TRAIL RACE PRIZE WINNERS

Here are the prize winners from Calderglen Harriers Trail Races held on 24/06/2016
Only one prize per person except team prizes and only one team prize per club per race per gender.

1K  1st  male Ryan McNamara    EKAC                         1st female   Gabrielle Coffey Calderglen Harriers
      2nd male Francis Santangeli Calderglen Harriers      2nd female  Erin McAuley   U/A
      3rd male  James Mowet  Giffnock North AAC         3rd female  Kaitlyn Clark Larkhall YMCA harriers
       Male Team    Calderglen Harriers    Francis Santangeli,   Kai Wheeler,   Lucas Buckman
     Female Team  Calderglen Harriers    Gabrielle Coffey,      Zara Howell,   Daisy Blake

U/12 3K   1st male  Cameron Green   Giffnock North AAC     1st female  Niamh Riggins Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers
                2nd male  Jake Graham   U/A                                     2nd female  Abbie Kirwan  EKAC
                3rd male   Lewis Moir  Calderglen Harriers               3rd female   Ella Comiskey EKAC
          Male Team    Calderglen Harriers,   Lewis Moir,  Fergus Kane,    Patrick Saez
       Female Team   EKAC    Abbie Kirwan,   Ella Comiskey,   Cara Gilbride


U/15  3K   1st male  Shane Wilson    EKAC                         1st female   Jessica Robson  Law & District AC
                  2nd male  Elliot Bain      EKAC                           2nd female   Rhona Mowat   Giffnock North AAC
                  3rd male   Luke Nelson   Giffnock North AAC    3rd female   Lucy Saez    Calderglen Harriers
          Male Team     EKAC   Shane Wilson,      Elliot Bain,     Thomas McCourt
        Female Team    NONE ELIGABLE

5K     1st male     Neil Renault   Edinburgh AC                          1st female    Catriona Lockie  Giffnock North AAC
          2nd male    Aidan Gilbride   EKAC                                  2nd female   Kelly Baillie   EKAC
          3rd male     Gavin Smith  Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers  3rd female    Alison MacKenzie   U/A
      1st male vet    Chris Neilson    U/A                                   1st female vet   Gemma Kirwan   EKAC
     1st male junior  Luke Kirwan  EKAC                              1st female junior  NONE ELIGABLE
     1st male team    EKAC   Aidan Gilbride,   Kenny McNamee,    Luke Kirwan
     1st female team  Strathaven Striders    Kirsty Mathieson,  Karen Kerr,   Marion Clark

10K    1st male    Luke Traynor   Giffnock North AAC               1st female    Edel Mooney   Lothian RC
           2nd male   Neil Renault   Edinburgh AC                          2nd female   Jill Smylie     Giffnock North AAC
           3rd male   Stuart Gibson Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers    3rd female  Mary McCutcheon    Giffnock North AAC
           4th male    Grant Baillie  EKAC                                        4th female   Pamela McCrossan    Clydesdale Harriers
           5th male    Donald McPartkin    Garscube Harriers           5th female   Jayne MacNamara       U/A
           6th male    Johannes Arens   Glasgow University H & H   6th female   Marion O'Connor    U/A
         1st M40    Ted Gourley   Giffnock North AAC                   1st F35   Evelyn Strithers Hamilton Harriers
         2nd M40   Jason Steele    Giffnock North AAC                  2nd F35   Kirsteen Haughan   Giffnock North AAC
         3rd M40    Frank Hurley  Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers     3rd F35    Judith MacGregor   Bellahouston RR
         1st M45    Alan Donachy   North Ayrshire                          1st F40     Li Wang     Giffnock North AAC
         1st M50    Gerard Scullion    Bellahouston RR                     1st F45    Maria Doherty   Glasgow South RR
          1st M55    Alexander Chisholm   Garscube Harriers            1st F50    Karen Moore     U/A
          1st M60    Billy Mathieson    Strathaven Striders                 1st F55    Marguerite Robinson    U/A
          1st M65    Tony Hall          Garscube Harriers                      1st F60    Irene Zingone    Giffnock North AAC
     1st male junior   Martin Kelso      U/A                                    1st female junior   NONE ELIGABLE
     1st male team   Giffnock North AAC   Luke Traynor,    Ted Gourley,     Jason Steele
     1st female team   Giffnock North AAC   Jill Smylie,   Mary McCutcheon,   Kirsteen Haughan
     2nd male team   Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers   Stuart Gibson,  Frank Hurley,    David Thom
     2nd female team    NONE ELIGABLE
     3rd male team    Bellahouston RR        Craig Ross,     Gerard Scullion,     Richard Leyton
     3rd female team     NONE ELIGABLE

