National X/C Relays, Jedburgh 10K & 1/2 & Park Run Series
October 30th, 2009The cross country season continued last Saturday with the national XC relays at Cumbernauld, held in very unpleasant racing conditions as the whole country was engulfed in rain and winds. For the Gala Harriers’ senior female A team however it was a triumphant return to something near the consistent form of previous years with Katy Anderson, Rachel Fagan and Dianne Lauder lifting 5th position overall in a large field of 74 starting teams.
Katy started off with a very respectable first leg in 16 minutes and 49 seconds placing the team 12th, a position held on to by Rachel with her leg of 17.34. Dianne Lauder returned the 7th fastest lap of the day (15.44) in a field of international runners, lifting the girls up to 5th place, a superb result.
The B team consisting of veteran runners Eileen Nicol, Fiona Shepherd and Angela Foss came home in a well run 46th position, picking up 10 places from start to finish with legs of 20.18, 20.28 and 19.44 respectively.
The men fared less well with crack runner Graeme Murdoch not fully fit and opting not to run in the A team in case his injury let the team down - so he ran on his own and still achieved the best Harrier time of the day of 14.34. Nevertheless Gregor McAneny (16.12) Derrick Brydon (17.26) Alan Goodson (16.54) and Fergus Johnston (15.46) moved through the field picking up 10 places over the four laps as they finished 57th out of 121 starting teams.
Sunday saw Harriers making their way to Jedburgh for the half marathon and new 10k running festival after an hour longer in bed. On a cool and windy day, first harrier home was Euan Jardine who was 8th in 1 hour 21.03 seconds. In a large field, good runs came from Magnus Inglis (1.32.04) Billy McCulloch (1.32.33) Paul Daly (1.33.28) Tony Westbury (1.37.26) Billy McBain (1.42.08) David Hunter (1.42.23) and Fiona Forrest in 1.44.55 was the 10th female home. Malky Gowans running with a friend finished in 2.05.33, with Lisa Hogg enjoying her run in 2.12.42. (Full results are now up on the Jedburgh half marathon website.)
The Murdoch flag was flown on Sunday by Esther, who participated in the 10K race and enjoyed her outing in 57.33 and it was good to see Carole Fortune and Ruth McCann supporting the half marathon which they have run themselves for many years. All the Harriers wish Carole well on her road to a full recovery.
A new innovation to the Edinburgh running calendar is the Parkrun series which has had so much success in Glasgow over recent months. Athletes compete over 5K on the same route on a regular basis to increase their speed and reduce their times and at the inaugural run at Cramond on Saturday 17 October, Harrier Bob Marshall achieved the best age-graded performance on the day in 18.43. (For more information on the races see Edinburghparkrun.com)
The next day Bob went to Coatbridge for the Scottish Veterans 10k track event and won the over 60’s category in 39.39, placing him 4th in the UK performance tables and earning him a selection for the Scotland 60-65 group in the British Vets international cross country in November. Well done Bob.
Next outing for the Harriers is the Lasswade Cross Country races on Sunday 1 November.
