HomeNorth District XC Champs
Added on 25 November 2012
Below is a copy of Saturdays event review which can be found at http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17&itemType=news&itemId=6795
At the end of the review, there is a note of thanks to everyone involved, to which I wish to add my profound THANK YOU to a very small group of parents, helpers and athletes, who, for the second cross-country event hosted by our club this year and the one athletics meeting at the beginning of the track ‘n’ field season, volunteered to make these events very welcoming and special for everyone who came along and competed, coached or supported. The quality of commitment and effort from you guys was phenomenal, plaudits coming from all sides. I apologise to the marshals and finish line staff, who were out in the field for the entire duration of the event, hopefully all of you were offered a hot drink, provided by Tracy and her hard-working ladies, but had no respite from your duties, which I had initially thought possible, but with no spare volunteers, this didn’t happen.
I would also like to thank William Gray Engineering, who very kindly provided, the necessary tools for Colin and myself to mark out the course, which included the use of a very nice van.
Lastly, thank-you to my “better half” Linda for putting up with everything over the past few weeks and for helping Alison Cameron with transposing and calculating the results. Mwahhhhhhhhh.
Tom
PS. Two clubs have suggested that we offer to host the Scottish Masters Cross-Country Event, thoughts?
Joe and Eilidh to the fore in forest at Evanton . ..
25th November 2012
It is stating the patently obvious in geographical terms that athletics clubs from Scotland’s island communities make enormous sacrifices when competing at events.
That applies even for runners from the likes of Stornoway, Shetland and Orkney when they take part in their ‘local’ competition – the scottishathletics North District championships.
So it was fitting that the journey to Evanton in Easter Ross in late November should prove worthwhile for many of the island athletes this weekend.
Eilidh Mackenzie of Stornoway leads the roll of honour with victory in the senior women’s race. Eilidh won in a time of 28.24 from Moira Davie of Forres and Roma Shepherd of Inverness Harriers.
The men’s race had been billed as a potential head-to-head between Joe Symonds and Kyle Greig by holder Mark Mitchell, as injury denied the champion a chance to defend his title.
It was Symonds, representing Inverness Harriers, who duly finished out in front in 34.45 to win the title for the first time with Greig and Forres team-mate Gordon Lennox in the other medal positions.
That was enough to help Forres Harriers to the men’s team prize with Moray Road Runners second and Inverness taking the bronzes. Inverness won the men's Masters team title.
GB mountain runner Symonds was delighted with the result.
He said: 'I was pleased as I was able to maintain a consistent pace throughout each of the three laps of what was an up and down course.
'Kyle opened up a short lead at the end of the second lap but I overtook him soon afterwards on a steep hill then just began to pull away.
'I am delighted to win my first North District title, but I'm going to have a break from racing now so that I can get some more solid training done.'
Aberdeen-based Greig, who was also runner-up last year, took some consolation by leading Forres Harriers to the team title for the fifth year in a row.
Connor MacLean was another island athlete in fine form as the Stornoway lad proved the best in the Under-15 men’s field with a run of 15.88.
Further down the age-groups there were some competitive races over an Evanton course that lived up to its tough billing.
Age-group individual winners were as follows:
Under-20 Men: Ryan Moodie (RCAC) in 32.43; Under-20 Women – Kirsty Rogan (Forres Harriers) 23.23; Under-17 Men – Calum Fraser (LAC) in 25.21; Under-17 Women – Isla Mackay (LAC) 22.12.
Under-15 Boys – Connor MacLean (SRAC) 15.88; Under-15s Girls – Lauren Fraser (Inverness) 18.05; Under-13 Boys – Joe Arnaud (Inverness) 13.18; Under-13 Girls – Constance Nankivell (ESAC) 15.00.
With development races at Under-11 level for boys and girls as well there was yet more evidence of commitment to cross country with 15 clubs in all having entered athletes for the North Districts.
As always on these occasions: a big thank you to all who took part, supported, acted as marshals or helped out in any way.
* Under-11 winners were Ellie MacLean and Ben Cameron.