Performance Award Scheme Launched

I am pleased to announce that the Calderglen Harriers Performance Award Scheme has now been formally launched. The scheme has been developed with the assistance of EKGTA Ltd to recognise and motivate individual progression and improvement through training.

Race times set at accurate road race or track events at the distances of 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half-marathon and marathon will count towards the awards. Awards will be presented in two categories: absolute performance (running a very fast time relative to national age group standards) and setting personal bests (PB’s), both absolute and age group. With the inclusion of the latter category, every Harrier has the potential to achieve an award if they train hard and improve.

The full rules, performance tables and results forms can be downloaded from the club web site using this link:
http://www.calderglenharriers.org.uk/perfawardforms.html

There will be a presentation and question/answer session on the scheme after training on Thursday 4th June. For those that cannot make Thursdays, there will be a Monday night presentation at a date yet to be decided.

Auldhouse Time Trial Update

As you will all see, the voting is close between the 5.2km and 5km options. By way of some party political broadcasting, can I state that the soon to be launched Calderglen Performance and PB Award Scheme will require you to set performance standards or PB's at 3 out of 5 event distances in any one year to qualify for a performance award. The 5 distances are 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon and marathon. Furthermore, you will require to have run at least 3 events at any specific distance before the time can count as a pb.

I can see from the pb data that we have collected so far that very few people have run a 5k road or 5000m track race hence they are limiting themselves to 3 out of 4 possible event distances.

The Auldhouse time trial course will be accurately measured and hence would count for the purpose of 5k standards or PB's. That is why I suggested the 5k option. If you have already voted, it is possible to change your vote assuming you use the same PC to do so. Voting closes next Tuesday.

Walter Ross Memorial and Helensburgh 10k's

We are well into the season of mid-week 10k's and the Harriers are spreading themselves far and wide to participate. On Wednesday 21st May, Stuart Waugh competed in the Scottish Veteran Harriers Walter Ross Memorial 10k at Lochinch, finishing first in the M55 class in a time of 39:57, a welcome return to form after a disappointing Kilmarnock 10k.

The following evening David Herbertson raced the Helensburgh 10k and further improved his pb to 41:23.

Womens 10k and Monklands Half

Fine weather and a fabulous field of over 10,000 set the scene for impressive Harrier performances on the South side of Glasgow on Sunday 18th May at the Resolution Asset Management Womens 10k. Harrier to be (we hope) Laura-Anne Maguire set an extremely impressive new pb of 41:58, finishing in 52nd position. Also on the pb trail, Sandra Reid took another minute off her pb, finishing in 47:58 and Alison Crooks continued her progression finishing in 49:38.

Meanwhile, in deepest Lanarkshire, Alan Cullie was the only Harrier to venture round the streets of Coatbridge in the Monklands Half Marathon. No official results have emerged yet but the word is that Alan finished a fine 5th in around 1:24, which included an unplanned diversion off course courtesy of some fine upstanding local youths.

Open Graded Grand Prix Series

As part of the Scottish Athletics Grand Prix series there will be an open graded meeting at the John Wright track on Wednesday 23rd July. Events will include an 800m and a 3k. For further information, please go to www.scotthishathletics.org.uk

Malcolm

The Auldhouse Time Trial

As part of the on-going process to monitor improvements in response to training I would like to introduce a regular time trial around the Auldhouse circuit. We did this last September and you can see how you all did here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p_aBIInrxrvNTOIeoyZQMQw&hl=en_GB

The circuit starts and finishes at the Langlands Golf Course Club House junction and, you'll be pleased to know, proceeds in a clockwise direction down the steep hill, past Park Farm, turn right along Leaburn Road and then first right down the hill and back up to Auldhouse Cross, turn right and all the way back to Langlands. This is a 3.25 mile circuit (5.2km). I'll take a vote to see if you want the start or finish moved to shorten it to precisely 5k. Vote using the buttons on the menu to the left.

The time trial will take place on the following Thursday nights as part of normal club training:
5th June, 10th July, 7th August and 4th September.

Chatelherault Lap Times

As announced at the club, we are gathering everyone's times for each training session at Chatelherault. The purpose of this is to track how everyone is doing through the Summer training season. We didn't get around to collecting the times after the first two Chatelherault sessions, so could you please leave a comment on this blog post, recording your name, the time you took for the lap and whether or not you did the full lap or a reduced version of it. If you did not record the time, let us know who you finished the lap with as most people were sticking to their assigned packs and we can work out your time that way.

