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26 November 2005
The second East District Cross Country League Match of the Season saw a massive effort from Central Athletic Club with over 70 local runners contesting the races. Close to perfect conditions awaited the athletes at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy on 26th November as Central strode to five individual wins in the 10 races contested.
Conor Kerr had to dig in hard in the Under 11 Boys race and showed some committed front running to win in 6min 51secs, over a course that must have been much further than its 1 mile billing. This age group is full of enthusiastic runners and it was good to see Alexander Couborough challenging with the best in finishing sixth in 7.12, ably backed up by Jack Whitfield (17th in 7.51), Neil Cameron (18th in 7.54) and a fast finishing Gordon Milne (38th in 8.44). In the Under 11 Girls race it was Kathryn Gillespie who once again caught the eye racing through to win in 7.23 with another amazing front running performance. It was good to see Abby Housego back testing herself at Cross Country and she was rewarded with 10th place in 8.18, the same time as the improving Amy Hendry in 11th. Kirsty Buchanan is another making progress and finished 15th in 8.35. Ruth McCabe made her cross country debut for the Club and showed determination and a fast finish for 31st in 10.06.
There was also some classy running from the Under 13 Boys and Girls teams as they tackled a tough 1.75 mile course. It was the fast finishing Roddy Irvine who led home his team mates in sixth overall in 9.28, just edging out the gritty Ross Milne (seventh in 9.30) while good runs from David Hutchison (ninth in 9.39) and Scott Green (tenth in 9.43) will make this a tough combination in any company. Kellie Carruthers (28th in 10.31) and William Jamieson (36th in 11.34) provided more than useful back-up in this age group. There was also a fine turnout of Cental’s Under 13 Girls. Once again it was Lorna Cameron who showed her class with seventh in exactly 10 minutes while twin sister Fiona came home in a handy 13th place in 10.29. Georgia Quinn looked good as she conquered the tough course for 20th with a useful 10.42 clocking while Shona Buchanan and Katie Campbell are both making progress with excellent finishes of 41st in 12.11 and 44th in 12.27.
The Under 15 Boys race was one of the highlights of the day and it was two Central athletes, Sean Reilly and Matthew Gillespie who provided the interest. Locked together from the start these two young men powered away from the rest of the field with neither giving an inch over the undulating 4,000 metre course. As the race unfolded it was Sean who prevailed on this occasion to take victory in 13.45 with Matthew a few strides behind in second in 13.49. Alexander Hendry is growing in confidence and was prepared to run hard from the start to be rewarded with seventh in 15.09. It was good to see Alan Bennie swapping his rugby shirt for the yellow and blue of Central and he came home 11th in 15.30 while Anthony Gillespie showed good form to finish 16th in 15.48. It was good to see Sandy MacLarty turning out for the Club and finishing in fine style.
There was some fine running from the Club’s Under 15 Girls over the same 4,000 metre course tackled by the Boys. In a combined Under 15/ Under 17 race it was always going to be tough for the younger Girls however with a reshuffling of positions from earlier in the season it was Kate Morris who finished with the widest smile in 17th with 17.54 while Catriona Buchanan persevered well to finish in 25th with 18.19. Becky Hay was not at her best but came through for 32nd in 18.35 matched stride for stride by Anna Jamieson in 33rd also in 18.35. Rachel Hunter was another to look off colour but stuck well to her task to finish in 41st in 19.18. Claire Tunaley used all her determination to complete her run in 42nd in 20.08 while Dawn Kerr continues to improve with 51st in 23.21. Lily Eadie is improving her stamina with every outing and finished her run in 52nd place overall.
It was Michael Gillespie who continued Central’s winning streak with another determined front running performance in the Under 17 Mens race over a 5,600 metres course, finishing in 24mins 2secs. Scott McDonald again underlined his potential in this race with another excellent third place run in 24.24. Graham Harvey is another who continues to show improvement coming through for a fine 14th placing in 27.45.
The senior ladies team extended their lead in the league with a fine team win, headed by an outstanding run by Jenny Emsley in second place. Jenny, ran an uninhibited race after competing in the Scottish Universities match the previous day, and even had the temerity to try and pull away from eventual winner, GB 1500m runner Hayley Ovens, and finished with a time of 26min 45secs. Close packing behind by Claire Waterhouse (7th in 28 24), youngster Rowena Bell-Scott (8thin 28.36), Ainsley Normand (10th in 28.49) and Fiona Thompson (13th in 29.11) provided a comfortable cushion over second placed Carnegie Harriers. With Jane Waterhouse heading most veteran runners in 19th, with 29min 58secs, the ‘B’ team after the first three counters were even credited with fourth team place. A further contingent of Central runners showed the strength of the squad with an off-form Emma Waterhouse jogging in to 26th in 30.34 followed by Gillian Gilvear (36th in 32.01), Elinor Coombs (40th in 32.59), Andrina Buchanan (41st in 33.04), Mary Kerr (48th in 33.36), Natalie Millar (65th in 37.28), Valerie Shatwell (68th in 37.58) Janice Leitch (72nd in 39.42) and Louise Harris (75th in 42.17).
It was left to World Mountain Runner Alasdair Anthony to finish Central’s winning streak over a 10,000 metre course with some determined running for a 32.03 clocking, finishing well after his characteristically steady start. Ross Houston again battled well for twelfth in 32.20 and Lewis Millar had a more than useful run for 19th in 33.58. Michael Wright must have been feeling the effects of a hard run at the University Championships on the previous day but finished well for 34th in 35.09. David Armour and Steve Laing were locked in their own personal battle for 41st and 42nd respectively in 35.40 and 35.42. Alex Milne looked good as he powered round to 46th in 36.05 a few strides ahead of Alan Hume in 36.08. Marathon Man Phil Williams show good form while stepping down in distance with 90th in 38.06 and Robert Hutchison was not far behind with 95th in 38.29, closely followed by Martin Crawford (96th in 38.32). A collection of Central vests finished around 40 minutes including Fraser Purves (40.05), Hugh Kerr (40.20), Roger Greenaway (40.20), James Raven (40.22), Richard Coombs (40.45) and Euan Bell–Scott (41.04). Liam McCabe was making his debut for the Club and weighed in with a useful 41.04 clocking. Cameron Campbell had another good run in 41.08 with Allan Gall (42.09) and David Hay (42.53) also showing good form. It was left to Club stalwarts John Dickson and Jim Drummond to finish off interest for the Club in their own personal battle with John prevailing in 43.48 to Jim’s 49.46. Jim was heard to remark afterwards that this race was some one hundred miles to short for him but not bad for a wee winter training run.
League events like this could not run successfully without the help of the Club’s Coaches in getting runners into good condition for such races but also in ensuring runners turn out on the day and the Club is also indebted to David and Julie Hay for their exemplary Team Management on the day.
Morag MacLarty had an eventful week after winning the top female award at the Scottish Athletics dinner. Her appeal for a 1500m place in the Commonwealth Games team was successfully put before the Commonwealth Games Committee by Scottish Athletics on Monday evening, after initially being the only track and field nominee left out of the original team’s squad. On Saturday she took on top GB juniors over the country in Liverpool with six places up for grabs. After a roller coaster week, Morag was just off the pace of athletes she had beaten in previous weeks to take sixth place, but it is understood she has been given a place in a strong British team that will compete in the European Championships in the Netherlands on Sunday 11th December.
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