Gala Harriers back in business!
August 31st, 2009Variety has characterised the activities of Gala Harriers in the past few weeks, in locations as far apart as Islay and Berlin, both geographically and in terms of the contrast in climate.
1 August saw the scenic Islay half marathon and Derek Fraser made his regular appearance on this beautiful course, finishing in a very creditable 1 hour 41 minutes and 33 seconds, following it up with a 10k trot across the Forth Road bridge a week later which he completed in 43.15.
16 August took half a dozen of the Harriers’ hill running group to the Lomond Hills of Fife where they met with a testing 11 mile route over hill, moorland, forest and bog. On the same day as Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis were winning gold in Berlin, Rachel Fagan, Derrick Brydon, Eb Rooney (Lauderdale), Paul Morris and Alison and Ian Wilson decided to take a downward slide to success, negotiating the suicidally steep descent off the West Lomond on their backsides and for Rachel, slipping into the gold medal position as the first lady home in 2 hours 4 minutes. Just behind her was Derrick Brydon in 2.05 with Eb Rooney not far behind in 2.11. Paul Morris was well pleased to come home in 2.24 with Alison Wilson taking the prize for the 2nd lady vet in 2.26 with hubby Ian bringing the group home in 2.30.
Also successfully seeking gold, Bob Marshall headed west to Glasgow and the Scottish veterans’ 10k road race championships where in windy but dry conditions he took first place in his age group (60+) in a superb 38.41, almost 1½ minutes ahead of the next finisher. This medal will sit alongside the gold Bob took in the 5k race earlier this season and his time would have been good enough to place second in his age group in the British Masters Road race.
With Paula Radcliffe out of the women’s marathon at the World Athletic Championships, it fell to two Harriers to inject some British interest in the distance events there and Graham and Rosi Capper took to the streets of Berlin on 22 August to compete in the so-called Champions 10k in conditions more akin to a sauna with temperatures reaching 29 degrees. Suffice to say they were back in the famous Olympic stadium in time to watch the full schedule of the day’s events, dominated by black athletes as they were back in 1936 when Jesse Owens captured his historic haul of 4 gold medals.
A real team effort on 25 August ensured that the Harriers won back the trophy from Lauderdale Limpers in the 10k club challenge race up and down the Stow Hill Road….with excellent performances from all comers on this toughest of road races hosted by the Limpers.
On the last Sunday of the month, Alice Haining gained selection for the Open British and Irish Junior Hill Running Championships in Cumbria in October by winning the Under 16 girls race at Menstrie, Clackmananshire. On a tough hilly route that covered 4.1 kilometres of track, grassy paths and steep uphill sections, Alice came home first in 19 minutes and 2 seconds to ensure automatic selection and suggesting that spending a summer canoeing is excellent training for hill running!! Also in fine form on the same demanding course was Rowan Marr who took a well-earned third place in the U14 boys’ event.
And finally on the same day, 3 lady Harriers took the honours at the Hawick 10k around the town’s glorious Wilton Lodge Park. Gillian Duncan, Fiona Shepherd and Dawn Grant were the first ladies home.
Hawick 10K Photos in Gallery
For the Sporting Week Ahead – Gala Harriers’ Henderson Trophy Race starting at Tweedbank at 6.30 on Thursday 3 September. All Harriers welcome.
