Clarke Wins Ladhope X/C Race & Great North Run Report
October 4th, 2008Martin Clarke was the clear and richly deserving winner of the 2008 Gala Harriers’ Ladhope handicap race, the opening event of the cross country season last Saturday.
The day dawned cold, wet and windy and underfoot conditions on this toughest of courses were made even worse by the recent wet weather.
Nine intrepid runners started the race, four laps of an undulating field by the golf course, and Martin was the 2nd last out of the blocks but managed to post the quickest time of the day of 39.22. He had passed most runners before he started the final lap with only Magnus Inglis and Fiona Shepherd standing in the way of him landing his first ever trophy with the club, despite competing at the highest level for over 10 years.
Second was Magnus Inglis in a scratch time of 42.48 and 3rd was Rob McCrirrick in 40.34. Gregor McEneny started last with the toughest of handicaps but moved up the field to 4th place in a time of 40.37. Fiona Shepherd was the first lady home in 48.14, beating Rachel Fagan whose time was 41.57.
Gerry Moss and Stevie Gillan who were Ladhope virgins enjoyed their first attempts in 55.38 and 51.15 respectively. Tony Lunn, the new club president who had calculated all the race handicaps succumbed to injury and could not finish.
Full Results Ladhope Cross Country Race 2008
Photographs can be viewed within photo gallery
The weather could not have been more of a contrast on Sunday for the Great North Run and the four Harriers who took to the streets of Newcastle basked in warm October sunshine under clear blue skies. Fergus Johnston running in a Gala vest once again posted an excellent time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 59 seconds, placing him 317 out of 40,000 runners, while only a minute behind him came Neil Aitchison in 1.26.59, giving him 23rd place in his age category, a superb result. Dave Nightingale was 15th in his age group in an impressive 1.29.43 and Derek Fraser put in a sterling performance to finish in 1.38.21. Well done all.
