Scottish Cross Country Relays, Cumbernauld

Scottish Cross Country Relays, Cumbernauld – Saturday 27th October 2012

This was the third successive Saturday in a row that the club took to the road after having competed at Dundee and Stirling the previous weeks. Cumbernauld was the destination this time and a dozen Harriers headed to the planned new town which was built in 1956 to accommodate Glasgow overspill. 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 12 years. The event was 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 estranged husband of former world champion Liz McColgan and managed to hang on for a dramatic finish and glory for the club. The races are now held in the grounds of Cumbernauld House, designed by famous Scottish architect William Adam and completed in 1731. It was built on the site of the former medieval castle of the Flemings dating from 1370, which was attacked by Cromwell’s forces in 1650. The grounds more recent claim to fame is in its role as a film location for Bill Forsyth’s 1981 film, Gregory’s Girl.

 

Young Females

First race of the day was the young females with three legs, U13, U15 & U17 all run over 2500m. The Harriers were fielding the same line up as two weeks before at the east district relays at Dundee. Ishbel Inglis was first off and completed her leg in 12:30. The metaphorical baton was handed onto Emma Grieve who completed her leg in 13:54 handing over for the final lap to Catherine Mercer who recorded a time of 13:04 for her leg. The girls were 57th team overall.

 

                   

Young Males

Second race was the boys over the same distance as the girls. David Mercer was the only runner in the boys event and he completed his leg in 13:06.

 

Females

The penultimate race of the day was next and it was excellent to see Lauren Corbett and Catriona Young back representing the club. Donna Inglis made up the trio.

1st Leg Catriona Young 22:08
2nd Leg Donna Inglis 24:05
3rd Leg Lauren Corbett 22:07

The team were 57th position overall

                           

 

Males

This was the final race of the day.

“A” Team

1st Leg Craig Grieve 16:12
2nd Leg Alan Inglis 16:42
3rd Leg Keith Learmonth 20:41
4th Leg Alan Coltman 19:33

“B” Team

1st Leg Bill Knox 21:10

          

  

The “A” team (not to be confused with the 1980s American television series) were 91st position

Report by A Inglis