Border’s Cross Country Series: Spittal
January 28th, 2008It was blowing a gale at Spittal Point on Sunday for the 5th race of the Borders Winter Cross Country series but it didn’t seem to slow down the intrepid runners from Gala Harriers who consolidated their positions in this, the penultimate event of the 6 race programme.
Conditions were mild despite the wind and underfoot the runners had to contend with sand, rough paths and grassy headland as they sped over the 2 and 4 mile junior and senior courses.
Full results were not available at the time of writing but Cameron Fair was again first home for the junior squad in the male14/15 class and in 3rd position over the line, a superb effort. David Bonnar led his younger clubmates home with not much separating Rowan Marr, Ross Matthews and Angus Beith, all with their sights on silverware after the final race in Lauder in 3 weeks time. Not far behind were Cameron Gowans, Liam Howel and Fraser Gowans, all running strong races in the tough conditions.
The girls continue to show their strength in depth and leading the Harriers home again was Hannah Jones, closely followed by her twin Emily, Charlotte Brown and Martha Douglas. Running well against the buffeting wind were Kerri Bonnar, Laura Anderson, Kerri Sandilands Gillian Sandie, Katherine Arkley, Rhona Gowans, Jo Marr, Rebecca Young and Rebecca Allan.
The seniors had to battle it out over 4 miles of mixed terrain and increasing head winds and this time it was Alan Goodson who stole the first placed Harrier slot, finishing a little ahead of Martin Clarke, Alastair Laurie, Malky Gowans, Graham Capper, Allan Gordon, Tim Howel, Will McDermott, and Paul Morris.
The women were led home by Laura Goodson competing in this series for the Harriers and she was followed by Jane Chalmers, Pauline Ballantyne Fiona Shepherd, Dawn Grant, Sheila Macnab, Louise Johnston, Shelagh King and Susan Howel, who all ran with great determination and commitment.
With only the one event remaining in the series, several individuals from both the junior and senior categories are lying in medal contention and the final race is at Lauder on 17th February.
Elsewhere, Gala’s junior girls were also representing their schools in cross country in the English Schools qualifying rounds at Alnwick and Kirkley Hall in Northumberland. Continuing their superb winter seasons, twins Hannah and Emily Jones, Victoria Douglas and Laura Anderson finished 1st, 2nd, 5th and 9th respectively out of 100 runners in the first round and then the twins gained impressive 5th and 11th places in the second, ensuring that they were selected to run in the Northern English Schools final in Middlesborough on 2nd February. A top 8 finish here would mean a place in the English Schools final to be held in Liverpool on March 8th. Good luck girls!
The next outing for the Harriers is the Paxton House run on Sunday 3rd February.
