For those not there today Kirsty took a bad fall and was in a lot of pain. The first responders took very good care of her until the paramedics arrived so many thanks to them. Kirsty was taken to Forth Valley hospital and after a CT scan was given good news that its soft tissue damage but they are keeping her in overnight to manage the pain so hopefully she will be home tomorrow and on the mend. Im sure all the Harriers wish you a speedy recovery Kirsty.
Onto the races. Well what can I say that was some sort of crazy. Next to no grass for the whole course ive never known it to be so muddy and that's saying something because Falkirk is always muddy.
Our juniors where off in the earlier races getting a mixture of rain, hail and snow not to mention the wind. First up was Emma Hutton in the u/13 girls running 3.1k in 16.29. Then in the u/15 girls we had Eve Lindsay running 4.1k in 24.13. Well done girls.
Onto the senior Ladies running what turned out to be a little over 10k. They started in reasonable conditions, well reasonable for today any other day they would be horrible but by the time they got up and round the start hill it started to snow and hail so when they came out from behind the house they had a gale blowing the hail straight into their faces at which point they had to run through a deep puddle. It really was atrocious. It was it this point Kevin had gone to the Tent to discover it in bits. That heavy shower with the wind it brought had snapped the frame so we had to shuttle all the Ladies gear down to the small tent we had up earlier for the juniors, This is when Kirsty had come of the course so we didn't even have the big tent to keep her sheltered but Frances took good care of her keeping her warm along with the first responders. Back to the race and the weather had settled a little but everyone was still finding it extremely difficult going although Karen Allen was running really strong and was well ahead of our other Ladies and finishing in 50.20. Next was Alison Lessells heading Sandy Hayden, Both having strong runs and finishing in 54.17 and 55.49. Morgan slipped back a little from her earlier position which is understandable given that racing xc over that distance is a new experience for her finishing in 59.18. Next was the closest Harriers race of the day between Julie Thomson and Lorraine Buchanan, Julie just pipping Lorraine by 3secs. Times where 1.00.57 and 1.01.00. Well done Ladies really proud to see our Ladies out there battling the course and conditions.
Onto the men and with Callum having to go to hospital with Kirsty it left just 6 Men taking the start line. Same course as the ladies and almost identical start weather wise. A flicker of snow as we started and as we got behind the house driving hail into the face. I had to at one point put my hands across my face to protect the eyes. I new the rest where going to be a lot faster than me but I had started well and was running well going through the first mile only about 40 metres down on Jim and Kenny but they where going away from me so it wouldn't be long before they where out of site. After the first lap the weather settled but the course was just a bog now but I was still running strong infact I had picked up the pace on mile 3 and was starting to pass people then disaster. It felt like my calf had been bit by a snake and had to back off losing over 2 mins a mile after that on a long slog just to finish. Meanwhile up ahead Graeme Lindsay doing this for the Harriers for the first time was having a flyer finishing in 49.35. Next making his debut for the Harriers in this event was Kevin Farmer finishing in 50.58. Next was Stephen Phimister finishing in 53.58. Kenny and Jim have had some close races over the last couple of seasons and although it was relatively close Kenny Leinster had quite a comfortable lead over Jim Holmes by the end finishing in 55.42 and 56.24. Finally I limped over the finish line in 1.05.10 and hoping ive not damaged the calf too much. We shall see tomorrow what sort of nick its in.
Thanks to Frances Ferguson, Alan Derrick and Andy Buchannan for your support today it was very much appreciated.
Photo album from today is here.
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