Chatelherault World Championships 2019

Our fortnightly trip to Chatelherault Country Park for an enjoyable 7 mile training run turns into a more competitive outing once per year when it becomes the Chatelherault World Championships, one of the final few races in the Harriers' Grand Prix. It can't be that unenjoyable though given that all but one of the 14 Harriers who lined up on the start line had arrived knowing it was race night as they had remembered their club vests, as the photo above shows.

After a short warm up and briefing the Harriers lined up and set off on 7 miles of hard effort. Andrew Buchanan made the early break from the start and would have an almost solo effort all the way around except for an encounter with a hissing badger high on the far side of the trail. When I heard this, I remembered the time about 20 years ago on one of the club's earliest Chatelherault training runs when Martin Duthie and I were running ahead of everyone and at that exact same point a badger ran out of the undergrowth and I had to hurdle it as it snapped at our feet! I think we can say for sure there is an established badger set out there. Andrew escaped unscathed to record a comfortable victory in 50:35. Next across the line and having a great run was Stephen Phimister in 53:57. Russell even let him keep his Grand Prix points despite not wearing a club vest. Jim Holmes was glad to be running rather than swimming in a cold lake as he had been the day before and powered across the line in 57:32. It's no surprise that Eddie Reid's legs were shot after the previous days ADIL half marathon leg but Eddie still managed a respectable 58:54. Unfortunately Richard Lawton is suffering from an inflamed Achilles tendon attachment which makes every run painful (and especially painful the next day). So Richard's time of 61:52 was impressive. Morgan Beaton was the first of our ladies across the line, absolutely smashing her PB in a time of 63:05. Julie Thomson was close behind in 63:31, an excellent time. Gordon McInally had a bit of a race on with Lorraine Buchanan but managed to hold on to finish in 64:59, Lorraine at his back in 65:11. After another gap, Russell Couper finished in 66:42, his fastest for some years, just keeping ahead of Seonaid Morton (66:50) who was escorted safely around the unfamiliar route by Geo Ferguson (66:52). Martin Howell and Chris McCarron were both ill in one way or another and stopped short of the finish. Frances Ferguson was our photographer for the night and captured the action at several points near the start and finish of the lap. Thanks to Frances for withstanding the midges! Frances' photos are in this album.

The GP is now set up for the final showdown at the Vertical Mile in a few week's time.
Alan