West District Cross Country

5th December 2009

Photos: men's race | women's race

Men's results | Women's results

It's been several weeks I've felt ill with sinusitis, so I missed running the West Districts at Irvine Moor, electing instead to take a few photos.

Both senior races went right down to the wire. In the women's event the early group of 5 or 6 runners was whittled down to 2 by halfway around the 2nd lap with Springburn's Danielle Brown poised on the shoulder of Glasgow AC's Nicola Hood patiently waiting to make her move until the finishing straight, and clinching the win by a single second.

The men's race was even closer with less than a second separating the first 2 athletes. Shettleston's Eritrean duo of Tsegai Tewelde and Teweldeberhan Mengisteab both crossed the line in an equal time of 30:24 for the 9.8km route. The 2 athletes had run the final lap pace for pace with less than a stride length separating them, and neither athlete altered their step as they appeared to jog into the finishing funnel, making it all look very easy!

Irvine Marymass 10k

19th August 2009

Results

A few years since I'd last done this race, but only a few weeks since the Irvine 5-miler which is more or less the same course.

I set off like a scalded cat and clocked 3:16 for the first kilometre, which was probably a bit stupid since there was no way I could maintain 32 minute 10k pace. I felt tired by 2km and could only plod along at 3:40 pace for the next few km, which allowed Scott Martin of Kilmarnock to pass and gradually pull away.

At the 4.5km turn I could see a group of 4 just behind and realised I would get caught soon if I didn't start making an effort. So on the long steady uphill drag back I ground out a slightly faster pace and could see I was reeling in the 2 or 3 guys in front.

Bit by bit the guys ahead were coming back, and around 8.5km I caught Jamie Findlay of Irvine. It was a hard battle getting past, but as soon as I saw the 9km marker I started sprinting for home. This took me past David Houston of Glasgow Uni, and put Adam Peters in my sights who had beaten me at the Broadwood 5k last week. I was definitely gaining on Adam down but couldn't quite muster the extra 115% to actually close him down, so coasted in using him as a marker.

My time was 35:10, which is massive PB for the course and my fastest 10k in 18 months, but still a good bit off what I was running 2 years ago. Still it was my 12th race in 19 days, so I can't complain too much.

Ellie had a good run to finish as 4th lady in 40:10, which is her fastest 'official' 10k time so far, and getting dangerously close to clocking sub 40. She has once run sub 40 minutes at Leyland Boxing Day 10k in 2007, but the timings from that race were screwed up by the time-keeper forgetting to start the watch when the race started!

Scottish Masters Cross Country

7th February 2009, Irvine
Results | Photos (women's race) | Photos (men's race)

After photographing the Pollok Park 5k in the morning, I drove down to Irvine in the afternoon for the Scottish Masters Cross Country, with stunning views of snow-covered Arran.

The Westies 'team' consisted of me, David Riach and Don Reid. The weather was bright and sunny with a cold wind, and firm conditions underfoot.

I watched the women's race which is 2 laps of the 2-mile course. Megan Wright forced the pace at first, but was eventually caught and passed by Jennifer MacLean who came in a clear winner in the end.

The men's race is about 6 miles, with 3 laps of the course. The runners each have their 5-year age bracket pinned to their back, so I was trying to keep track of how many V45 runners were in front. When Billy Coyle caught me early on I was fairly sure we battling for 3rd V45, so I tried to stick with him for the first lap, which I was just about managing until Lewis Lawson flew past near the end of the first lap, so I gave up slightly knowing I was no longer in the medals.

Going into the 2nd lap I was closed down by Jeff Farquhar and John McMillan who always give me a good run for my money, so I ended up battling the last 2 laps never more than a metre or 2 from Jeff and John. Near the end of the 3rd lap I started running out of steam, and Jeff, John and Michael McQuaid were all pulling away slightly but when Craig Grieve of Teviotdale caught me as well enough was enough so I let rip in the final 50 metres and closed Jeff, John and Michael right down again and all 4 of us finished more of less simultaneously in 35:01, although I was last of the 4 in 29th place.

David Riach took it at a more leisurely pace finishing 52nd in 36:34, whilst Don finished strongly in 81st place with a time of 38:30.

The race was won by Bobby Quinn in the insanely fast time of 31:12.

Scottish National Masters Cross Country

9th February 2008
Irvine Academy

Results | Photos

The route was 3 laps, with a total distance of 9.85km. Lyn Wilson of Carnethy won the ladies race, and Bobby Quinn of Kilbarchan was first in the men's race. I finished 19th overall in 35:34, and 9th over 40.

West District Cross Country

10th December 2005
Irvine, Ayrshire
Results
Mild, dry conditions, but quite windy. Pretty fast flat course at Towns Moor, Irvine

Irvine Marymass 10k

17th August 2005
Results
Struggled round the Irvine 10k this evening. 12th position in 36:41. A PB if I discount 10k's that weren't really 10k. Never bothered chasing Scott McKendrick or Ewan Jack until the final 4k, by which time they were half a mile ahead. Pipped Ewan before the line, but just failed to catch Scott. The three of us were all 36 minutes something. The race was won by Robert Gilroy of Cambuslang in 30:55