This was the third successive weekend in a row that the club took to the road after having competed at Peebles and Stirling the previous weeks.

Cumbernauld was the destination this time and seventeen Harriers headed off to the Scottish Championships. The good news is next weekend we are a bit nearer to home, Hawick Moor for the Jubilee Races, less distance to travel but a lot muddier. Cumbernauld has now hosted the Scottish Cross Country Relays for the past 14 years. The event has been held at Hawick Moor in 1982 and 1993. The Scottish Cross Country Relays were first held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow in 1974. In the 1983/84 season the boys had a fantastic result finishing runners up (U13 C. Murphy, U15 D. Rudkin & U17 C. Nichol). In the 1989/90 season the club’s men went one better to be crowned Scottish Champions (K. Logan, R. Hall, A. Walker & D. Cavers). The men travelled to Inverness to compete that year and recorded a time of 51:15 just 7 seconds ahead of Dundee Hawkhill to take the title. Dave Cavers ran the last leg against Peter McColgan, Irish internationalist and ex-husband of former world champion Liz McColgan and managed to hang on for a dramatic finish and glory for the club.

Young Females

First race of the day was the young females with three legs, U13, U15 & U17 all run over 2500m. Running the first leg were Carly Blaikie (14:23) and Macy Cropper (15:04). Next away on the second leg was Lucy Ash (15:40). The metaphorical baton was handed onto Ishbel Inglis who completed her leg in 13:06 bringing the team home in 75th position. Conditions on the day were blustery to say the least and as always the wind was in your face running up the hills!

Young Males

Second race was the boys over the same 2500m course. Jai Patterson (12:05) and Johnlee Elder (14:26) were first off for the club. It was Jai’s his first cross country race for the club and he gave a good account of himself. Next off on the second leg was Fraser Clyne (11:19) who then handed over to Jamie Waugh (11:45) who brought the boys team home in 75th position.

Females

The penultimate race of the day was next and the club only had one runner making up an incomplete team in this 4,000m race. Donna Inglis ran the first leg in 22:56.

Males

This was the final race of the day and conditions were beginning to deteriorate. The wind had picked up and it was beginning to pour with rain. It was great top see two complete teams in this race

A Team – 54th position

1st Leg Rory Anderson 14:42
2nd Leg Alan Inglis 16:45
3rd Leg Alister Biggar 17:36
4th Leg Alex Corbett 17:54

“B” Team – 20th veteran’s team

1st Leg Ged Smith 19:30
2nd Leg Michael Yule 18:39
3rd Leg Alan Coltman 20:56
4th Leg Paul Lockie 21:48

Report by Alan Inglis. Photographs by Alex Corbett in post below.