|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
EAST DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS -8 October 2005 – Corstorphine Hill, Edinburgh
It takes a certain breed of runner to tackle Cross Country Races and it needs even more commitment to compete in a Cross Country Relay event where, after the first lap, there can be significant gaps to close or fast runners hurtling past. So it was compliment indeed to Central Athletic Club’s athletes that fifty hardy soles toed the line in the four events that comprised the East District Cross Country Relay Championships at Corstorphine Hill on Saturday 8th October.
The Club had both the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s Trophies to defend from 2004 and with some talented youngsters amongst the Boys and Girls teams there was much at stake for the athletes as they tackled this most testing of courses in bright sunshine.
The format of the Young Athletes races was three legs, each of 2.5 kilometres with an Under 13 on the first leg followed by an Under 15 runner and an Under 17 running the last leg. The rules are such that an Under 13 can substitute for an Under 15 and an Under 15 for an Under 17. This was a rule Central made full use of in the Girls race where there were no Under 17’s available to the Club. It was Lorna Cameron who caught the eye on the first lap as she strode confidently round to complete her leg in fourth in 8mins 39secs. Rachel Hunter picked up the challenge on the second lap with a fine leg of 8.46 to keep the Club in fourth place. Catriona Buchanan (Under 15) was not overawed as she sped round the final leg (8.44) but had to give ground to two Under 17 Girls as she brought the Club home in sixth position overall, an improvement of three places from 2004. There were further excellent performances from Under 13’s Mairi Gillespie (9.03), Georgia Quinn (9.15), Fiona Cameron (9.22) and Katie Campbell (10.42). The Under 15 Girls all showed that they were making progress and Becky Hay (8.47), Kate Morris (8.50), Gemma Milne (9.14) and Anna Jamieson (9.44) will all continue to make an impact in team events this Season.
Following this fine showing by the Girls it was Silver all the way for the Club as first the Boys then the Women, followed by the Men all made light of the tougher hills to take second in their events but each with a different story to tell.
The Boys race started with a spirited leg from Tom Watson as he came home in second place on his leg in 7mins 46secs, for Central’s ‘B’ team. It was however David Hutchison who was the Club’s ‘A’ runner and he stuck well to his task to complete his lap in 10th place in 8.13. Under 15 runner Sean Reilly has been making progress all Summer and he soon hauled back places with a storming run of 7mins 7secs (the second fastest Under 15 time of the day) to bring the Club’s ‘A’ team through to second overall. Meanwhile the ‘B’ team’s Under 15 runner Alexander Hendry (7.39) kept his team in close contention, some 5secons back in third place. It was Under 17 runner Michael Gillespie’s task to battle for the medals and with City of Edinburgh AC holding a 45second lead the best Central could hope for was Silver. However as Central’s ‘B’ team were just 5secs down Scott McDonald determined to prove his credentials and Aberdeen AAC a further 4secs behind Silver medals were far from a foregone conclusion. As the three teams battled out over the last lap it was Michael who held on to Silver with a fine 6.51 clocking for 22.11 overall. Behind the Aberdeen runner had clawed his team to Bronze position just 3 seconds down by the end with Scott also running a superb 6.51 to bring Central’s ‘B’ team home in fourth with 22.16, a tantalizing 2 seconds away from Bronze medals.
Central finished four teams in the Boys race and there was excellent running throughout the teams with Under 13’s Roddy Irvine (8.04), Connor Kerr (8.20), Ross Milne (who shouldered the responsibility of an Under 15 leg – 8.30) and William Jamieson (9.07) all showing superb form and commitment. Anthony Gillespie came through his Under 15 leg well in 8.09 and Under 17’s Graham Harvey (7.30); David Keye (7.54) and David Devlin (7.56) should form the backbone of a strong Cross Country team for the Club as the Season progresses.
It always looked as though defending the Women’s title over three legs of 4000 metres was going to be tough, especially as none of last year’s winning team were available and European Youth 1500metre Champion Morag MacLarty was sidelined with a niggling injury. Youngster Jennifer Emsley was undeterred as she accepted the challenge on a hilly course that suited her Junior International Hill Running credentials and Jennifer brought the Club round in third place in 14.16. Claire Waterhouse has turned her attention to Triathlon events recently but showed that her running skills had not suffered as she traded places with other teams but kept Central in medal contention in third with an excellent 14.54 clocking. It was down to Ainsley Normand to anchor the Club’s effort and, with every elegant stride Ainsley ate up the ground to power through into Silver medal position with a superb 14.57 lap.