The first session was on 28th April and the second session on 12th May. You can view what times we have already here:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p_aBIInrxrvMplUqkL3CtPg&hl=en_GB

If you can't leave a comment on the blog for some reason, let Genevieve know what your time was.

Thanks
Alan

Kilmarnock 10k

An alternative sporting event on TV on Wednesday evening diminished the field somewhat but, with a team of 10 and a vocal travelling support, Calderglen were still the best represented club in the field of 82 for the annual Kilmarnock 10k. The long uphill start into a breeze encouraged a cautious start from all but this seemed to be the most efficient way to run the race as many fast times were achieved. (Photo:- Colin Freeman and Stephen Reilly "enjoying" the 3km uphill start! Looks downhill to me though....)

Despite a gruelling 4 days which included a 112 mile, 7-hour cycle race on the Sunday and a tough 7-mile session round Chatelherault on Monday evening, Andy Buchanan was first Harrier home in a new pb of 36:48 in 10th place overall. Colin Freeman was close behind (37:08) with the returning to form Jamie McMonagle next (37:34). Stephen Reilly won the prize for first Junior in a new pb of 37:54. This was despite stopping briefly at half way with a severe stich. Grand Prix leader Kenny Davidson was pleased to break 40 again with a time of 39:41. Eddie Reid made a cautious return from injury with a time of 40:15, chased by Stuart Waugh (41:19) who was disappointed with his form.

The Calderglen ladies collected a full house of prizes. Frances Maxwell was first F35 in a time of 45:13 and extended her Grand Prix lead. Sandra Reid ran her second 10k in 5 days and set a new pb of 49:05 closely followed by Mary Goldsmith (49:11) who continued her tradition of winning prizes at this race by taking first F45. The three ladies together won the first team prize.

Well done to all!

Grand Prix Updated after Troon

Nineteen Harriers enjoyed perfect conditions for the Troon 10k on the evening of 7th May with warm weather and a gentle breeze. The race was part of the Calderglen Women's Grand Prix in which Frances Maxwell extended her lead as first home in a time of 46:05. Genevieve Freeman made things difficult for herself by setting a pb in a 10-mile bike time trial the night before but still managed the 10k in a respectable 47:12. Mary Goldsmith picked up a joker, finishing in 48:40. Alison Crooks was next in her first Grand Prix race in a time of 50:26. The grand prix status can be viewed using the menu on the left.

Although the race was not part of the men's Grand Prix this year, there was still a great turn out of 9 Harriers. Ricky Leach was first back in a time of 35:34, followed by Jamie McMonagle (36:47), Colin Freeman (37:27), Ian Hughes (37:28) and Stephen Reilly (38:10). Missing from the original on-line results but now found in the latest published results, Jim Holmes ran a solid 41:43. For some reason this has never been a course that yields fast times which makes David Herbertson's pb of 42:12 all the more impressive. Graham Lindsay was next (43:48), then David Searil (49:33).

The Calderglen Tuesday Night section were out in force too: Stephen McLean (54:22), Richard Lawton (54:43), Emma Morrison (58:47), Donna Gillies (59:52), Alice Mullen (01:01:41) and Irene Hill (01:08:10). Well done to all.

Relay for Life

As previously mentioned, this year's event will take place from Friday 13th to Saturday 14th June at the John Wright track. The evening starts at 7 pm and runs through to the finale at 7 pm Saturday. We have acquired a marquee, which will give the club a suitable base for the 24 hour event. Please put your name against the time you wish to run. As this event is a cancer research event, sponsorship for this charity is a pre requisite for entry. Scott Hill has suitable sponsorship sheets. More details will be available in the next few weeks. There will be a junior runners event on Saturday afternoon and will require adult supervision for all junior members. Keep up to date with all the events through the club Blog.
Malcolm

The 'Fred Whitton' Challenge.

Hello Fellow Harriers

I (Genevieve) am doing a 112 mile bike ride. The Fred Whitton Challenge is considered to be the most gruelling bike race on the Race Calendar. It is a 112 mile sportive ride for charity around the English Lake District, taking in six of the major passes en route. It is on Sunday 11th May this year (1 week to go!...whose idea was this?). The route starts & finishes in Coniston and includes the climbs of Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass, Newlands Pass, Whinlatter Pass, Cold Fell, Irton Pike, and finishes with the brutal Hardknott & Wrynose Passes (which is, apparently, like cycling up a wall!!)

I am raising sponsorship money for Macmillan Nurses and I would be most grateful for any contributions.

Thank you very much for your support and happy running.

www.justgiving.com/genevievefreeman