Performance Award Update

The Performance Award Scheme hasn't been mentioned for a while so time for a reminder and a mid-term report card! The reminder is to please submit your performances, particularly news on absolute and age group PB's, regularly throughout the year rather than leaving it to the end of the season. It makes it easier to administer.

Considering the absolute performance standards at each distance so far since 1st October 2008 (all results subject to confirmation of course accuracy and receiving the completed performance award form and sorry if any are missed, these are just taken from Blog reports, Grand Prix, etc):
Marathon
Gerry McParland - Milan 2:53 M40 Bronze
Half Marathon
Scot Hill - Alloa 1:25:37 M40 Bronze
Eddie Reid - Alloa 1:27:02 M45 Bronze
Colin Freeman - Buchlyvie 1:22:21 M35 Bronze
10-Mile
Stuart Gibson - Brampton 56:34 Snr Silver
Andrew Buchanan - Brampton 59:17 Snr Bronze
Jamie McMonagle - Brampton 60:59 M35 Bronze
Ian Hughes - Brampton 61:29 M35 Bronze
Charlie McDougall - Brampton 62:02 M60 Gold
Stephen Reilly - Brampton 62:52 U20 Silver
Scot Hill - Brampton 63:18 M40 Bronze
Eddie Reid - Brampton 65:16 M45 Bronze
Stuart Waugh - Brampton 67:27 M55 Silver
Frances Maxwell - Brampton 71:46 F40 Bronze
Sandra Reid - Brampton 74:52 F40 Bronze
Mary Goldsmith - Brampton 77:18 F50 Bronze
10k
Stuart Gibson - Cambuslang 33:26 Snr Silver
Martin Duthie - EK 36:05 M45 Silver
Jamie McMonagle - EK 37:17 M35 Bronze
Scot Hill - EK 37:46 M40 Bronze
Alan Cullie - EK 38:39 M40 Bronze
Eddie Reid - Ayr 38:17 M45 Bronze
Stuart Waugh - Grangemouth 40:41 M60 Gold
Sandra Reid - Ayr 44:30 F40 Bronze
Mary Goldsmith - Grangemouth 47:21 F50 Bronze
5k
Alan Derrick - Pollok Park 17:06 M40 Silver
Stuart Waugh - Pollok Park 20:29 M55 Bronze
Mary Goldsmith - Pollok Park 22:23 F50 Bronze

To qualify for the end of season award a performance standard at 3 different distances is required (plus various other rules which are available using the link on the lefthand menu). There are already quite a few people who have achieved this but there is plenty of time to improve your award level or to achieve the required 3 event standards if you have not already done so. Of course there are several more people on their way to PB awards.

Auldhouse 5k Time Trials 2009

Introduced for the first time last Summer, these monthly time trials on an accurate but hilly circular route on the roads around Auldhouse provided an excellent indicator of fitness improvement and a great training session. This year we start a month earlier on Thursday 7th May. The event is run as an individual time trial meaning that each person starts on their own at 30 second intervals, the faster runners starting last. Meet at the club at the normal time so that all names can be recorded and the start order worked out.

The time trials will take place on the following Thursdays: 7th May, 4th June, 9th July, 6th August and 3rd September. Remember you can check the dates for this and all other Harriers events using the Events Calendar link in the menu to the left.

The times from last year are here.

Alan

Chatelherault Training Starts April 27th

Our popular fortnightly "scenic" Summer trail running session around Chatelherault starts on Monday 27th April. Check the dates and all the details here. For those new to this session, the route is all within Chatelherault Country Park and covers a total distance of 7 miles with a few ups and downs thrown in for fun. There are some short cuts if you are needing an easier run. As per usual we run in matched ability packs.

Either meet at the small car park opposite the old people's home at the end of Old Avon Bridge Road for a 7:30pm start (first pack) or if you need a lift or are unsure of the way there, meet at the Sports Club at 7pm where some of the regulars will be able to give you a lift.

See how you did last year here.

Alan

Family BBQ Sports Day

As part of the clubs 25 Year Anniversary we are putting on a Family BBQ and Sports Day.
The event will be on Friday 8th May, 6.30pm.
Arrive on time and we will kick off with a few 80's style games suitable for all the family

• Egg and Spoon
  
• Obstacle course
  
• 100mtr race (rough estimate of distance)
  
• 3 legged race
  
• Team relay
  
• Rounders
  

and maybe some more!!!