There was still more drama to come though when it transpired that the clubs team managers had been right to question the inclusion in the first team of an experienced thlete who had been competing for another club in other team competition within the past two years. Following a formal appleal by the club, supported by third placed Gala Harriers, it was confirmed that the first team on the day had indeed fielded an ineligible athlete and they were disqualified and Central ladies promoted to first place.
There were fine efforts also by Jane Waterhouse (15.33) and Mary Kerr (17.01) bringing the ‘B’ team into an excellent twelfth place overall at the end of the second lap but lacked a final leg runner to finish off their fine effort.
The Men’s ‘A’ Team of Ross Houston, Alastair Hay, Alasdair Anthony and Robert Russell looked in confident mood ahead of their four by 4000metre effort but also knew they had some fine ‘B’ team runners vying for Team places. First leg runner Ross appeared slightly jaded on his run but still showed superb commitment as he brought the Club round in seventh place in 12min 26secs, a couple of seconds behind ‘B’’ team runner Lewis Millar but an ominous 53secs behind leaders City of Edinburgh. Alastair Hay showed he was close to his best form as he made inroads into the field hauling the ‘A’ team through to third and carving some 12secs off City of Edinburgh’s lead. Meanwhile it was Ewan Gault taking second leg responsibilities for the ‘B’ team with another fine run in 12.19 for seventh overall. Alasdair Anthony looked to have thrown off any effects of his recent Mountain Running efforts in New Zealand as he picked up another place to bring the’A’ team through to second with 11.40 but now 51secs behind the leaders. Under 20, Michael Wright had continued the Club’s ‘B’ team effort with a 12.17 clocking to move once again into sixth place.
Robert Russell looked every inch the Scottish Long and Short course Cross Country Champion he is as he set off in pursuit of City of Edinburgh’s final leg runner, appearing to shorten the lead with every stride. This was the closest race of the day and Robert came within 8 seconds of his rival by the end, hauling back some 43secs as he sped to the fastest lap of the day (11.13) but having to settle for Silver on this occasion. A little further behind it was Under 20 runner Murray MacLarty who was anchoring the ‘B’ team into an excellent eighth place overall with a 12.54 leg.
The ‘C’ team of Martin Crawford (13.55), Miguel Merayo (14.05), Alex Milne (13.28) and Robert Hutchison (13.54) battled well for 21st place and it was good to see Cameron Campbell (15.05), Alan Gall (15.50), Hugh Kerr (15.37) and John Millar (16.00) finish 42nd overall while George McHardy (17.16), Jim Drummond (18.18), Gordon McNeil (16.10) and David Hay (16.29) rounded off the Club’s effort in 52nd place.
Thanks are due to the Club’s Team Managers, David Hay, Mandy Gillespie and Jane Waterhouse for their superb work in ensuring such a high turnout of Club athletes.
Matthew Gillespie was Scotland’s top runner at the Junior Hill Running Home International held in Carlingford, Republic of Ireland on Sunday 9th October. Matthew had won the equivalent Under 14 Race in 2004 and as first year Under 16 had hoped to make an impact. However an individual Silver medal run must have fulfilled his wildest dreams as he led the Scottish Team to Team Silver medals behind a strong English Team.
...o0o...
|
|
East District Cross Country League 15 October 2005
With both quality and quantity on show in the first East District Cross Country League of the season Central Athletic Club swept to their best ever showing in the League. The near perfect conditions at Stirling University on 15th October matched near perfect results from the Club with an excellent turnout in all but the Under 17 Womens races.
The Under 11 Girls race saw 9 year old Kathryn Gillespie racing away from the field to win the 1400 metre race in an excellent 5min 43secs. Kathryn was well backed up by Amy Hendry (13th in 6.42), Kirsty Buchanan (17th in 6.44) and Rebecca Stewart (20th in 6.49) to take second team spot. Conor Kerr continues to prove his class and showed fine form once again to win the Under 11 Boys race in 5min 30secs. The back-up was provided through strong running from Neil Cameron (4th in 5.49) and Gordon Milne (30th in 6.56), for an overall third team placing.
