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Host club Gala Harriers turned on the style with a well organised and well supported East District Cross Country Championships in Galashiels on Saturday.

First off were the u-13 girls and first home from the 40-strong field over the 3.2km course was Gala’s own Alice Haining in 11.54, setting the typically high standard now expected from this young talent.

Following in 19th place was Hannah Jones in 15.02, with twin sister Emily close behind in 15.16, bringing the team home in a well deserved 5th position overall.

Dylan Howell (13.09) and Cameron Gowans (14.35) were next up in the u-13 boys’ race over the same distance and did well to finish in 16th and 27th places respectively from the 31-runner field.

With the course becoming increasingly heavy, the u-15 girls and boys had to work hard to place well in the field.

Gillian Inglis (19.57) and Harriet Murray (20.10) were almost inseparable over the 4.4km course but Gillian held on to finish in 23rd ahead of Harriet in 25th. Claire White (22.49), stepping up from the u-13 age-group dug deep to finish 40th from the 46 runners.

Over the 4.4km boys’ race, Alastair Russell (18.57), Andrew McCrirrick (20.44) and Craig Frater (21.19) finished in 30th, 33rd and 34th places respectively, taking 7th position in the team competition.

One of the pre-race favourites for the senior women’s title, Gillian Palmer (City of Edinburgh), took 1st place in the senior women’s 6.4km race in a time of 26.41, well clear of the 100-strong field.

Gala Harriers’ representation was strong however, with Kate Jenkins leading the teams home in 29.36, in 15th place overall.

Rachel Fagan (30.37) followed in 28th place with Fiona Dalgleish and Katy Anderson crossing the line within 6 seconds of one another in 31.41 and 31.47 respectively.

Melanie Goodson had a great race to finish in 32.36, ahead of two strong runners from city rivals Hunter’s Bog Trotters who chased her all the way, and club mate Gillian Duncan (33.55), who finished in 62nd place.

Eileen Nicol (37.17) and Karen Renton (45.03), both appearing to enjoy the tough course and freezing conditions, made up the Harriers ladies compliment.

In the men’s u-17 event, sole club representative Iain Frater ran a tough couple of laps to finish the 6.4km course in 35.03.

In the showpiece event of the day, the senior men’s race was dominated by American-based Scot Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC), who stormed well clear of 2nd placed John Newsom (Pitreavie AAC) and the rest of the field, to take the East Championship title.

For the Harriers, top placed runner over the 10km course was Euan Jardine (40.39), who finished in 34th place from the 217 finishers.

Young triathlete Rory Methven ran a brilliant race to come home in 54th place in 42.20, with Rob McCrirrick (47.42) and Alan Goodson (48.09) finishing within half a minute of one another to cross in 120th and 125th.

Martin Clarke (49.25), Alastair Wright (49.49), Graham Pogson (50.11) and David Hunter (50.11) kept the Harriers looking strong within the pack with near consecutive finishes in 141st, 148th, 152nd and 153rd, respectively.

Following close behind was Malky Gowans (50.55) in 160th place.

The final three Harriers home, Gregor McAneny (51.52), Tommy Knox (54.12) and Will McDermott (54.54), really stuck in over the 3-lap challenge and made up the full compliment of Gala Harriers on the day.

Finally, special thanks and congratulations must go to Leanne Haining, Neil Aitchison and the multitude of helpers over the course of the day and in the run up to the event who made it such a success. The races couldn’t have taken place without their tireless efforts.

Thanks also to Jim Pate and John Pate for permitting the use of their land and to Tesco for their generous contribution and support.

Posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 8:35 pm and is filed under Race Reports.
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