Harrier’s X/C Championship & Lasswade
November 1st, 2008Last Saturday and Sunday dawned fair as two of the most beautiful late autumn days and, unlike the previous weekend, Gala Harriers turned out in their droves to compete in their own club cross country championships and handicap trophy and at junior level at Lasswade Open XC at Gorebridge.
Despite Saturday’s blue skies and a windless afternoon, underfoot conditions on the Southern Upland Way were nevertheless as squelchy as they have been all year but that didn’t deter 31 runners turning up on the Hollybush Road to run the 6.5 mile route over to Boleside via Yair Bridge and the muddy paths skirting the Tweed. Two races are run in one over this route – the club cross country championship for the beautiful and historic trophies first competed for almost 100 years ago, and the
Niel Potts trophy, a piece of contemporary glass, awarded for the winner of the handicapped element of the race.
First home and winner of the mens’ championship was Graeme Murdoch who ran a stunning time of 37 minutes 50 seconds to claim the glittering prize. He was 4 minutes ahead of his closest rival Damon Rodwell (41.55) while 3rd over the line was actually ladies’ race winner Kate Jenkins in 43.33 who beat the third man home, Gregor McAneny (43.41), the only runner in the top three who bettered his 2007 time, in fact by over a minute. Kate took the lovely New Zealand Cup, first presented in
1910 to the harriers by the Braw Lads in New Zealand. Second over the line for the ladies was Gillian Duncan running a well judged race in 50.26 proving, like Paula Radcliffe that having babies doesn’t slow you down, while Eileen Nicol also ran quicker than predicted (52.07) to take a superb third place, down to her careful preparation and consistently high standards in training.
The race within the race for the lovely Niel Potts trophy is calculated with hidden handicaps and coming out on top and adding to her second place in the ladies’ race was Gillian Duncan, followed by Karen Renton shaving 2 minutes off her predicted time, with Eileen Nicol again in a well-deserved 3rd place. Full results are up on the Harriers’ website – galaharriers.com
Cross Country Championship Results 2008
Check out Photo’s in gallery
Saturday evening saw the Annual Presentation Night for the club in the Salmon Inn and the full results will be reported next week with accompanying photographs. It would be remiss however, not to mention one very special trophy that was awarded this year for the first time. The name of J.S.D Nisbet has featured several times on the mens’ club championship cup, as he, along with fellow harrier W.A.P Sanderson dominated the winners’ list from 1928 – 1939. Nisbet returned to his winning ways after the war and continued to compete at all levels for club and district and his widow has recently presented a beautiful cup to the Harriers to be presented annually in his memory in a way that the club sees as appropriate. The committee decided that the cup should be awarded for both endeavour and a major contribution to the club and this year it has been awarded to past President, past mens’ captain and long term committee member and club runner, Robin Murray for his service and commitment to the Harriers over many years.
On Sunday, the juniors made their way to Gore Glen Park in Gorebridge where the Lasswade Athletic Club Open Cross Country event took place, also in ideal weather but in equally wet and heavy underfoot conditions. The course followed playing fields and the old railway route and for the competitors there was a testing hill midway but for all the juniors this was an excellent set of performances at this early stage in the off-road season.
First off was young Susan Arkley running in her first ever race for the harriers in the mile long under 11 girls’ race and she came through very well in a respectable time of 7 minutes 44 seconds, finishing a creditable 25th out of 40 runners. The 2 mile U13 girls’ race featured Kerry Sandilands,
Skye Shiell and older sister Katherine Arkley who all finished well in the top half with Kerry 9th in 15.47, Skye 11th in 15.53 and Katherine 18th in 16.43. Together, the girls achieved an excellent fourth place in the team race.
Rowan Marr went two better than his 5th place last year in the Boys’ U13 and finished in a superb 3rd position in 13.19, while Alice Haining narrowly missed out on first place in the U15 girls in 13.12, the same time as the winner but just a whisker off the tape. Martha Douglas enjoyed her run in the same race and finished 11th in 16.15.
Tony Says:
Are those Gregor McAneny’s own hand print’s on the front of his t-shirt or some other Harrier’s. Probably his own, needed to support his MOB’s (Man-Boobs)whilst running down the hill.