It was good to see a strong Under 13 Girls team representing the Club and it was Lorna Cameron who led home the challenge over the 2,600 metre course in fifth place in 10min 41secs. With all the girls running well it was good to see Fiona Cameron (10th in 11.19), Fionn Hargreaves (22nd in 12.18), Shona Buchanan (27th in 13.20) and Katie Campbell (30th in 13.40) completing the course in fine style.
The Under 13 Boys team packed well to finish second overall. It was David Hutchison who let his class tell as he came home in seventh in 10minutes exactly, again over the 2,600 metre course, with Roddy Irvine (8th in 10.03) just a few strides behind. Ross Milne showed good form with a 10.24 clocking in 11th and William Jamieson made an impact with 11.22 in 26th. Brendan Millard (27th in 11.29), Kelly Carruthers (28th in 11.33), Chris Park (30th in 11.37) and Callum Park (31st in 12.23) all performed well as they mastered this testing course
There was some fine running from the Club’s Under 15 Girls over a 4,000 metre course and it was Catriona Buchanan who underlined her recent improvement with fourth place in 17 min 14 secs. Again there was strong running and close packing from Becky Hay (8th in 17.42), Kate Morris (9th in 17.54), Gemma Milne (10th in 18.18), Anna Jamieson (14th in 18.42) and Dawn Kerr (19th in 20.06). Lily Eadie made her Cross Country debut finishing a determined run in 27th spot.
Sean Reilly was feeling under the weather prior to the 4,000 metre Under 15 Boys race but still pushed on hard at the front of the race. Sean had to settle for third on this occasion but this was sufficient to lead his Team through to a winning position. Anthony Gillespie 13th in 15.22 provided an improved run and Alexander Hendry (17th in 15.45) did not look out of place in this company. Sandy MacLarty has a great attitude to this tough sport and once again produced a more than useful run.
Michael Gillespie made a determined run from the gun in the Under 17 Mens race over a 5,200 metres course, finishing second in 17min 46secs. Scott McDonald is already carving out a reputation at this level and his confident run was rewarded with third in an excellent 17.48 clocking. Graham Harvey weighed in with an improved run for 17th in 19.23 and David Devlin held his run together well as he came home in 21.21 for 25th.
The Senior Womens race saw the Club producing a strong start in defence of their league title as they started with a team win. It was no surprise to see Morag MacLarty at the head of the field and Morag finished in second place in 18min 38secs over the 5,200 metre course. Jennifer Emsley is another young runner continuing to improve and had another useful run for fifth overall in 19.55. Fiona Thompson made an all too seldom appearance for the Club, finishing in 17th in 20.54 with Ainsley Normand (19th in 21.12) in close pursuit. Jane Waterhouse continues to prove she ‘has what it takes’ with her finish in 31st in 21.46 while Gillian Gilvear (57th in 23.57), Elinor Coomb (58th in 23.58) and Mary Kerr (59th in 24.23) played out their own personal rivalry. Andrina Buchanan proved a useful addition finishing in 68th in 25.14 and there were good runs from Valerie Shatwell (82nd in 28.21), Louise Harris (86th in 30.58) and Helen Campbell (87th in 31.38).
In many ways the Club left the best to last with the yellow and blue vests dominating the Senior Mens race over a 9,000 metre course. It was no surprise to see Scottish International Robert Russell sweep into the lead or for Robert to come home first in 26.41. It was also no surprise to see Alastair Hay taking on the field from the start and finish second in 27.10 and it was no surprise to see Alasdair Anthony work through the field to finish in fifth in 27.35. It was good to see Ross Houston producing a confident run for 7th in 28.11 and to see Junior Hill Running International, Kyle Cowie wearing the clubs colours for the first time, finishing 11th in 28.27. Michael Wright (23rd in 29.59), Murray MacLarty (35th in 30.52), Alan Hume (44th in 31.38), Martin Crawford (66th in 32.45), Miguel Merayo (74th in 33.22) and Fraser Purves (33.25) filled the middle order places Alex Milne looked uncharacteristically off form but still managed a useful 89th placing in 33.50. Allister Hargreaves ((115th in 35.02) was followed home by Hugh Kerr (137th in 36.00), Cameron Campbell (143rd in 36.24), Hugh Buchanan (151st in 37.00), Allan Gall (159th in 37.45), David Hay (171st in 38.31), John Dickson (201st in 41.46) and Jim Drummond (209th in 43.13)..
