LANARKSHIRE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015

Pre-race Team photo

Last weekend was the Lanarkshire AAA XC at is usual location at Drumpellier Country Park in Coatbridge.  Due to family commitments I couldn't get there until 1230 and by this time the under 13 races were in progress.  So Frances Maxwell stepped into the role of Team Manager superbly to get the race numbers and greet the junior Harriers on the course and get ready to run.

 

Katie receiving her Gold Medal

This year we had 17 runners scheduled to take part with 1 call off.  This was a healthy number of young eager athletes although we have had more than this over the last 3 years.

 

The first race of the day was the under 11 Girls with 5 Harriers amongst the field of 57 running a 1.2k course.  Libby Currie was the first Harrier home in a time of 3:40 (6th); next was Ruby Byrne in 3:57 (20th); Lucy Bennett 4:15 (34th); Rachel Jones 4:31 (43rd) and Katie Currie 6:45 (57th).  It was 3 counters for a team and Libby, Ruby and Lucy achieved 7th team. Extra special award went to Katie Currie for being 1st in the disability category. Well done Katie the pain of running was worth the wait in gold.

 

Joe on solo run

Next up we had 5 under 11 Harrier boys amongst the field of 63 running the same 1.2k course the girls ran however disaster struck!  When 63 under 11 boys line up eager to run and be competitive to win you don't blow a whistle and then say it is a 5 minute warning well on this occasion you do with consequences. The boys started to run like greyhounds chasing a rabbit and everyone shouting stop fell on deaf ears.  One of our runners Joe Jackson was a casualty as he listened to the starter and the same for 4 of Springburn Harriers juniors missed the false start.  Despite being upset Joe with true grit ran in the under 13 boys race and cut off the appropriate turn to run the 1.2k mainly on his own and got a great time.  Not sure how Lanarkshire AAA got the times as I thought the timekeeper wasn't ready but the times are:

 

Patrick Saez 3:20 (9th); Joe Jackson 3:25 (15th); Lewis Moir 3:31 (20th); Rudi Jordan 3:52 (41st) and Finn Buckman (DNF) due injury during the race.  Again it was 3 counters for a team and Patrick, Joe and Lewis achieved 5th team out of 10.

 

Ava Byrne with sister Ruby

Ava Byrne was now our solo under 13 girl as Freya Kane pulled out due to a cold.  This age group's course was 2.5k and Ava finished in a respectable 12:08 (39th) out of a field of 44.  Under 13 Boys we had Louis Blake coming first Harrier home in 10:14 (19th); Reece Gilliland 11:05 (28th) and Fergus Kane 11:13 (31st).  It was 3 counters for a team and Louis, Reece and Fergus achieved 7th team.  Last but not least our under 15s were out to end Calderglen's participation at this event. 

 

The under 15 girls & boys ran a combined 3.7k race and this year we had Jack MacBain returning to this event as a second year in this age category, and Lucy Saez for the first time. Jack's time this year was 14:07 and 11th in a small field of 21.  Lucy's time was 17:48 which was a great effort racing this distance.

 

It was good to get 16 junior Harriers out racing as it forms another part of training, helps you measure your progress in terms of fitness and technical running skills. I am in know doubt we are doing the same type of training as other clubs but we just need to do more to have a bigger impact at events like Lanarkshire AAA XC. And in the past we have won medals in different categories at this event so it can be done.  Despite a day of mixed fortunes for all a good set of results and I am proud of all that ran.  So once more well done everyone.

 

Post race with Coaches

All the photos from the day are here. Hopefully you can access them if not let me know. Thank you to Frances who took the photos and Siobhan who supplied a few, and thank you to Les Kane and Zoe Blake for being club volunteers that LAAA requested even thought they ended up not being required.

Richard