Place prizes and spot prizes have already been awarded
Vouchers will be posted on Monday and should arrive by Wednesday.

TRAIL RACE THANKS

With last nights Trail Races going off in fine summer weather there is a few thanks to be handed out.
First of all many thanks to everyone that turned up to take part in our annual event, without you we have no event and it was a pleasure to see such an age range from 2 years old to over 70 year old taking part in our various events. This is why we put these races on to see competition at its best and fantastic efforts from all.
Next to the membership and friends that gave up there time to do the many roles that are required on the day from set up to registration, marshalling right through to results and catering. Special thanks to Eddie and Kenny.
Finally to the assistance given from EKGTA, RUN4IT and South Lanarkshire council for giving us use of the park.

Look forward to see you all next year when we can do it all again

Many Thanks
Russell Couper
Calderglen Harriers Race Director

Calderglen Trail Race Provisional Results

Provisional results for all of Friday evening's Calderglen Harriers Trail Races are now available on our results summary page here along with all previous years' results. The 10k results are also available in categorised format here. 

Thanks to all who turned out to help and run on a better than forecast evening and endured the midges. If you spot any major errors or anomalous results, then please leave a comment here or contact Russell Couper (as is typical, the only result I know is wrong is the winner of the 10k as the first tap on the timer screen did not register and it was 10 to 20 seconds before I noticed, so if Luke Traynor could get in touch with his precise time, I will update the results).

Alan

Calderglen 10k Trail Race - Pre-entries and Live Finish Line Results

We hope to have live finish line updates of preliminary results from tonight's Calderglen 10k Trail Race. To track the results live on your phone, please download the Webscorer App:

FREE results app for iOS + Android

We do not promise to capture the full results live, but the results will be revised later this evening after the event to merge in all the finishers.

Pre-entries received are here:

Click here for start list

This list will be updated with further entries taken on the night.


Route maps for the Calderglen Harriers Trail Races are now available to download (same routes as 2015). Use the links below or also find them on the main Trail Race Web Page.

Trail Race Route Maps (1.4Mb pdf file)

You can also download the route as a Google Earth kmz file with which you can interactively explore the route in Google Earth (which you can download for free).

Alan

European Triathlon Champs 2016 & European Qualifier for 2017

My main targets for the year were a week apart. I qualified last year for the European Triathlon championships, which were in Lisbon. It is a city I've always wanted to visit…..well mainly since 1967. Myself, Mandy and my mum and dad decided to make a weeks holiday of it. The first half of
the week we enjoyed exploring the city and the second half was dedicated for the race. Training had gone well, except for an unsettling minor tweak 2 weeks before the race. I decided to play it safe and not run again before the race. I'd rightly convinced myself that the hard work had
been done and very little, if any, benefits would be gained by putting any unnecessary last minute pressure on my calf. The beauty with triathlon is that you can still keep your fitness ticking over with the other two disciplines.

The race itself took place in the Parque das Nacoes (park of nations) district of Lisbon. A recently developed area for the World Expo in 1998. A very modern area in contrast to the historical city centre nearby. The swim was in a marina adjacent to Europe's second largest aquarium. This
should ensure a swim in nice calm waters, unless some of the sharks escaped into the marina. The bike course was an out and back. Heading 6 miles outside the city on a nice flat motorway, which thankfully was closed off on race day. One of the best experiences on holiday was having a police escort comprising of a couple of cars and half a dozen motorbikes for a bike recce on the motorway the day before racing. They would head off in front, shutting the road for the 1000 plus cyclists following behind. That was as close as it can get to experience taking part in one of the tours. The focal point for the run was the MEO arena, a 20,000 seated indoor arena, which was similar to the O2. Adele had been in concert there a few days before it was taken over by triathletes. The run route included 3 passes through the centre of the arena, with the 3rd pass being into the finishing funnel in the arena.