Once again the Club is indebted to Stirling University for use of their facilities and to all the Club’s course builders, marshals and Team Managers who helped make this such a successful day.
Photo gallery
...o0o...
|
|
National Cross Country Relay Championships – 22 October 2005 – Cumbernauld
The memory for Central Athletic Club’s Men Team of Silver medals in the last two year’s Scottish Cross Country Relay Championships allied to the more recent experience of second place at the East District event proved powerful motivation for Alastair Hay, Ross Houston, Alasdair Anthony and Robert Russell as they approached the Scottish Relay Championships with a steely resolve. With each runner facing a 4000metre test over a wet and hilly course and the best Clubs in Scotland on show, it would take every second of concentration and ability for Central’s young athletes to prevail.
With teams vying to take an early advantage it fell to the youngest member of the quartet, Alastair Hay, to give the Central Team a good start. Alastair appeared to give little thought to his prestigious rivals which included former Scottish Cross Country Champion Steve Cairns as he grasped the initiative, handing over a 10 second lead to second leg man Ross Houston with a leg of 13min 15sec. Ross knows the secret of front running in these races is not to get carried away in the early stages and set off at a controlled but fast pace as he stamped his experience on a very mature leg holding off a fast closing City of Edinburgh athlete, Scottish 1500 metre Champion, Darren Gauson, to finish in 13.58 to hand over a two second lead. On the third leg Scottish Hill Running Internationalist, Alasdair Anthony never looked likely to relinquish his lead as he used all his experience, and kept a cool head, to open up a 16 second lead with a leg of 13.28. It was double Cross Country Champion Robert Russell who had the satisfaction of running a virtual ‘lap of honour’. Having spent so many final relay legs running down leading teams it must have given Robert a great deal of satisfaction to be able to relax, run the fastest lap of the day (12.52) and soak up applause with every stride to anchor Central Athletic Club’s Men Team to a magnificent victory, for the first time at this level, with a winning margin of over a minute.
As in the East District Cross Country Relays the format of the Young Athletes races was three legs, each of 2.5 kilometres with an Under 13 on the first leg followed by an Under 15 runner and an Under 17 running the last leg. On a trial basis the rules allowed an Under 13 to substitute for an Under 15 and an Under 15 for an Under 17. As at the East District Relays this was a rule Central made full use of in the Girls race where there were no Under 17’s available to the Club, handing a big advantage to their rivals. Central’s ‘A’ team had Lorna Cameron on the first leg completing her effort in a fine tenth place in 11min 18secs for the fastest Central time of the day. Catriona Buchanan picked up the challenge on the second leg and appeared to attack the hills with relish as she completed her leg in 11.42 to hand over in 13th. It was always going to be a tough task to take on her older rivals but Rachel Hunter looked undaunted as she strode round for a 12.14 lap and an overall 17th placing. It was good to see the Club fielding three teams in the Girls race and the trio of Mairi Gillespie (12.47), Fiona Cameron (12.24) and Becky Hay (12.06), came home in an overall 29th place, showed maturity beyond their years as both Fiona and Becky had moved up an age group on this occasion. Central’s ‘C’ team of Georgia Quinn (12.23), Claire Tunaley (13.06) and Gemma Milne (12.24) all performed with distinction with Gemma another to look unconcerned in having to move up an age group as the team finished in a highly satisfactory 37th.
Team Manager David Hay had the difficult task of choosing teams from the many well matched young Central Athletic Club male runners but passed this test with flying colours. Central had won this title in previous years but in 2004 had to settle for bronze medals and with East Champions City of Edinburgh looking almost unbeatable and a strong challenge expected from West Clubs, Kilbarchan, Cambuslang and Kilmarnock this looked like a big task for Central’s young athletes. For most of the first leg Central’s athletes Roddy Irvine, David Hutchison, Tom Watson and Ross Milne were so well matched you could have thrown a blanket over them as they packed in around 20th position in times of 10mins 48secs, 10.55, 10.48 and 11.12 respectively.
