Costume no Handicap to Caveman Chris

A well dressed (up) group of Harriers gathered this morning for the annual festive handicap. Due to the on-going roadworks at the main entrance, the course was shortened from its usual 4 miles to just under 3 miles (4.6km to be precise), taking in the Tor Trail rather than exiting on to the Strathaven Road. 5 laps of the testing trail was just fine for the runners and supporters on a morning of sunshine and showers.

We were all glad to see Davie Searil making a return to running, having been cleared to start back gently through the week. Davie had the honour of being set off first in his easy access Harriers vest but was under strict instructions to stop after two laps and to walk the uphills, which he did. Making his debut on the event, Colin Banks should have been flying in his air force overalls but instead made steady progress around the course to finish in 29:02. Anne McLellan started off with big hair but shed that after a lap as visibility was becoming a problem. Anne finished in 29:42. Ever the gentleman, Andy Henderson was also an officer for today, smartly dressed in white but handicapped by the absence of a belt meaning a one armed running style whilst the other hand kept his trousers up. Andy finished in 27:28. Russell Couper is working his way through the super heroes and although we thought he had shot his bolt with a seemingly fast start, ran a well paced race, almost winning but being caught on the final lap to finish in 26:29. No one gave Billy Buchanan a ghost of a chance but he still managed to spirit himself around the course in 26:02. Gordon McInally has done this event a pharoh few times and is always there or there abouts and today finished in 24:53. Not content with having run the juniors race at 10am, Kai Wheeler was naturally our youngest runner and completed the tricky course in 24:18. Marrion O'Connor always runs well on this one and made cat-like progress around the trail to finish in 23:29. Jim Holmes thought that there were not enough Hills on the course and so Jim met Harry which resulted in 23:02. Kevin Farmer's prayers were answered with a problem free run, finishing in 21:51.

With the excitement building the last lap was where it was all change at the front. With Russell starting the last lap with a gap to Gordon and apparently big gaps behind, it looked like Russell might have it in the bag. This is one of the few Harriers' events that Allan McLellan has not won. A new injury earlier in the week made today just a get around effort except that the further Allan got into the race, the better he felt. With 100m to go, it looked like Allan might just win but even the pointy hat couldn't quite get across the line in front of a fast finishing Chris McCarron who had started so far behind the rest of the field he was almost in the stone-age but managed to pass everyone to dip Allan on the line. Allan ran a fine 21:44 with Chris crossing the line in 19:50, our only sub-20 run of the day. With no need for any Dastardly short-cuts, Martin Duthie brought Muttley to the line in third place with a time of 20:39 and second fastest time of the day.

The winners were delighted to be able to nominate a charity to receive the donations generously provided by the Duthie family. Refreshments, mince pies and the lucky dip prize giving for all rounded off the day. Thanks to John McIntyre for the official photography (look out in the EK News in the coming weeks) and Frances for the unofficial photographs which will be published here shortly. A hardy few spectators cheered the runners on and thoroughly enjoyed the new, shorter lap which provided the opportunity to cheer and warm the hands up more frequently than the old, long lap!

The "official" times and lap splits are here.

Alan