National xc relays (team selection)

 TEAMS    Updated

Ladies start at 13.10 and should be in the park for 12.30 at the latest

Men start at 14.40 and should be in the park for 14.00 at the latest

Juniors will have been advised by their coaches

One place available for the Mens teams if anyone wants a run.

Young Females A    Leg 1   C Buchanan    Leg 2  N McMonagle

Young Females B   Leg 1   L Rooney

Young Males   A    Leg 1   L MacArthur    Leg 2   H Anderson    Leg 3   R Rooney

Young Females B   Leg 1 Incomplete    Leg 2   F McMonagle  (seperate start)

Ladies     Leg 1 A Lessells,  Leg 2  F Ferguson,  Leg 3  L Buchanan,  Leg 4  R McPhillips

Mens Sen A  Leg 1  J Stewart,  Leg 2  A Buchanan,  Leg 3  K Wheeler,  Leg 4  A Higgins

Mens Sen B  Leg 1  J Grant,  Leg 2  R Pattinson,  Leg 3  F Santangeli   Leg 4  K McPhillips

Mens Sen  C  Leg 1  G Ferguson,  Leg 2  R Couper,  Leg 3  Available,   Leg 4 Available

Mens M50   Leg 1  I MacLean,  Leg 2  G McInally,  Leg 3  S Phimister

The following names are listed for selection for Saturdays National XC Relays. As the selectors are going over teams and running order it would be helpful if anyone no longer available lets us know asap. Also if anyone wants to be a reserve in case of withdrawels drop a message to Russell in the whatsapp.

C Buchanan, L Rooney, N McMonagle,

H Anderson, L McArthur, R Rooney, F McMonagle

A Lessells, F Ferguson, L Buchanan, R McPhillips

J Stewart,  A Buchanan, K Wheeler,  A Derrick, A Higgins, J Grant, R Pattinson,  F Santangeli,

R Lawton, K McPhillips, G Ferguson, R Couper, I Maclean,  G Mcinally, S Phimister

We have 2Young females, 2 young males, 1 Ladies, 3 senior males and 1 M50 teams entered.

Russell

Grand Prix Updated

The 2025-2026 Grand Prix is off and running after the West XC Relays at Kilmarnock. The league tables for the Grand Prix and Scratch Championships are available using the Calderglen Harriers Grand Prix link in the menu to the left of the blog. You may have to refresh your browser to clear previously cached versions of this page from last year.

The Grand Prix rules were explained in this post a few years ago and remain unchanged for this year. 

There is now a change to the scheduling of the West XC League races which are now all happening in January and February 2026 with races at Strathaven and Balloch confirmed and both in the GP. There may be a race between those two at an as yet unconfirmed venue. The GP races are listed here and on the GP web page.

Alan

Club Training Thursday 23rd October

Thursday's session is a medium length, pre-race run with strides given that we have quite a large turn out for the National XC Relays on Saturday, which will be energy sapping!

The route is Kingsway to Whirlies, East Mains, West Mains, Queensway back to the club. From the Kingsway BP garage, start the first of 6 x approximately 100m gradual accelerations to 5k pace. The acceleration should take you at least 50m to get to 5k pace. Be very aware of the gradually increasing level of effort as you accelerate to 5k pace. Decide within your packs where you do them but keep them all on downhills or flat sections of the route.

Be very careful of potholes and other trip hazards, particularly as a lot of these hazards are covered by fallen leaves at the moment (says he who had just such an incident on his run tonight).

Alan

Club Training Monday 20th October

Monday's session is at the Calderglen "track" at Langlands Place. The warm-up is via Strathaven Rd and Sainsburys as per usual. Then the session is 12 x 400m at 5k pace with a 1 minute stand/jog recovery. Cool down is the reverse of the warm-up. Hopefully the weather improves!

Thursday will be a medium length pre-race run with strides.

Alan

Club Training Thursday 16th October

Thursday's session is targeted towards the longer races that we have through the winter season and is in contrast to the 5k pace sessions which still remain our focus. The purpose of the session is strength endurance which means being able to produce power in the latter stages of a long race.

The session is an easy run to the Queensway and then a steady run (at about 10-mile race effort) down the Queensway, West Mains Rd, past the railway station to Lidl and then turn up Avondale. When your pack reaches the bottom of Avondale, do 6 x 45 second efforts with a jog down recovery and then return to the club. The hill efforts should be at 5k effort.

Alan

NATIONAL SHORT COURSE XC (LANARK)

This year the National short course XC will be held at Lanark race course on Sat 8th November.

This is 4k the same as the relays but instead a straight race with a mass start.

Ladies start at 13.30 and Men at 14.00.

Cost is £9.50 per head and should be paid in advance.

Cost of junior races is £8.00 per head

U/15 girls and boys compete over 2k with races starting at noon and 12.20

U/17 girls and boys compete over 3k with races starting at 12.40 and 13.05

Please make sure your SA number is up to date.

I need names by Tuesday 21st Oct

If you wish entered please leave your name HERE. Those already registered are listed HERE.

Club Training Monday 13th October - Brancumhall

Monday's Brancumhall session is further consolidation of short XC race effort (5k pace) on the grass and is a repeat of the previous Brancumhall session, although the underfoot conditions should be much firmer.

The session is 5 x 1 lap at 5k effort with 1 minute stand recovery. As always, the aim is to be consistent with every lap with a similar time for each repetition. For those who were racing at Kilmarnock on Saturday, hold back a little from 5k effort.

Alan