The second leg saw the attention switch to the front of the field as Central’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, represented by Under 15’s Matthew Gillespie and Sean Reilly really began to prove their class as they sliced through the field to end their leg in superb second and third places respectively. Matthew’s (9.04) and Sean’s (9.03) runs proving to be the fastest Under 15 times of the day with both close to the fastest overall times.
With City of Edinburgh well out in front the Central lads were competing for the Silver and Bronze medals. Not only was it difficult to predict in which order the Central teams would finish they were being pressed by Scottish Schools Cross Country Champion Derek Hawkins as he pulled Kilbarchan into contention. The final lap, contested by Michael Gillespie ‘A’ team and first year Under 17 runner, Scott McDonald ‘B’ team, with Hawkins trying to hunt them down was the most enthralling contest of the afternoon. With only 30 metres covering the three athletes as they approached the final undulating 800metres many expected Kilbarchan to speed to victory. However they had not reckoned with the resolve of the Central lads and in the final run in it was Michael Gillespie (9.05) who prevailed by two seconds over a fast finishing Scott McDonald (9.01) with Kilbarchan a further two seconds behind but out of the medals. The victory platform was almost a sea of yellow and blue as the wide grins of Central’s athletes confirmed a job extremely well done.
Central’s Boys ‘C’ and ‘D’ teams were never likely to hit the high spots of their medal winning colleagues but were still running with distinction while the spotlight was elsewhere. First Year Under 15’s Alexander Hendry (10.11) and Anthony Gillespie (10.50) will prove to be essential team members later in the season and both ran well here. Likewise Under 17’s Graham Harvey (10.03) and David Devlin (10.31) proved to be excellent back up as their teams finished in highly respectable 26th and 42nd positions.
Following the performance in the Boys race the Women knew they had something to live up to and this seemed to spur them on to great efforts over their three laps. It was Under 20 athlete Jennifer Emsley who started Central’s challenge with a fine run over the same tough 4000metre course later used by the Men. Jennifer ensured that Central completed her leg in close contention (fourth) with an excellent 16.08 clocking and it was Hazel Dean who picked up the challenge. Hazel used all her experience as she pulled her team through to third with a fine 16.40 clocking just 8 seconds away from second. With Edinburgh Southern Harries almost two minutes ahead even Commonwealth Games nominee Morag MacLarty was unlikely to bring home Gold. However with a characteristically charging run Morag soon pulled Central through to the Silver medal position, ran the equally fast lap of the day (15.13) and pulled her Edinburgh rivals back to a winning margin of less than a minute.
Meanwhile, further down the Womens field, it was Central’s Masters team that were strutting their stuff and it was a combination of Jane Waterhouse (18.08), Elinor Coombs (19.33) and Mary Kerr (20.02) who left Cumbernauld with the biggest grins of the day and yet another set of Silver medals. There were also some more than useful performances from Central Ladies ‘B’ team finishing in a superb seventh overall through Ainsley Normand (17.02), Claire Waterhouse (17.01) and youngster Rowena Bell-Scott (17.18).
While all the attention in the Mens race had been on Central’s winning quartet there was no lack of back up as Central finished six teams in this contest. It was Michael Wright (14.30), Lewis Millar (14.28), Alan Hume (15.22) and Murray MacLarty (15.07) who brought home Central’s ‘B’ team in an excellent 20th place. Central’s Masters Team of Robert Hutchison ((16.28), Alex Milne (15.04), Steve Laing (15.13) and Robert Stott (16.28) all ran well to finish as fifth Masters team. The team of Martin Crawford (15.55), Miguel Merayo (15.47), Phil Sweeney (17.14) and Will Hensman (16.05) all ran well for 49th overall. There were also good performances from Alan Gall (18.07), Hugh Buchanan (17.27), John Millar (17.19) and Hugh Kerr (17.15) as they finished as 76th team, while debutant David Lindsay (16.53), George McHardy (19.34), Jim Drummond (20.41) and another newcomer, David Greenlee (17.27) rounded off their performance in 84th. David Hay ran the first of two laps in an incomplete team (18.42) and Stewart Watson (18.08) rounded off a superb day of high quality performances that must have placed Central as the overall top Club of the day.
...o0o...
|
|
Perpetual Trophy winners for 2005
Click here for a full list of this year’s winners
...o0o...
|
|
|
|
|
