The Scottish Cross Country Relays were held in Cumbernauld on Saturday 26th October 2013. This year saw a record 2,000 entrants for this event from local club runners like our own Teviotdale Harriers to GB internationalists Laura Muir. This is a great experience for the Teviotdale Harrier juniors and seniors to race against competitors from all over the country including the cream of Scottish athletics. Eilidh Child, winner of the Kukri Athlete of the Year was spotted amongst the spectators which gave the younger members of the team quite a thrill.
Lining up first were the girls in the u13/u15/u17 race. Distance was 2,500 metres over a steep and hilly muddy course. Teviotdale were delighted to have 2 teams. Times were as follows:- Team A – Connie Lothian 13.06, Carly Blaikie 13.44, Ishbel Inglis 11.41. Team B – Lucy Ash 14.13, Skye Patterson 13.08, Emma Grieve 13.02. This was a first outing at the relays for both Lucy and Skye and they both thoroughly enjoyed the event and ran well for their team.
Next up were the boys u13/u15/17. First off was Fraser Clyne who finished in 10.32, next leg Jamie Waugh in 11.09 and Joseph Tottman on the final leg in 12.42. Well done boys!
Following the boys were the senior/junior ladies. Teviotdale Harriers had 4 women for this 4,000m event, the relays are the only event on the East District cross country calendar where both men and women run the same distance. First leg Catherine Mercer 18.01 and Donna Inglis 21.07, having missed the last 2 cross country events due to injury Catriona Young ran the next leg in 21:58 and despite being in obvious pain following a recurring injury from the previous event Lauren Corbett completed the final leg in 21.25.
The final race of the day was the senior/junior male event. Harriers had 5 runners. First leg Craig Grieve 15.17 and Paul Lockie, at his first attempt at the relays, though nursing a bad knee completed in 19.43, 2nd leg Alan Inglis in 15.39, 3rd leg, back in competitive running Alex Corbett finished in 17.51 and the final leg to a rousing cheer by the juniors was run by President Alan Coltman in 19.23.
Once again the juniors ran not only their race distance but probably ten times as much as they ran around the course shouting and cheering not only each other on but the rest of the team as well. The volume was such that they drowned out another team that had brought along a small band equipped with drums and bells. At one point as they were chanting the name of one female member of the team as she tackled the final hill the 3 men standing next to them joined in as well, such was their enthusiasm. Well done juniors and thanks for all the great support. Decked out in your hoodies no one was in any doubt Teviotdale Harriers had been around.
Photos from Alan Clyne HERE