Promathon, Lauder-Gala Run, BUPA Great Winter Run & Winter X/C: Paxton 2012
January 9th, 20122012 has begun for Gala Harriers with a flurry of activity both locally and in the Big Smoke, all boding well for the third leg of the East District Cross Country League races at Broxburn next week.
The new year Scottish racing programme begins for those who have had a moderate Hogmanay with the Portobello Promathon on January 1st. Fiona Shepherd and Dave Nightingale travelled up to share the 4 mile sprint with Edinburgh-based Harriers Fergus Johnston and Carole Fortune as well as over 300 other hardy revellers. Fergus steamed home first for the Harriers in 22 minutes 50 seconds and 31st place overall, with Dave (25.05) Fiona (28.07) and Carole (28.31) all thoroughly relishing their restorative seaside outing.
The following day, almost 50 Harriers and Lauder Limpers joined forces for the annual January 2nd 10 mile run over the Southern Upland Way, this year from Lauder to Melrose Rugby Club where hot drinks and bacon rolls awaited the hungry, cold but happy runners. The friendly camaraderie of the day characterises this event – soon to be replaced by the friendly rivalry more usually experienced between the two clubs when racing schedules re-commence, as they did the following weekend with the 5th leg in the Borders Winter Cross Country series at Paxton House.
Just before that, Gala Harriers of all ages were much in evidence at the BUPA Great Winter Runs in Holyrood Park on Saturday, which kicked off a day of district, celtic and international competition which the BBC covers with its usual style from one of the most scenic of locations in the country. Young Harrier Andrew Hogg (9.59) stormed home in first place in the Under 11 boys to take the top podium position with Rory Williams (10.17) taking the bronze medal in the same race and Cara Hogg (10.36) the silver medal in the Under 11 girls. Jamie Kinghorn (9.46), Marshall Smith (9.36) and Mark Purves (10.41) also relished their first competitive outing of the year. Well done to all these youngsters. Becky Couch (22.42) and Dawn Grant (25.30) also chose to warm up for their cross country race the next day in the senior 5K. Later in the day, Harriers who had been selected for District representation featured in winning teams in the women’s races with Kerry Sandilands (18.31) and Lucy Henderson-Morris (18.55) helping their East team to victory in the Under 17 women and Dianne Lauder (21.10) doing the same in the senior women’s race. Rowan Marr with a gutsy 23.58 in the Under 17 men also justified his East team selection.
The following day, Paxton House was the enchanting backdrop for the next round of the Winter Cross Country series, this year windless, bright and mild – but still muddy, compared to last January’s winter wonderland. Numbers of competing athletes have risen steadily over the life of this series and over the course of this season and so a full listing of both junior and senior Gala Harriers’ results would take up too many column inches – this information is all to be found on Norham Running Club’s website. Of the 100 plus juniors, almost a quarter were Harriers, with excellent performances from many ensuring high category placings for Nathan Cox, Thomas Otton, Jamie Logan, Andrew Hogg, Becky Couch, Laura Anderson, Jo Arres, Cara Hogg and Emily Jones. Over 160 seniors who ran included 22 Harriers with 1st in category positions for Dave Nightingale, Bob Marshall, Fiona Dalgleish, Andrea Pogson and Isla King and 3rd places for Martin Clarke, Gillian Duncan, Fiona Shepherd and Shelagh King.