All in all it was an extremely well organised and enjoyable event to take part in. It's always hard to gauge what position you are in at these events until you see the results. Very often people back home know my position from live online results long before I do. However I did feel that my
swim and bike had gone well, followed by a 17.52 5k run, which I was delighted with. The results showed that I had just missed out on a top 10 finish but, as this was my last year in this age group, I was delighted to be 11th. I couldn't resist checking on the times for my new age group
next year and was amazed that my time would've been good enough to win by over a minute. So I've been giving my mum and dad a hard time. Telling them that if they had got their act together 8 months sooner then I'd be European champ.

No sooner had we got home when we were off to Strathclyde Park for qualification for next year's Europeans. I train there virtually every day, but this was the first time I'd raced in a triathlon there. It was also the first qualifier I'd taken part in Scotland. Normally we've had to head down
south for the qualifiers. Although it's always great to go away down south for a race weekend, it was a nice treat to have one on my doorstep. The swim was in the algae prone loch, which we were assured was in crystal clear condition due to the new barrier system installed for the
Commonwealth Games. The bike course consisted of a loop going between the watersports centre to the roundabout just before M&D's and back, done 4 times. The run was from the watersports centre round the loch anti clockwise to just by the beach and back, done twice.
I was in the first heat, which had over 100 competitors. It was probably the largest number I've been in with for an open water swim, which would mean there would be a lot of kicking and screaming in the mely of what's called the washing machine. I spoke to one of my main rivals after the
race and he said he had to pull out after the swim after being pulled under twice. Not a pleasant trip up north from England for him. A shame as the course and fantastic weather had all the ingredients for a great race. My heat consisted of M45's and above age groups plus competitors in
the open race. I was confusingly competing in two age groups, 50-54 age group for the race & 55-59 for the qualification, as that will be my age group for the race next year.

The swim seemed to go well. I came out in the top 6, but then had a bit of a disaster. We exited the water onto a temporary pontoon, this was attached to the concrete pier by a sort of hinge. I was running along the pontoon then inexplicably was sent flying towards the ground,
landing heavily on concrete. My arm and shoulder took most of the impact but, as all us athletes do while in competitive mode, you just get up and get on with it.  I had provided quite a spectacle as, with this being the first heat, quite a crowd had gathered to see us all exit the water. I've still to see the videos but I've been told quite a few were recording it. I hadn't a clue what had happened, but was told later that the guy I was running beside had landed on the hinge just after me and it had acted like a spring, throwing me forward. Surprisingly I still managed to get into transition before the guy who had caused me to fall. I came out of transition in what I thought was second place and quickly passed the guy in front on the bike. I then thought I was in the lead, which was a great feeling as it's something you rarely experience. That feeling was short lived as, when I was about 200m from the roundabout, someone l had missed was already passing me on the way back. Still I was more than happy with second place. I lost a further place on the bike and set off for the run in 3rd. The first half of the run was going well and I felt I was making progress to the guys in front. However, while turning round the cone at the end of the first lap l felt my dodgy calf tweak. At that point I felt I was comfotably going to qualify, so I backed off and nursed it round to the finish. I'd lost another place on the run to finish 4th in my heat. I later found out that I was 3rd in my 50-54 age group and 1st placed qualifier in the 55-59 age group. So I'm now looking forward to next years race in Dusseldorf.

During the race I'd totally forgotten about my earlier tumble, but marshalls at the finish were asking what had happened when they saw the road rash. They advised going to the medical tent to get cleaned up. I was in there for about 30 mins and when I tried to stand up I was struggling
to put any weight on my foot. This gradually got worse and it was an ordeal hobbling back to the car. It amazes me that earlier I had competed for nearly an hour and didn't even know I had injured my foot. It must be genetics or something, going back to when we needed to be able to run away from dinosaurs when we were injured. I'm sure coach Alan will be able to explain it.

