LHSC's Club Of The Year 2009 - SRAC!!

STORNOWAY Running and Athletics Club can look back proudly on a great year – crowned by winning the Club of the Year title recently. The title, given to them by the Lewis and Harris Sports Council, follows major successes during the 2008/2009 season for the junior runners particularly, who did the islands proud and were major players in competitions in the north of Scotland.

The title, given to them by the Lewis and Harris Sports Council, follows major successes during the 2008/2009 season for the junior runners particularly, who did the islands proud and were major players in competitions in the north of Scotland.

Big wins for SRAC’s youngsters included the boys taking the North District Cross-Country relay championships in Strathpeffer in October, followed by individual and team titles at the North District Cross-Country Championships in Forres in November.

SRAC were among the most successful clubs taking part in Forres, winning two team prizes, three individual titles, two runners-up and a bronze.

On the back of that, the club travelled to other national events including the Scottish National Cross-Country Championships in Falkirk in February, where the under-13 and under-15 boys team were both placed sixth. That took them among the big central belt clubs on the leader board and well ahead of their big Highland rivals Inverness Harriers, five places behind in 11th place. Stornoway’s girls performed similarly well – although they were one athlete short to qualify for a team placing. Individually, club runner Robert Jones took sixth place overall in the under-15 category while Campbell MacDonald was eighth in the under-13s. It was the club’s most successful appearance at the National Championships since the club first competed in the event in Dundee in 1990.

Ross Munro, SRAC deputy chairman, said: “The way I see it, if you look at the results, there were Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs ahead of us. No clubs of a similar size to us have been placed so well, not even bigger populous North clubs like Inverness.”

After the thrills and spills of cross-country it was on to track and field championships under the auspices of the Hippo – Highlands and Islands Performance Participation Opportunity – initiative. This innovative competition and scoring system allows athletes to compete in different events in different locations and still be compared because each performance is awarded a pre-determined set score. Athletes get awarded set points based on their age and performance in a particular event, allowing 200m runners to be compared with long-jumpers, for example. Ten different clubs take part in Hippo events in Stornoway, Inverness, Orkney and Shetland before coming together for a ‘grand final’ in Inverness.

There, SRAC youngsters won both the under-15 categories. Some Stornoway athletes were also then chosen to be part of the select ‘Team Hippo’, who have won the bigger North East Young Athletes League for the last two years. On the back of that, they qualified to compete in the Scottish National League Final – coming third this year. More than a fifth of the total points for Team Hippo were won by their Stornoway members.

Ross Munro said the Hippo initiative was great for island athletics.

He said: “It means that, for the first time, you’re developing a pathway for development throughout the Highlands and Islands. All of us know that we’re living in a remote area where competition is the most difficult thing. Football is probably the only sport in the islands where competition is readily available. So, for the first time ever in athletics, local people can compete against people in different areas and events thanks to the Hungarian points system that’s been put in place by the organisers.”

The organisers had come up with the idea for Hippo after travelling to Lewis to take a coaching session and being struck by the logistical difficulties of traveling to and from competitions. And that’s before you even talk about money. It cost SRAC £2500 to take a team of three dozen youngsters to the Hippo grand final in Inverness. Ross said: “We try to subsidise it as best we can, but sponsorship is hard to come by these days – although there are obviously sponsors of events that we are very grateful to.”

Despite always being in need of cash help themselves, SRAC have managed over the years to make a significant contribution to charities, donating more than £31,000 to good local causes since 1997.

So why does Ross Munro think SRAC – who celebrate their 25th anniversary next year – won the Club of the Year title? In addition to all events in the north of Scotland, there has also been the World Island Games, were young islanders enjoyed big successes. He named Eilidh Mackenzie, Eve Carrington and Donnie Macleod as former club athletes who were competing now at national level. Eilidh has run for Scottish universities while Donnie was part of the 4 x 400m relay team who set a new Scottish record.

As a club, Ross said: “I think year on year, we punch above our weight. We get away to the North Districts, the national championships; we make big efforts… as do a lot of the island clubs.”

Ross admitted it was “a relatively hard task” to get youngsters involved in athletics as they cannot hide in the numbers of a team sport and training is mainly based on “pure hard work”.

He said: “To get teens involved in something like athletics at a time when fitness levels are getting lower and lower is a big deal and testament to the club.”

But he added: “The most significant factor in the success of the club is the young athletes who perform and take back the silverware to the islands, as they have done for quite some time. Having said that, we can’t do without coaching back-up, parental assistance and financial support.”

It must not be forgotten, of course, that SRAC is not all about the kids. Many adults also run in club colours – and these senior runners come in all shapes and sizes.

Ross said: “There’s a perception that it’s all elitist runners – but we will happily accept anyone at any stage or ability if they have an interest in coming along!” 

The club holds sessions three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

If you are considering it, think about Ross’s final words: “Why would someone pound mile after mile on a treadmill when there’s fresh air outside and a club to join? I can’t quite figure that out myself.”

by Katie Smith