Record Calderglen Field at the West Cross Country Relays

Davie Watt and Andy Buchanan to the fore

The West District Cross Country Relay Championships were held at Hamilton Park Race Course right on our door step at the site of the first ever international cross country race over 100 years ago. In a year of record rain we had a record more worthy of celebration with Calderglen's greatest ever number participating, due to a record turnout by Calderglen's ladies. Although I had described this course in the weeks leading up to it as good underfoot, the rain of the past few weeks had left the going "good to soft" over much of the course with the low lying, furthest away area and the finishing bend being particularly heavy. However, it was the same for everybody (unless you were on a later leg in which case the racing line was particularly churned up - getting my excuse in early). A 4km, gently undulating out and back course confronted all of us.

Julie Beveridge

Our top team of the day was our ladies A team, led by Julie Beveridge (17:11 and 22nd fastest individual) who crossed the line in 13th position, handing over to rapidly returning to form Karen Allen, complete with new spikes who slipped only slightly to 15th (18:37). The experience of Joanne McEvoy paid off on the final leg, pulling the team back to 12th position (17:56).

Our masters team was next Calderglen team across the line. Kay Conneff had led the team off (18:36, 9th fastest F40), handing over to Sharon Gregg in 5th position in the masters race. This was Sharon's first cross country race and she found the going a little slippy without spikes. Nevertheless, Sharon clung on strongly to 7th place (20:41) to hand over to Frances Maxwell. The usual tactic is to put your fastest and most experienced runners on the first and last legs to establish and hold on to positions when the field becomes more spread out. Frances judges these races perfectly and brought us in in 28th position overall and more importantly, 6th masters team (19:34).

Next Calderglen team consisted almost entirely of newcomers to cross country. This was comfortably our youngest senior team. Emma Craig had a tremendous run on the first leg (18:15) to finish 25th. Kirsty Wilson took off strongly down the starting straight, really covering the ground fast to bring the team through the line in 26th place (19:25). The final leg was entrusted to Sandy Hayden. Sandy is getting gradually back to form and ran a solid 22:08 to finish 34th. Another great team performance.

Julie, Joanne, Frances, Emma and Sandy

Our next team originated from our Tuesday night beginners section, proving that none of the Tuesday nighters are beginners anymore as they all competed strongly in this championship event. Lead off runner was Lorraine Buchanan (24:14), handing over to Holly Rankine who had completed a big weekend of training at the TTC one week before, crossing the line in 24:19. Julie Thomson ran a very isolated last leg and proved her quality by running the fastest time in that team (23:04) despite the lack of company. Alison Johnson had the luxury of a leg all to herself with nobody to hand over to after the first leg. Alison seemed to thoroughly enjoy her run over the country, finishing in 24:55. We surely have a very strong, emerging ladies squad for the future here.

Mark Saez on the home run

Our fastest men's team was our over 40 masters team (most of which was well over 40!). Fastest Harrier of the day and now in the M55 age group, Davie Watt made no allowance for his age and was near the front of the masters field at the turn. He slipped back only a little on the return journey, handing over in 5th position (15:16), recording the fastest M55 time of the day by a long way. Mark Saez, the youngest member of the team, is relatively inexperienced in these team events but you would never know it as Mark maintained 5th position in an excellent 15:39 (14th fastest M40). Martin Duthie was stepping down considerably in distance, having recently competed in the World Half Ironman 70.3 Championships in Chattanooga and is now in the M55 age group. However, experience and quality always delivers and Martin crossed the line in 6th place in 16:14 (6th fastest M55). Finally, Alan Derrick took off on the last leg with two masters teams visible ahead on the long start straight. Unfortunately, the gap did not really close and 6th masters team was our finishing position (15:33) and 5th fastest M50 in a very tight M50 field (except for the outstanding Bobby Quinn who was 1:18 faster than any other M50, finishing in 14:04)! The team was 29th overall.

Andy Buchanan was on first leg duty in our only non-veteran male team. Andy is really progressing

Andy Buchanan on the rails

well and ran an identical time to me (15:33), finishing 40th. We then stepped up more than a few age groups with Andy Henderson (M60) on second leg duty. Andy covered the course in 18:55 and 60th position. Stuart Waugh (M65) tackled the third leg, crossing the line in 19:27 and third fastest M65, setting up Richard Lawton to be chased down on the last leg by Jim Holmes in the next Calderglen team. Richard completed the course in a fine 19:50, showing no signs of the back spasms that floored him a month ago, the team finishing 64th.

Our team that pipped Richard in the final few hundred metres was led off by returning to health and form Martin Howell in an excellent 17:42 and 73 position. Kenny Leinster found this a bit short for a natural marathon runner such as he, but should be pleased with 18:31 and 71st position for the team. Eddie Reid is gradually getting back to form but looked a little stiff for this run. However, he made up plenty places, finishing in 66th (18:48). Finally, Jim Holmes had Richard Lawton to chase and this helped him to an excellent 18:36 and 63d position for the team.

Richard Lawton on the way out to the turn

Billy Buchanan continues to be oblivious to how good he is. On leg 1 for our next team, Billy set 2nd fastest M65 time overall (19:13) whilst happily smiling and waving to every one of the many photographers around the course (check Bobby Gavin's web site for the official photos of the event and the starring role afforded to Billy)!  Gordon McInally is getting over some recent surgery, which perhaps cost him a position on the line by a short nose. However, his time of 20:35 confirms that he is on the way back. George Stewart made a rare race appearance in the west but also proved that he is getting back into shape with a time of 20:57. Russell Couper ran the last leg in 22:02, slightly faster than the last time we were here a few years ago but effectively a vast improvement given the difference a few years make when you hit 50! Davie Searil had the no pressure role for the men, running a solo first leg in 22:20 with hopefully no reaction from his recovering knee.

Billy Buchanan has time for a wave

Well done to all for getting out there and making this our biggest turnout ever for a championship relay. Clubs who race and train together really bring each other on and I hope this is the start of a record breaking season for the Harriers. Speaking of records, it was a record breaking start for our neighbours up the road with EKAC winning the senior men's event for the first time in their history! Congratulation to EKAC.

Thanks to Jim Mearns and Charlie McDougall for copious photos which I have added to a few of my own in this album.
Alan