best on cold wet muddy and hilly courses but Euan was once again the top harrier in the men's race, finishing a very creditable 16th from the 234 starters.
Graeme Murdoch continues to improve with each race and finished well up the field in 70th place in a respectable time of 30.35. Ewan Lindores led the Selkirk branch of the harriers home with a fine run finishing 83rd in 31.09, he was followed by the old souters of Martin Clarke, Al Laurie and Robin 'Quasimodo' Murray, who packed well and finished 119th, 121st and 123rd respectively.
Graham Pogson put in one of his best performances to finish 147th, with Malky Gowans, Jim Langsdale and Will McDermott all showing good form, finishing 158th, 169th and 174th respectively.
Gala Harriers are to be featured in a new running magazine, 'My Race', the magazine sent along a photographer who was busy snapping away throughout the races and the fruits of his labour should be on show in Issue 2, which is out next week.
Leanne Haining was in fine form finishing 37th and first harrier lady in the women's race. Leanne tracked Karen Haldane round the first lap before pushing on to finish the 8km course in 24.12. Karen also ran a good race and kept Leanne in her sights to finish 45th in a time of 24.40, with ladies captain Katy Anderson showing a return to form, finishing 49th in 25.17.
Eileen Nichol took some time out from her marathon training and ran a strong steady race finishing 60th in 26.08, with Karen Renton completing the ladies turnout finishing 86th from the 104 starters.
Alice Haining completed her dominance of the U13 girls category, with an emphatic win in her race, where she finished almost a sixty metres in front of her nearest rival and 4th overall in the mixed boy girl race. Alice will now be looking forward to the National XC championships at Falkirk in two weeks time, where she will be hoping to improve on the bronze medal she won last year.
Murray Lemmon, Dylan Howell and Cammy Gowans ran in the U13 boys race, with Murray continuing to improve finishing 16th and Cammy finding the step up in age category a bit tougher but still managing a creditable 35th place finish from the 82 runners. Dylan's pre race diet of coke, mars bar and crisps, came back on him during his race and he failed to finish but will have learnt a good lesson on what and when to eat before a race.
In the U15 races James Haining ran strongly to finish 24th in a time of 16.43, while Gillian Inglis bravely finished her race, limping over the line in 12th place in a time of 17.24.
