West XC Relay - Race Report

Joanne McEvoy drives on to the finish on Leg 2.

Kilmacolm continued its 100% record of providing fine weather for the West District Cross Country Relay Championship on Saturday. Cross country is so much more enjoyable when the weather is fine, particularly when its a relay with lots of hanging about waiting to run.

The course is over two laps, mainly around pitches but with enough elevation changes on steep banks to buckle the legs if you go too crazy with the pace. The going was definitely firm and only the lowest lying and narrowest part of the course was slightly squidgy underfoot, especially by the time the senior men's race came around. Nothing to complain about though.

Julie Beveridge powers out at the start of her second lap.

We had 4 teams out this week; one ladies' team and 3 men's teams (minus one runner). We have so much depth in the ladies this year that we can put a different team out every week and this week was no exception! One of these weeks we will have all the ladies out and more ladies' teams than men's. Undoubtedly still tired from last week's Great Scottish Run, Julie Beveridge was on leg 1, establishing the team in 14th place in a time of 16:17, our fastest lady of the day. Joanne McEvoy is running well right now and truly enjoying her running. The proof of this was in the performance, with Joanne moving the team up to 12th position in a time of 16:55. Sandy Hayden was running her first ever cross country race on leg 3 and found it a really enjoyable experience, especially as the spikes were more comfortable on her feet than regular road shoes! Sandy brought the team home in 16th position in 20:27.

Fine form from Sandy Hayden

We had a two and three quarter men's teams out. Our vets team was led out by Alan Derrick, who despite another worrying dizzy spell at half way, hung on to 8th place in the masters (40+) team competition with a time of 13:55. I was delighted with this as it was 45 seconds faster than two years ago (admittedly I had just driven from the airport having stepped off a plane from the USA that time). More importantly it was 2nd fastest M50 time with only Bobby Quinn faster (by 48 seconds). Probably the closest I have ever been to him in a race. Jim Holmes was fired up for this one on leg 2 and having completed a really good warm-up, ran an excellent 16:16, again on tired legs after last weekend's half. This placed the team 14th. Stuart Waugh is really coming back into good form now and was let off the leash on leg 3 where he recorded 4th fastest M65 time of the day in 17:31. Finally, Mark Saez who was the youngster of the team and running on this course for the second time, recorded a time of 15:14 to bring us home in 15th position, an excellent result in a very competitive masters field.

Andrew Buchanan led off our senior team. After a fast initial start, Andrew faded a little on lap 2 to finish in a fine 14:31. Andy handed over to in-form Richard Lawton (although also tired after the GSR) who recorded a steady 17:20, only 11 seconds down on 2 years ago. This was Billy Buchanan's first short race for a while and as Billy is only really getting back to form after a series of injuries his time of 17:09 was impressive, particularly so as it was 3rd fastest M65 time. If only Billy realised how good he is! Finally, Gordon McInally was running this course for the first time and definitely justified his place in the team with a fine 17:58, culminating in an impressive 200m sprint away from a Dumbarton AAC runner who had been tracking him for the final lap.

Our incomplete team was led off by Kenny Leinster who was worried that he had not regained enough fitness after a long injury lay off through the summer. However, he need not have worried as Kenny returned with an impressive 17:01. Russell Couper took over on leg 2 and continues to show improved form compared to recent years, finishing in 20:38, some 34 seconds faster than two years ago. Martin Howell was on leg 3, although this was his second race of the day, having competed in the Tollcross parkrun in the morning! Martin ran an excellent 16:10 and surely would have been a minute faster on fresh legs.

A great day for the Harriers where even with reduced numbers we put up a strong showing. It was particularly pleasing to see us figure strongly in the M50 and M65 rankings and to see a very competitive and improving ladies' team out. Thanks to Kay Coneff for travelling through to support and for the shouts around the course. A link to the provisional results is in the post below.
Alan