There will be a BBQ so no need for dinner.

Tickets go on sale this week. Prices are £5 for a family (up to 5 people). Individuals £2.

Tickets available on club nights or from ATHelite in the Village.

Any more ideas for games leave a comment.

6/4 Stage - Result!

It was the windiest, wettest and coldest day I can remember at the National 6-stage Championships but still the Harriers were out in force at Livingston. They were not alone as there was a record entry for the event. For the first time ever the club was in the medals as the Vets "A" team of Scot Hill, Martin Duthie, Eddie Reid, Alan Derrick, Alan Cullie and Davy Watt fought hard to take the Masters National Championship bronze medal (and an impressive overall 19th position) just one place and 27 seconds behind the silver medallists Shettleston Harriers. Gold medallists Fife AC were impressive over the second half of the race, taking the lead on the last leg and winning comfortably in the end.

Scot Hill got the team off to a solid start recording our fastest short leg (3.2 miles) time of 18:31 handing over to Martin Duthie in 32nd position. Martin recorded our best long leg time covering the 5.8 wind swept miles in a time of 32:50 and pulling us up to 24th position. Eddie maintained this position (and made it into the official results) with a time of 18:55 as the field became more spread out. By now we were lying 4th in the vets race, although we did not know this at the time as vets teams were difficult to identify. Alan Derrick found it hard going in the wind on the back section of the course but moved steadily through to 22nd position in 33:01, losing one vets place and making up another in the process. Alan Cullie showed that he is making a welcome return to good running form, maintaining 22nd position overall and 4th vet team in 18:40. It was then up to Davy Watt to bring us into the medals and we knew that Davy would not allow that opportunity to slip away (in fact we advised him that he was taking over in 2nd and going for the lead!). Davy passed 3rd place Carnegie Harriers and very nearly caught 2nd place Shettleston, finishing in 19th overall in a time of 33:12. The delight is plain to see in the photograph (Scot is seen in computer generated form, having had to leave straight after his leg).

Mary Goldsmith and Sandra Reid did well to motivate themselves in the conditions given that we had only a half team available. Mary recorded a first leg time of 23:12 handing over to Sandra for the long leg which she completed in 44:19. Sandra's pace on the long leg was actually considerably faster than the pace she ran the short leg in last year, confirming her rapid improvement in the past year.

The men's "B" team spanned the generations from Junior Stephen Reilly (18:43) to Super Vets Andy Henderson (22:31) and Benny Rooney (42:20). Benny had a particularly lonely time on the last leg until the finishing straight when he had the opportunity (and energy) to catch and sprint past an old lady in an electric wheel chair (just out for the messages, not racing). Also on long legs we had Gerry Mullen (39:44) and Jim Holmes (39:11). Colin Banks completed the team with a short leg time of 22:02.

Chas Steven led out the 6-stage "debutants" team in a time of 26:23 handing over to David Dickson (47:22) and then in his first official race for the club Don Kennedy (26:52). Both David and Don were running on their own and both had slight excursions off course but well done to both of them for sorting it out and completing in respectable times. Solo efforts on unfamiliar courses are not easy.

A big thanks to Frances and Malcolm for supporting us all in very poor spectating weather. More photos to follow, so watch this post.

6/4 Stage Relays

The teams for Saturday's National Road Relays can be accessed here. The men's and women's races run in parallel, the men over 6 stages and the women over 4 stages. The first leg is the short leg (approx 3 miles) starting at 12 noon. The subsequent long leg is approx 6 miles. Scottish Athletics are advising to leave an additional 15 minutes travel time due to road works at the roundabout at St John's Hospital. Car parking is at Almondvale Stadium as usual. A group is leaving from EK Sports Club at 10:30 if you need a lift.

I intend to declare the teams and running order by 11:15 to allow time for proper warm ups, so if anyone listed in the team sheets has to pull out, please let me know by mobile (I will not have access to e-mail or this blog) before that time. Leave a message if I do not answer. Similarly, just about everyone, men and women, in the club is entered as reserves for the event, so if you want a run and your name is not on the team sheet, give me a call before 11:15.

Alan

Young Athletes Training

Wednesday night training will still be on over the next two weeks of the school Spring Holiday starting at 6.30 pm as usual.