Another quick update on the other half of the Harriers triathlon section. John Freer's season is over after a numpty school boy error on the bike caused him to break a rib and his collarbone. I can say this because I did the same with a similar result a few years ago. The motto is to keep your eyes on the road. Very unfortunate for John as he'd been unbeaten in the season preceding his accident, with wins at the New Years day and Bishopbriggs triathons. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Martin

10k Trail race runners selected

The 3 that put their names down to run are being selected to run for the club on Friday.
Andrew Buchanan, Richard Lawton and Ian Tomb. Please remember you still have to do your volunteer role but we will release you as soon as possible to prepare to race.

Russell

Trail Race Rolls, Cakes and Gazeebos - Late Change of Plans

Due to a clash with a function in the Sports Club hall on Friday evening, we are moving the whole Trail Race operation outside. To do this we need any members who have a garden gazeebo to bring it up to the club on Friday afternoon before registration opens at about 5pm. We have the club tent and one gazeebo already and reckon we need another 2 or 3 to provide a place for registration, the post race food (see below for more details on that) and a baggage tent. Please leave a comment here if you can help or phone/txt Kenny Leinster on 0777 270 2839.

As we will now be providing the post race food outside on tables near the finish, we need you to bring rolls, cakes or biscuits INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED in cling film. Please do not bring a tray of sandwiches or similar open food (unless you bring each sandwich individually wrapped).
Alan

10k Trail Race Runners

For Harriers who wish to run the 10k (for free), please leave your name here. Note that you must also complete a volunteer helper task prior to the 10k (see the separate blog post to volunteer for a helper's role). Those who wish to run are listed here. Russell will select the names of those who are running on Thursday and provide you with a number on Friday evening.

Alan

TRAIL RACE ROLES

With less than 3 weeks till our Trail Races I need EVERYBODY to confirm that they will be there before 5pm. If we don't get the membership out to help the event is in jeopardy. Please leave your name with your estimated time of arrival and your preferred role on the day/evening. If we get enough volunteers we may be in a position to allow members to run the race after their volunteer role but only those volunteering would be allowed. Please leave your name for volunteering HERE.
Russell

Men's Health 10k Race Report

It was the Men’s Health 10k today. Having taken a hard time for claiming the miles when my wife used my Garmin for the Women’s 10k a few weeks ago, I thought I better make sure I actually ran the male equivalent. Sometimes known as the Father’s Day 10k it’s a bit expensive but on the plus side gets you out of the house on the Sunday morning and saves you having to fake excitement when the kids give you a pair of socks or a CD from the bargain bin at Morrisons.

This race is jinxed for Martin Howell. Last year he entered twice so this year was pleased to remember that one entry would do, only to come a cropper with a back injury and never made it to the start line.

The course used to be over at Bellahouston but like many races has now moved away and as of last year starts at the Transport Museum. Myself, Graham Ramage and Mark Saez travelled in together and met to declare what injury was going to slow us down the most. Mark went for a sore shoulder obtained during domestic duties, I had plenty of choice but plumped for Plantar Fasciitis with a touch of a sore throat. Graham won with  “I’ve not raced a 10k in a year” so that was the pressure off. To be fair Mark declared his intention was to target 40 minutes while the rest of us muttered about seeing how it went. Met Big John McBride in the museum (still recovering from Alan’s reference at Dechmont Law to his “big frame”) strangely enough having a bit of a busman’s holiday on the subway carriage.

The (muppet) announcer at the start spent a lot of time talking about it not being a competitive race so we’re not sure how that went down on the start line with the Hawkins brothers getting ready to represent GB at the Olympics and going on to run a sub-30. Where’s Bryan Burnett when you need him ???

The course has changed from last year and looked reasonably flat with the potential to be fast. We went off along the inner road of the expressway and had the sights of the SECC car park followed by the service yard of the Crowne Plaza hotel. Flat but not scenic but then how many runners really take in the views?  A quick jaunt over the squiggly bridge to the south side and back again into town but the smell going through the Heilanman’s Umbrella was enough to turn the stomach. Through George Square at 5k then back down to the south side and the Gorbals. A good section through Glasgow Green followed by a few twists and turns in the Merchant City to finish in the middle of George Square in front of the Chambers.

