HomeThurso XC 2018 Race Report
Added on 28 November 2018
Over e’ord went 28 Ross County athletes to compete in the 2nd League meeting at Thurso with fields and river crossings lying in wait.
Our own ‘Mystic Meg’ Jim Mcpake who had predicted the weather last year by wearing a sub polar arctic SSE Hi-Viz combat suit to combat the atrocious conditions arrived in his Bermuda shorts, sliders and his “ I love Tongue” T-shirt to meet the glorious sunshine this year. I think the Tongue slogan was in reference to the village along the North coast but can’t be sure..
So good was the weather, there was less wind in Caithness than the year that the snow gates got closed and the town ran out of stock of baked beans and so warm that Shug’s infamous coffee remained in the car and will be kept for reheating at Nairn.
Under 11 boys and girls ran off together (Struan made sure he was at the start this time) an amazing run from Andrew Baird secured his 2nd win of the season and edged him closer to securing the league title in Nairn. Struan ran a good race and finished 4th. The u11 boys leading the league at present
U11 girls it was the Fraser girls representing the club. Anna with the orange shorts finishing ahead of her sister Lucy - 4th and 6th respectively.
U13 girls saw Morag Lynch coming in 6th place followed by Emily Bell who had decided to wrap up warm belatedly for last year’s race obviously shunning ‘mystic Jim’s’ prophecy of uncaithness weather. However this was not the only wardrobe faux pas in that family with Jamie’s penchant for cross dressing and posting to random persons in his phonebook putting Emily’s overdressing in the shade.
U13 boy’s race saw Sam ‘I accidentally drank your juice ’Coull in 5th, with Zak ‘no wellies’ Fearn 8th, Ali Young 11th, Graham Copley 12th, Murray Mackenzie 13th and Ryan Sutherland 15th.
U15 girls saw a real gritty performance from our only entrant Morag Hickey who finished 6th after struggling with sore knees from her hockey training.
U15 boys saw a good showing from Ruaridh Ellen in 5th and making his debut and finishing in 8th was Aaron Fraser who has stroked Jo Ellen off the Xmas card list for persuading him to run.
What is it with Caithness and Shortsgate???? Last year Daniel Porter had forgot his shorts and had to borrow a pair. Well this year Kyle Sutherland thought he had put on shorts before leaving the house until he realized that underwear are not shorts. So instead of running in his ‘marathong’ he borrowed poor Ryan’s shorts. Thank goodness he did as he helped the u17 men to a team 1st again. With Danny Mcpake coming in 3rd, Alex Ellen 5th and Kyle 9th.
Senior women were well represented again with Lorraine Coull in 14th, Rebecca Hindson in 18th, Jo Ellen 24th and making her debut Suz MacLellan in 28th.
Senior men had a full team again with me in 15th, Adam MacLellan 24th, Kenneth McKenzie in 38th, Robert Maclean 42nd and Peter Thomson making his XC debut finishing in 49th.
It was good to see that Peter kept up the Ross County tradition from previous years where Morag Lynch, Kyle Sutherland and now Peter lost their shoe in the mud. Maybe Morag and Kyle can give Peter lessons in lace tying for next year.
As the light faded it was a mad rush to get down to Helmsdale first to the chip shop in order to get a whale and chips. The fun wasn’t over for the day as a man walked into the fish and chip shop with a fish under his arm and says "Do you serve fish cakes in here?" The owner replied “no” The man said "that's a shame it's his birthday today"
On that note I will leave it there and will be back at the same plaice for the next race report…..