Scottish Masters XC Championships - Brutal!

The Scottish Masters XC Championship always manages to be a challenge, never an easy course, never pleasant weather! Today was no exception (OK, the weather was alright). The course at Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock is familiar to many of us and it was with some trepidation that a large group of Harriers joined a record field in the muddy field on the edge of the park. It also was great to see that the council had been doing some ground works along the start/finish straight as I don't think the course was muddy enough otherwise!

Frances gives Allan the low down on the course

The ladies race over about 6k was off first. One large lap taking in the big hill and a small lap to finish. Frances Ferguson and Alison Johnston were our two representatives in this race. Frances had raced here before but Alison was a bit worried, having heard that both Russell and I had failed to complete the course last time the event was held here (not to worry, it was illness and injury respectively that knocked us out, not the course).

Before we started, the course was already well churned up by runners warming up. After a fast 200m gently downhill, the route made a sharp, muddy U-turn, providing the first opportunity for fallers, of which there were many. However, both Frances and Alison stayed on their feet, used to the muddy training we do in EK. By the end Frances had worked her way through to 14th F50 in a time of 30:11 which Frances declared was the hardest cross country race of her life. Alison kept a steady pace throughout and was moving well, crossing the line in 39:06. As Alison managed that, she can manage any cross country race!

Alison strides out the finish

Alan Derrick airborne

The men's race included age groups from M40 through to M60 and started with one small lap followed by two big laps giving a total distance of about 8km. We had a field of near 250 in this race meaning that if the course was not muddy enough at the start, it would be by the finish. After a steady start, I found myself struggling a bit by the end of the small lap and dropping back from the competitors in my age group. I thought the big hill on the large lap would suit me and I would make ground back up but that was not to be and I was toing and froing with the same few runners without making any real progress through the field. However, by the last lap, my strength was finally beginning to tell and the last time up the hill I made up many places including 3 or 4 M50's and managed to muster a long sustained effort from the hill to the finish (with a minor trip on the big log we had to jump in the woods). I was happy enough with 10th M50 overall in 34:33, although several minutes off the leading M50's. I'm not strong enough for that amount of deep mud unfortunately.

Martin Duthie powers to the line

Also 10th in his (new) M55 class was Martin Duthie making a relatively rare appearance on an individual cross country race. Martin looked really strong at the finish, crossing the line in 36:40. Harriers run of the day came from Allan McLellan who, despite still not feeling 100% well, used his strength, experience and cross country ability to turn in a fine 38:02 and 11th position in the M60 class. Allan is short of racing (and training) at the moment and will definitely move through the competitors in this age category as he continues to get race fit.

Stephen Phimister showing gritty determination

Stephen Phimister put on a brave face but clearly was not inspired by the conditions pre-race. However, once he got going he had a fine run with a strong finish, crossing the line in 39:47. Kenny Leinster put his foot through his trail shoes at training on Monday and much to his dismay, his new ones had not yet arrived. So he was reduced to wearing a pair of very slick looking road/trail shoes. This makes Kenny's time of 41:53 particularly impressive as I have no idea how he stayed on his feet! This was Alan Cullie's first XC race for years and only his second race of any kind in the same time span. Obviously Alan is not afraid to throw himself in at the deep end, entering this event and many other forthcoming races. Alan crossed the line in 42:26. This absolutely is not Martin Howell's surface, being very much a road racer. With the further disadvantage of wearing glasses to run, this was going to be a real trial for Martin. However, he will definitely have got a strength boost from this and I was impressed with his time of 43:06. Geo Ferguson rarely does cross country and so this was an admirable performance by Geo, who admitted to feeling sick during a race for the first time due to the physical effort involved in his time of 43:15.

Good running form from Geo

The Jim Holmes Life and Sole award goes to Richard Lawton who was surprised to see the sole of his shoe overtaking him at one point on the course. Unfortunately the sole was neither attached to his shoe nor his feet at this point but fortunately it landed in front of him so he could pick it up and keep it for posterity! Well done Richard on completing the race in 45:30 with only one shoe.

Richard Lawton puts his best foot forward
(whilst holding the other one)

Gordon McInally had no mishaps but is very much in apres-ski mode as he gets back into running form. Considering Gordon's first appearance at this event (in Forres) was two years ago, Gordon has made excellent progress and will continue to improve. Gordon's time was 47:55. This was John Boyd's second cross country race ever. He had the twin advantages of being an Ayrshire lad and wearing brand new spikes (not looking so new now though). Both John and Alison always look as though they are enjoying themselves during a race, even today and John should be particularly happy with his time of 47:55. Russell Couper is steadily improving again and progressing gradually away from the back of the field with every race. Russell was therefore pleased with his run of 49:24, despite his legs seizing up on the first big climb. An easy run tomorrow and some stretching will soon fix that. Chas Steven has done dozens of Ayrshire cross country races over the years and was relishing these typical conditions as he strode to the line in 58:28. Not sure what aspect of the race Chas is describing in the photo below, but caption suggestions are welcomed!

Chas Steven sets up today's caption competition!

I am pleased to say that our M50-M60 trio of Alan Derrick, Martin Duthie and Allan McLellan were 5th team in that class. Not bad for a National Championship.

A huge thanks to Kenny, Gordon and their assistants for dragging the tent onto and off the site. It was a welcome shelter from the drizzle. Also a big thanks to the Howell family for capturing most of us in photos. There are some great action shots in there. All the photos are in this album.

Note that the above times are all from the provisional results and are subject to change.
Alan