I ran with Mark for the first 5k and we pushed each other on but from George Square he moved ahead. He must have had bad memories of last year when the race finished in the Green and I caught him in the last 100m because as we came through the same section again the gap narrowed to about 10m. He nearly had to add a neck injury to his shoulder as he looked round!  However there was to be no repeat and his current good form paid off as he moved clear again.

Mark finished in an impressive 39:45 (16th M40) which was his best time for a couple of years and goes to show that sometimes you have to put your money (or prediction) where your mouth is. I thought my days of sub-40 were gone but was delighted (understatement) with 39:56 (5th M45) which proves that three 10ks in as many weeks works wonders for your race pace.  Mark took the shine of it somewhat by suggesting that we should be targeting low 39s in the next race.

We waited at the end for Graham and thankfully being close to the summer solstice there was no danger of it getting dark! He was satisfied with his 44:39 but would have preferred something starting with a 43 (although not his waistband).

Spoke to a few people who were all very impressed with the course which seems to be fast and flat (think Grangemouth without the wind). I’ve long said that the races that go over the Kingston Bridge are more for the tourists than a good time. They seem to have got this right and if word gets round it could well get a name as a PB course (although expensive as I said).

Never met John at the end but noticed that he ran 48:06. Apologies if I’ve missed out anyone from the Harriers but it’s one of those results services that won’t let you search by Club. Genuinely today isn’t all about time and many people were just running for charity or fitness and a massive congratulations to them all.

Having paid my fiver for the return shuttle bus back I was gutted when Graham insisted we run the 2 miles back to the Transport Museum.

The photo is from inside the Transport Museum at an area celebrating the Commonwealth Games. We did indulge in coffee and cake in the café, well it is Father’s Day after all.
If they keep the course then this is well worth a go if you are in form. Even Coach AD could give it a go as there wasn’t a banana anywhere in sight at the finishing area …  
Stephen

WHW RACE

Just to let the membership know David Searil finished the WHW race at 7.43 am today completing the race a full 88 mins faster than last year. A huge well done to David and his team and I'm sure in a few days when hes recovered David will give us a full report.

Unfortunately Ian Rae had to withdraw at Glencoe. Ian being a seasoned veteran in this event has struggled with injuries in recent months and the event took its toll but I'm sure we all agree it was a mammoth effort by Ian to get as far as he did.

WELL DONE GUYS

Spare Number for Men's Health 10k Tomorrow

Unfortunately Martin Howell is injured and cannot run this race tomorrow. Please leave a comment here or contact Martin directly or via FB, etc if you want his race number.
Alan

Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race

A fine turn out of 14 Harriers was not matched by the weather at Sunday's Dechmont Law Trail Race in Livingston. This was the 14th race in our Grand Prix series and there were both Grand Prix and Club Championship positions still to be decided. The rain poured and the mist shrouded the course as the large field gathered on the grassy start line for a midday start (note George Stewart later declared that he could not handle morning races, confirming that George is possibly on a different time zone to the rest of us!). When the hooter sounded there was the usual cavalry charge up hill but this soon thinned out within 100m and by the time we had hit the narrow path, I was sitting 6th or 7th in single file. Then we were in to the woods which were darker than normal but heading downhill. After following an undulating loop through the woods we emerged back in the start line area after 3km for the main descent down towards the M8 and across the other side. By this I was clear in 5th position with 100m or so to the runner in front and a similar distance to the runner behind. This is where racing becomes a game of controlled relaxation and, having run the course many times before I knew that this long descent was a time to conserve energy without losing position and to save it for the long drag back up to the finish. Despite the rain, the course was in very good condition under foot with only a few muddy patches on the trail parallel to the M8. Road racing shoes were perfectly fine.

