Inter District & Paxton X/C
January 10th, 2011The cross-country athletics season continued at last after weeks of uncertainty and cancelled fixtures with back-to-back events last weekend which saw Gala Harriers competing locally and for their district.
BBC TV cameras captured yet another winter wonderland in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park as internationally renowned African runners were in the spotlight at the Great Winter Run and Inter-District event on Saturday, where underfoot conditions could not have been more different from their home environment. On the icy parkland with a further layer of fresh snow lying crisply on the top, Gala Harrier Dianne Lauder stepped up to the line with names like Didaba and Masai, wearing her East of Scotland vest to compete against the best in the world as well as the best in Scottish women’s athletics. Dianne’s fine run in 23 minutes 30 seconds, taking in the treacherously steep Haggie’s Knowe placed her as the second counter for the East District, pipped by only 2 seconds by legend Liz McColgan’s daughter Elish, but ensuring that the East took second place in the rankings.
Earlier, junior Rowan Marr took on the West and North of Scotland in the Under 15 boys with a super run over 2.5 kilometres of the white stuff. He finished in a well deserved 11th place over all and 2nd placed runner for the East District which ensured their 2nd placing behind the West of Scotland.
The treacherous weather before Christmas meant that the first 3 events in the Borders Winter Cross Country series at Galashiels, Lauder and Peebles were all cancelled. So it was to a snowy Paxton House that over 150 keen runners suffering from cabin fever found themselves going on Sunday, which should have been the fourth event but was in fact the first round of this popular series. A new addition to the programme and organised very efficiently by RunDuns, the course was also very much snow-affected with ice and hard-packed snow making running difficult in parts. But 57 intrepid juniors turned up at the start for their race through glorious parkland under blue skies, with young Harriers doing very well for their first outing of the year. Fraser Wardhaugh scampered round the testing 2 mile+ course in 13.46 to finish in 7th position and 2nd in his Male14-15 category, with Nathan Cox just 8 seconds behind him looking very strong in the finishing stages. Cameron Gowans was 10th in 14.16 with Andrew Hogg just one place down in a grand 14.28 and in first spot in his male 8-11 years category. First home for the Gala girls was Lucy Henderson-Morris running very well in 14.36 to give her second place in the Female 14-15 category, closely followed by Isla King in 14.40 and first in her F16-17 age group. Kerry Sandilands worked hard for her 15.04 while young Cara Hogg ran like the wind to come home in 15.58, giving her first place in her F8-11 age group.
Also performing well in the challenging conditions were Karen Maxwell (16.20) Marshall Smith (17.40) Zoe Pflug (17.47) Mark Purves (18.08) Rhiannon Fagan (18.23) and Billie Phlug (20.21).
Well over 100 senior runners had made it to the welcoming venue and first Harrier back in for the excellent soup and sausage rolls was Mark Bryson in 7th place overall in 28.05, giving him first place in the M40-44 category. Bob Marshall showed a clean pair of heels to record an excellent 30.16, again giving him first place in his M60-64 age group and beating many half his age! Colin McCall was the third Harrier home in a well-earned 30.44. First home for the ladies was Fiona Dalgleish who ran strongly for her excellent time of 33.56, while Fiona Shepherd (37.09) and Dawn Grant (39.08) also ran canny races as the second and third female Harriers across the line. 16 Harriers in all mastered the demanding underfoot conditions and Paul Daly (30.57) David Nightingale (32.02) Malky Gowans (33.08) Tommy Knox (33.58) Robin Murray (36.54) James Purves (37.45) Paul Morris (38.02) Eileen Maxwell (41.04) Matthew Purves (41.43) and Shelagh King (46.25) all survived their dance on ice.
Next week sees the East District Cross Country Championships, incorporating the final leg of the East League. This is on Saturday 15th January at 12.45, Livingston.
