Junior Cross Country Series - Round 3  - 20 December

There was an excellent turnout of sixteen runners at the third event in Central Athletic Club’s Junior Cross Country Series at the Laighills Park, Dunblane.  Superb conditions met the youngsters as they tackled a testing course of just under a mile with all the athletes again rising well to the challenge.  Sam Fraser soon opened up a lead but fell victim to some controversial marshalling as the fast finishing Andrew McNally swept through to win in 4min 55secs with Sam in second (5.08).  Roisin Bonucchi proved her progress as top Girl on the day (5.17) a few strides ahead of another good run by Emily Greenan (5.18).  Domenic Angiolini had a strong run to finish in 5.25 as did the top Under 11, Jack Kerr (5.37).  Laura Clarke had another confident run (5.42) while Michael McCabe also showed improved stamina to finish in 5.46.  Lewis Strachan finished strongly (5.50) as did Ailig Struthers (5.53) while Amy Bilsland (6.06), Rory Strachan (6.11) and Jenna Cramb (6.14) all came through well.  Anna Clelland (7.22) kept her form well throughout to head home a gutsy run from her younger brother Angus (7.36).  Skye Campbell found the hills hard but showed lots of determination to finish in 8.24.

Central’s Alasdair Anthony and Alison Docherty took on all comers at Edinburgh Athletic Club’s Festive Queen’s Drive 5 kilometre Road Race in stormy conditions on Sunday 21 December.  Both athletes won their respective races on this hilly course with Alasdair clocking 17min 40secs and Alison 19min 38secs.

 A number of Central Athletic Club athletes have been named in the East District Teams for the Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships, incorporated within the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country event to be held in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh on Saturday 10th January 2009.  There is local interest throughout the age groups and the Senior Races, regarded as the best non championship cross country races in the world, will be shown live on BBC One from 1-2.30pm.  The Under 13 Girls include Kathryn Gillespie and Roisin Bonucchi; Under 15 Girls Rachel Adamson; Under 15 Boys Tom Watson and Ross Milne; Under 17 Men Andrew Butchart and Scott Green.  Eight of the twelve Senior Men selected are Central athletes following a dominant display at the recent East District Cross Country Championships:- Robert Russell, Scott McDonald, Ross Houston, Alasdair Anthony, Lewis Millar, Sean Reilly, Alex Hendry and Alaistair Hay.  The Senior Womens team includes Alison Docherty and Emma Waterhouse while Fiona Thomson will almost certainly be selected for the Scottish University Team at the same event.