The climb starts gently at first for a few km on the far side of the M8 and I was able to close the gap on 4th slightly. However, the real challenge started when we hit the footbridge back over the M8 which had a very steep on ramp and a hump in the middle. Thereafter it was gradually uphill all the way to about 9.8km (despite the very friendly marshall at 9k claiming it was all downhill to the finish!) with only the final downhill 200m allowing a return to good running form for the finish line photographer! I finished a comfortable 5th overall and 1st M50 in a time of 39:33, about a minute slower than last year but a year older!

The Harriers battling behind me were much more competitive. Stephen Phimister is thankfully over his injury problems and starting to demonstrate good form, finishing in 43:26, fully supported by the family. We now know the secret to David Herbertson's improving form. On the morning of the race he had told son Gavin that he was aiming for about 45 minutes. Gavin duly instructed his Dad to beat 45 and so as David sprinted towards the line, he was fully aware that the clock was ticking towards 45 and he had to beat it. This he did in 44:39. I'm e-mailing Gavin to ask him to tell his Dad that he must beat 6 minutes for the Vertical Mile in a few weeks. That should be interesting to see.

Despite having given his "core" a serious workout on the Ben Alder Challenge (see separate Blog report), Jim Holmes managed to hang together to finish next in 45:06. Joanne McEvoy is unbeatable at the moment, particularly on hilly courses and ran to form with a great time of 45:26. Although George Stewart and Colin Banks had variously held onto the next few positions in the earlier stages of the race, by the end, Alison Lessells had broken clear to finish in 49:12, chased all the way to the line by Stuart Waugh in 49:20. Stuart continues to stretch away in the lead of the Grand Prix with an excellent series of race performances this year. Richard Lawton goes from strength to strength this season, finishing in 50:08 with Colin Banks chasing hard in 50:19 after his earlier over exuberance. Frances Maxwell is on the road back to fitness and was not far away either, crossing the line in 50:31 and consolidating her lead in the Grand Prix and Scratch Championship.

Gordon McInally has been piling in the races recently and added this tough one to his portfolio, finishing in 51:59. John McBride has a big frame to transport about such a hilly course, finishing in 53:11. George Stewart did another Harriers first, bursting away in the first few km's, only to stop of a minute or so (bent over double by all accounts) to chat to Eddie Reid who was out on the course supporting. Nevertheless, it is great to see George back racing regularly and his fitness improving race after race. George finished in 54:07. Russell Couper's legs would hardly be fresh after two races during the preceding week and this explains his step backwards slightly compared to recent performances, finishing in 1:02:29. We should also mention Gordon's partner Marion who finished in an excellent 46:56 (need to get her signed up).

Although the conditions were perfect for running, a huge thanks goes out to all our supporters and photographers on the course who were suffering more than us. These included Stuart Waugh's grandson Louis (and dad) who had earlier won the 2k fun run, Neil Green and son Cameron, who had earlier dead heated for first position in the 3k and Eddie and Sandra who were out on various parts of the course cheering us on and taking photos.

All the photos from Eddie and Sandra are here and full results here.
Alan

Ben Alder Challenge - 11th June 2016

A joint expedition by Calderglen Harriers and East Kilbride Canoe club, sponsored by EEKCC, who kitted out Eddie and Jim to look like real kayakers.

Jim, Eddie, Billy and Kenny were joined by Len Rooney from EEKCC. After an early start we met up at the Motor cafe at Ballinluig for a breakfast and to stock up on ketchup and brown sauce. (see Eddie for details on how to do this without being caught). The plan was to come off the A9 at Dalwhinnie and drive to the northeast end of Loch Ericht and paddle our kayaks 13 miles to Ben Alder bothy at the other end of the loch.

Our first obstacle was a keypad controlled barrier however Kenny's safe-breaking skills were called upon and the code was soon hacked and the barrier magically rose allowing us access to the water. Note this was a 10 digit keypad with goodness knows how many combinations, Kenny got it on his second attempt, misspent youth ??

The boats were quickly loaded and we were off paddling into a slight headwind, the only mishap being Billy's attempt to walk on water while entering his kayak, predictable result. (with much laughter and no sympathy). Jim and Eddie meanwhile were showing their kayaking skills and we were soon making good progress in the sun at 16 minute mile pace, as verified by Jim’s Garmin which beeped every mile we completed. This was against a headwind for approx 3miles after which the wind disappeared completely, making progress a lot easier.

