Stornoway Running and Athletics Club
Lewis and Harris Cross Country Series 2002/03
Race Photographs Gallery 1 - Gallery 2
The final race in this season cross-country series took place in the Lews Castle Grounds and despite the extremely wet weather there was an entry of seventy-nine runners taking part. Gavin Earons devised a new course for the day and it appeared to be a popular route with those taking part.
The first race to take place was 15 year old's and upward, over a challenging but very interesting 2000m course. Starting on the Castle Green the runners quickly descended the banks of the Shoe Burn before climbing out up at the Castle and into the Castle gardens and it's many undulations. The second section of the 2000metre route reached out to Lady Lever Park monument before the spectators viewed the runners take in a lap of the Castle Green and a final sprint through the path leading to Christies Pier which more resembled a burn than a footpath due to the night's downpour, but by that stage no one was caring!
The under 15 men's race was won by Alex Gilbert with a very
good performance after missing the second race followed by Jonathan Murray
and Murdo Frame a couple of minutes adrift in second and third place respectively.
Senior runner Ross Munro and the under 17 Murdo Alex MacKenzie kept the spectators entertained at the front of the race, but in the home straight sprint finish there was only going to be one winner and Murdo Alex duly took the tape with the fastest time over 6000m. Gavin Earons was the next senior across the line and in so doing took the overall title as series winner.
The next race was an altogether closer affair that got the spectators cheering in recognition of the efforts of the Sir E Scott pair of Cailean McCombe and Calum Smith. Coming into the race both had a points total of four points, Calum having had two seconds and Cailean a first and a third and with only a couple of metres remaining of the race it looked like Calum's title. However, a superb sprint effort from Cailean edged out his teammate rival by a one second margin. Calum will no doubt challenge again next year for the under 13 title although Grant Stewart will also be trying to stake a claim.
The girls race and title winner was CJ MacPhail after winning all three races in the series. This age category was also well contested with the first three runners only separated by 10 seconds both Sinead MacLean and Karen MacRae continue to improve. All three therefore should give good account of themselves against Uist opposition at the upcoming N.D MacLeod Electrical Western Isles Cross-Country Championships on 1st March.
Daniel Shaw of Stornoway Primary and Jane MacIver of Sandwickhill also recorded clean sweep victories in the under 11 races, but girl power was the amazing outcome in the 11's race. In a mixed start Jane placed fourth overall and second placed girl Kirsty Munro placed fifth overall!
Tolsta school were very strong in the under 9's race and although Stornoway's Calum Robertson was race winner on the day by a two second margin over Tolsta's Sean MacLeod, it was Sean Macleod who claimed the overall winners spot. The girl's title was won by Ailis Murray who's close rival Holly MacIver suffered from an 'off day', but also performing well was Naomi MacKenzie of Stornoway Primary (cross-country training maybe does pay off)!
RESULTS FROM THIRD RACE IN SERIES
Under 9Girls
1st Ailis Murray Stornoway Pr 4.43.
2nd Naomi MacKenzie Stornoway Pr 5.12
3rd Holly MacIver Sandwickhill 5.13
Under 9 Boys
1st Calum Robertson Stornoway Pr 4.21
2nd Sean MacLeod Tolsta 4.23
3rd Campbell MacDonald Tolsta 4.42
Under 11 Girls
1st Jane MacIver Sandwickhill 7.44
2nd Kirsty Munro Laxdale 8.03
3rd Rome MacLeod Breasclete 8.11
Under 11 Boys
1st Daniel Shaw Sy Pr 7.33
2nd Steven Dunn Sy Pr 7.34
3rd Kieran Mulhearn Sir E Scott 7.43
Under 13 Girls
1st C J MacPhail Sy Pr 18.30
2nd Sinead MacLeod Sy Pr 17.31
3rd Karen MacRae Sir E Scott 17.34
Under 13 boys
1st Cailean McCombe Sir E Scott 13.57
2nd Calum Smith Sir E Scott 13.58
3rd Grant Stewart Bayble 14.16
Under 15 girl
Winner Eilidh MacKenzie 14.32
Under 15 boys
1st Alex Gilbert 18.34
2nd Jonathan Murray 20.31
3rd Murdo Frame 20.51
Under 17 ladies
Winner Christy MacLeod 18.02
Under 17 men
1st Murdo Alex MacKenzie 23.26
2nd Jason MacLean 25.36
Seniors
1st Ross Munro 23.30
2nd Gavin Earons 26.43
3rd Ruaridh Ferguson 30.44
LEWIS AND HARRIS CROSS COUNTRY OVERALL PLACES
Under 9 Girls
1. Ailis Murray Sy Pr.
2. Holly MacIver Sandwickhill
3. Naomi MacKenzie Sy Pr
Under 9 Boys
1.Sean MacLeod Tolsta
2. Calum Robertson SyPr
3.Campbell MacDonald SyPr
Under 11 Girls
1. Jane MacIver Sandwickhill
2. Roma MacLeod Breasclete
3.Ruth Walker Laxdale
Under 11 Boys
1. Daniel Shaw SyPr
2.Kieran Mulhearn Sir E Scott
3.Steven Dunn SyPr
Under 13 Girls
1st C J MacPhail Sy Pr 18.30
2nd Sinead MacLeod Sy Pr 17.31
3rd Karen MacRae Sir E Scott 17.34
Under 13 boys
1st Cailean McCombe Sir E Scott 13.57
2nd Calum Smith Sir E Scott 13.58
3rd Grant Stewart Bayble 14.16
Under 15 girls
Winner Eilidh MacKenzie
Under 15 boys
1. Jonathan Murray
2. Murdo Frame
Under 17 ladies
1. Chirsty MacLeod
Under 17 mens
1. Murdo Alex MacKenzie
2.Jason MacLean
Seniors
1. Gavin Earons
2. Ruairidh Ferguson
3. Roddy Gillies
TEAM PRIZES
Under 9boys
1st Tolsta
2nd Stornoway Pr
Under 9 girls
1st Stornoway Pr
2nd Tolsta
3rd Sandwickhill
Under 11 boys
1. Stornoway Pr
2nd Breasclete
3rd Back
Under 11 girls
1.Stornoway Pr
2ndSandwickhill
3rd Laxdale
Under 13 boys
1st Back
2nd Sir E Scott
3rd Sandwickhill
Under 13 girls
1st Stornoway Pr
2nd Sgoil nan Loch
Stornoway Running and Athletics Club would like to thank Stornoway Trust for permission to use the Lews Castle Grounds for the event, also to all the members and helpers from a very small nucleus who gave up of their time to contribute and also the parents and teachers who accompanied the children to the event.
We look forward to seeing both runners and spectators at the Castle Green again on the 1st of March for the N.D MacLeod Electrical Western Isles Cross-country Championships. The club will be at full stretch to organize this event and would welcome any help on the day, contact any committee member.