Alternative Half Marathon

The first of two reports from Kirkintilloch last Sunday. Thanks to Frances and Stuart for keeping us in the picture. Fine performances all round.

If you didn’t manage to get an entry or merely did not want to do the GSR on Sunday 5th October an alternative race to the GSR was held at Kirkintilloch courtesy of Kirkintilloch Olympians.   This race was the Neil McCover Memorial Half Marathon which was extremely well organised by the Club.  This is a tough hilly course taking in great views of the Campsies.  The race is also part of the SVHC grand prix and 3 Harriers were there to take part.  It was an early start of 9.00am and the chill in the air made it feel more like November.  A short warm-up left your hands ice cold and wondering if you should have brought gloves!   Although cold at the start the conditions were just perfect during the race.  Stuart Waugh was first Harrier home in an impressive time of 1.32.37.   Frances Maxwell was next in a time of 1.36.44 and taking 5 minutes of her previous half marathon at Loch Leven earlier this year.  This time also earned her the 1st FV50 category.   Kenny Leinster who is also training for the Dublin Marathon crossed the finish line in a time of 1.44.44 and was pleased that his injury did not flare up again.  The hospitality at the end of the race was great with loads of homebaking on sale for a small donation and all the proceeds going to The Teenage Cancer Trust.  One for the diary…..

Frances

On Sunday 5/10/2014 3Harriers (Frances Maxwell, Kenny Leinster and Stuart Waugh) made their way to Kirkintilloch for the annual Neil McCover Memorial Half Marathon Road Race , which also doubles as the SVHC Champs event. Very early start at 9am - cold compared to recent weeks, but otherwise conditions fairly good.

Very tough and challenging course - for those of a certain age you may remember the old Luddon 1/2 M course - every mile has hills , very undulating with miles 2 , 5 and 10 particularly uphill and a nasty short, sharp climb 3/4 mile from the finish.

Nevertheless all 3 Harriers survived to tell the tale with times of Stuart -  1:32:37 , 47 place ; Frances -  1:36:44 , 62 place ; and Kenny -  1:44:44 , 85 place.

Good preparation for Frances and Kenny for Dublin Marathon in a few weeks time.

Stuart Waugh

West XC Relays Teams 2014

A bit of a late team posting, apologies for that. Teams for tomorrow are here. At least 3 places also available from the reserve list (see Russell's post below for the long list of possible reserves). Let either Russell or I know by text, e-mail or a comment before mid-day tomorrow if you are now unable to run or are a reserve and wish to run.
Alan

WEST DISTRICT XC RELAYS ( PORT GLASGOW )

The following are entered for the west district xc relays. there is also a list of reserves and we have one male place available and this will be filled on a first come first served basis from the reserve list.
Those entered.
A Derrick, R Couper, K Leinster, S Waugh, M Saez, J Holmes, J Mearns, M Duthie, R Lawton, A Buchanan, H Simpson.
F Maxwell, K Allen, J Beveridge.

Reserves.
C Banks, A Henderson, W Buchanan, I Hughes, D Herbertson, G Lindsay, P Marshall, J McBride, A McCaffery, C McDougall, J McGregor, G Mullen, S Phimister, I Rae, C Steven, G Stewart, D Wardrope, D Watt, D Searil, E Reid.
A Lessells, J McEvoy, R Kelly, M Goldsmith.

Ladies start at 12.40 and men at 1.40 and I need everyone there 1hr before your start time.
Alan will select the running order on Friday evening.

Event details.