The Ben Alder estate is owned by a Swiss banker and we had a quick pause for photographs at the £3,000 per night Ben Alder Lodge. Our bothy was not quite as salubrious and by late afternoon when we arrived it looked as if we had the place to ourselves, the solitude was broken by a Duke of Edinburgh group who were camping outside while their 3 leaders stayed in the bothy.

Up early on Friday we headed for a walk up Ben Alder, a Munro with a summit plateau protected by huge cliffs and steep drops requiring accurate navigation skills, Jim and Kenny kept us on track, and Billy had his GPS to check their accuracy, pretty good actually. We decided to take a route off the hill which involved a bit of scrambling, the thick mist helped disguise the consequences of a slip on the wet rocks. We got back to the bothy tired after our day wandering about in the mist to find a fisherman group from Paisley and friends of the gamekeeper who had ferried them down the loch. They were staying at a nearby estate cottage and celebrating a 60th birthday party. After a pasta dinner we settled down to a refreshing beer and built a fire, the bothy equivalent of a television, according to Eddie.

Saturday morning saw us paddling back towards Dalwhinnie and it was either a tailwind or the thought of getting back to civilisation, that saw us reaching Dalwhinnie in 4.5 hours, about an hour quicker than our outward journey.

All in all a great trip, with special thanks to Kenny the camp cook who kept us well fed with a Spanish dinner on Thursday night and Italian on Friday night, Jim stated he has never been so well fed in a bothy before.

Jim and Eddie did extremely well the kayaking, paddling with wind conditions which varied from head on, to side on and eventually from behind and never missed a stroke, definitely no longer amateurs at this game.

Photographs on these links (note there are a lot !!)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30545490@N06/albums/72157669583651636

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76180108@N06/sets/72157667052624773

Billy and Kenny

Grand Prix - Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race this Sunday 12th June

Just a reminder that our next Grand Prix race is the Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race, Livingston, tomorrow. The 10k starts at 1200 with entries on the day up until a half hour before the start.

There is also a 3.5k trail race for 11 to 16 year olds (also an over 16 category) starting at 11:15 and a 2k fun run for the even younger starting at 10:45. We have at least one junior Harrier running in the 2k. Why not make a family morning out and come along for the earlier runs. Good training for our own Trail Races.

Full details of all the races on Lothian Running Club's web site here.
Alan

Tough Session!

Well done to all who took part in Monday's combined long-run/3 minute effort session. It was tough but is what we all need, endurance and speed endurance, to get the most out of our sport.
Alan

Rock of Ages

If anyone thinks it's about time the harriers had another social event, then you need look no further!

We have been invited by the Society's Musical Director no less, a certain R Kelly, to go along and sing our hearts out along with the cast of this rock/jukebox musical.

Tickets are priced as follows;
Tues - £15 for all
Wed - £15/17
Thurs / Fri - £17
Sat matinee - £15 for all
Sat evening - £17

Were we to go to the Saturday afternoon matinee (£2 less folks!) we could then have a meal and drink together in one of the many restaurants or pubs within easy walking distance of the Palace Theatre.  

If ten people want to go as a group Ruth can get a further 10% off but would need to know soon to get them on her form. However she can buy them at the box office right up to the date of the show if anyone decides to go at a later date. 

Please contact the MD herself if you fancy a bit of eighties nostalgia

Islay Weekend

For those signed up for the Islay weekend in August, we now need the balance of payments. The sum due is £110 minus whatever deposit you payed. Please give the money to Eddie or a cheque made payable to Edward Reid (not the Harriers).

There will be a brief meeting after training next Thursday (9th June) Monday (6th June) to make some arrangements for ferry, cars, etc. We know some are racing that evening, but if you can make it back to the club after the race it would be appreciated. Otherwise, we will post an update on the blog after the meeting.

Alan

June Auldhouse 5k Time Trial Tonight

Please see me at club prior to 7:30pm to register name or send me a message before then.

Preliminary results here

Alan