Ho Ho Ho!

The Harriers' Christmas Handicap race added a dash of colour to an otherwise bleak, wet and windy morning in Calderglen Country Park. The quality of fancy dress never fails to impress and indeed many of the 19 participating Harriers were completely unrecognisable. So here is a guide to the photo on the left.

First to start the 4 mile course was Russell Couper dressed as an athlete and from there the transformations from Harrier to goodness knows what got even more bizarre. As many top athletes do, Sandra Reid picked this low key race to make her return to racing after an injury induced absence of several years. Unlike most top athletes, Sandra was dressed as a reindeer! The Santa/reindeer combo was completed by Alison Lessells with a very convincing Santa tummy and Andy Henderson as reindeer number 2.

Continuing the Christmas theme, Richard Lawton was a well decorated tree only missing the fairy from the top in the shape of Neil Green. The battery powered pump keeping Neil's costume inflated was fighting a losing battle against the stormy winds and by the last lap the wind had won as a somewhat deflated Neil continued to "manfully" chase down the field. Although the proper Winter weather was missing, the snowmen were out in force with both Frances Maxwell and Jim Mearns choosing variations on this theme. Jim even managed to do some simulated melting as he shed cotton wool snowballs throughout the race. Also missing the snow were our two penguins, Hugh Simpson and Alastair Crawford. Hugh wins the David Attenborough prize for most realistic animal impression after attempting one of those penguin belly slides up the main drive. Unfortunately it works better on snow than tarmac and, modest as ever, Hugh claims he just tripped over his big webbed feet. Spotted chasing penguins and sticks, Eddie Reid had 101 excuses to justify a better handicap but the Dalmatian did the business around the course (just don't tell the park ranger). The Buchanans were well represented with Billy tooled up for DIY and Andy as the fastest Twinky Winky in the west. Not to be outdone by Andy, Sandy Hayden was persuaded (twice, once before the race and again half way through!) to run as a tiger. Martin Duthie returned to Cool Running form, dread locked to the hilt as a fully sledged Jamaican. Late riser Jim Holmes had a minimal costume this year consisting of a bath robe and shaving foam helping him to a nippy (face) run. We were well represented by our juniors with Batman Emma Lawton flying around the course and fine elf Marc McQuade zipping past the big ones. Finally, from the Land that Time Forgot (which he tells me is somewhere near Falkland in Fife), newly elected club president Kenny Leinster performed well as a very hairy cave man.

These were the contenders but none of them could overhaul a returning to form Russell Couper who was first to cross the line after five hard laps. Sandra Reid was a close second and was very encouraged by her first hard run back. In third place was Richard Lawton chased to the line by daughter Emma. Fastest time of the day was a very close call (subject to a stewards' enquiry over a costume infringement!) with Andy Buchanan and Martin Duthie both recording 23:31 (the stop watch shows Andy 0.1 seconds ahead which he is claiming as a clear victory!). Third fastest was Neil Green in 26:11 proving the costume to be no handicap. Fastest of the girls was Emma Lawton in 27:21 and despite giving away some years to Emma, Frances Maxwell was second fastest in 29:04. Alison Lessells was third fastest in 31:59, not bad at all considering Alison is running for one and a half.

The Christmas Handicap is a special event for the Harriers but is even more special to the Duthie family who we thank for the generous donation in memory of Margaret Anne. The first three finishers named above shall nominate charities to which the donation will be made.

Many thanks to the supporters who braved the terrible weather (and held on to the club tent) to encourage the runners around the course. Official photos should be in the EK News in the coming weeks, courtesy of John McIntyre but thanks to Mandy for the unofficial photos above.
The next Harriers running event is the Pub Run on Monday 29th December. Watch the blog for more details.


Merry Christmas
Alan

Webscorer - race registration,
race timing, race results