Competition Information for Team Members and Athletes

Venue: Port Glasgow High School, Port Glasgow Community Campus, Kilmacolm Road, Port Glasgow, PA14 6PP
DUE TO THE COURSE NOW BEING UNSUITABLE YOU WILL BE TRANSPORTED BY SHUTTLE TO THE NEW COURSE IN KILMACOLM SO ARRIVE EARLY. IF YOU DONT SEE ME AT THE SCHOOL I WILL BE AT THE COURSE
Medals
There will be team medals (plus Masters’ team medals) for each member of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd teams in each race.
Masters = 40+ (age on the day).
Important Notes
Athletes may only run once. Teams with anyone running a second time will be disqualified and removed from the results.
Entered athletes MUST NOT be substituted by non-entered athletes. Non-observance of this leaves the whole field and officials uninsured in the event of an accident, puts the competitor at a health risk as they may be wrongly identified, and makes the results invalid as an historic record.
Directions     
From the M8, join the A8 (Greenock Road) until the roundabout at Newark Castle (Ferguson Shipyard). Follow the signs for A761 (Kilmacolm Road) uphill for approximately 1½ miles.
Parking          
There is ample parking for cars and buses at the school. There is NO PARKING at the farm road next to the course (except for a First Aid vehicle and two officials’ cars). A race marshal will be positioned here to ensure compliance.

Please remove spikes and muddy shoes before entering the school.  

 PLEASE NOTE: In the Men’s race, the RED coloured number should be worn by the 3^rd leg runner.

Masters’ teams should be marked on the declaration form, and a large “V” prominently marked on each Masters’ team member’s number so the officials can identify them. 

Changing and Showers
 In the school from 10am.   Please remove spikes and muddy shoes before entering the school.

 Club Tents

There is ample space for club tents near the Start/Finish area.

 

Grand Prix Updated

By the miracle of modern technology, the Grand Prix has been updated from afar. Use the usual menu on the left of the Blog to see the latest results.

(Just in case you think I'm enjoying myself, I wish I could be out running in that rarefied, high altitude Rocky Mountain air, but I can't. Still got the flu).
Alan

McAndrew shock as B team beats A team

With its earlier start most athletes were at Scotstoun before midday but it was clear by the low turnout that the Great Scottish Run had taken away entrants from this historical event. The Harriers still managed to field two male teams. For the A team we had A Buchanan leading the way with a time of 18.15 putting us well up the field. On 1st leg duty for our B team we had D Herbertson coming home in 21.34. On 2nd leg duty were G Mullen for the A team his 1st Grand Prix race for over a year and putting in a fine performance of 22.05. for the B team we had A Henderson coming back from injury and putting in a solid 22.23. On to the 3rd leg and the A team had H Simpson setting off with a 3.37 lead against M Saez running for the B team. Unfortunately the pressure got to Hugh and Mark overhauled him with Mark clocking 20.36 to Hugh's 25.01. So the head to head final leg between M Duthie for the B team and R Couper for the A team was on but unfortunately Mark gave Martin too much of a start for me to haul back. I don't think ive seen such relief on someones face when Mark came into the changeover first. Martin had been warned if he had to pass me I was going to kick his dodgy calf. Anyway Martin ran 19.30 against my 29.57. On a positive note it was faster than last year. Alan will update the GP when he returns but in the meantime I can say the Ladies has no change and Mark extends his lead in the scratch championship and the GP.

McAndrew Road Relay 75th Anniversary Teams

Due to the various clashes with other races this weekend, a smaller than usual turnout from the Harriers with only two men's teams. However, they are good teams and those present will be looking to establish a gap in the Grand Prix. The teams and running order are here.

This is the 75th running of the McAndrew Road Relay, always held on the same 3 mile loop around Jorhanhill and Scotstoun (although the start/finish has moved around the loop several times over the years). This year the start/finish is again in the Scotstoun Stadium car park. For that reason, all competitors must park in the St Thomas Aquinas School car park, a few hundred metres from Scotstoun stadium as shown on the course map here. Reports on previous years' events are here. Calderglen has a strong tradition at this famous event, having finished 3rd overall some 25 years or so ago and having been first vets team several times in recent years. So lets go for it again.

Finally, please note the new, early start time of 1pm! Russell needs everyone there for 11:45 to hand out numbers and allow warm-ups to be done (and jokers declared).
Alan

McANDREW ROAD RELAYS

The McAndrew Road Relay will take place on Sat 4th Oct.
3 x 3.25 m for Ladies and 4 x 3.25 m for Men.
Cost is £5 each.
Race starts at 1pm.
If you want entered add your name HERE. before training on Thursday 2nd Oct.
Those already entered are listed HERE.

Russell

Please make sure your Sal membership is up to date.