Lewis and Harris XC Series 2006-07

Sponsored by Alex Murray Construction 

Race 1 - Report and Results

Tough “Going” over the Country!

The Alex Murray Construction sponsored, Lewis and Harris Cross Country serious had a very good opening race this past Saturday. The appalling weather and crowded sporting calendar prevented the series’ starting in November as in previous years, which means that the last race will now be in February.

The combination of a fairly tough route being chosen plus the intense rain of recent week made for doubly hard racing for all those taking part! However during the race the weather was “kind” to the spectators at the Castle Green and the enthusiasm of the young runners taking part surely warmed the hearts of the adult spectators! The competition for places certainly gave good free (well, the parents attending may have incurred extra laundry bills) viewing as four of the six junior races winning margins were only won by between one to five seconds!

The first race of the day started before most of the competitors and entourage arrived and this was a combined race involving under 17, 20 and senior runners. This will remain the case, as most are club runners that are needed to organise and marshal all the junior races, which will alternate throughout the series. The race included some of the island’s World Island Games hopefuls, Andrew MacKenzie, Murdo Mackenzie and Eilidh MacKenzie. But this is not to say that the cross-country series is for the racing snakes as could be seen by the difference in running shorts! On the one hand there was the old marathoner circa 1992 shorts, the novice in last year’s Falarikki beach shorts and yes it has to be said (and proudly) Eilidh MacKenzie in her Scottish team shorts!

In the mixed age category race there were some fine runs and some good old gutsy ones! Calum Smith who won the boys under 17 race put in a great race by using the older runners in the race to push himself hard to a quick time of 20minutes and 13. This should be a big boost for the Harris youngster before running in Edinburgh at the Scottish Inter District Championships in January.  He was paced by Murdo and Andrew MacKenzie who seemed to thinking of their own under 20 race competition, both seemed easy on the flat, but it often seems that way on the side lines! This time the results were turned since they last raced with Murdo coming out on top but all is to run for with two more races! Hearach Coinneach Morrison the “constant” racer won the men race ahead of Gavin Earons, who was first veteran and a fine run by Alison Campbell sealed a double victory for Harris! In the girls under 17 category there was a fourth Harris win through a plucky run by Elizabeth Scott.

Following the combined race the under 11’s footed the line for starters orders for their race one mile race. It included a stiff climb from the Shore Road beside Cuddy Point up hill to the newly restored Lady Matheson Garden, more hills in the old “private gardens” and some treacherous mud, before returning onto the Castle Green for the final 200metres. The girls race was a “two horse” affair between Isobel Bain from Back and Leah Duncan of Laxdale. Coming onto the Green they missed the course markings and were actually running away from the finish instead of toward it! But with some loud shouts from the finish area the girls turned to race it out to the finish with Leah determinedly out running Isobel. The two were well clear from Beth Gilbert in third who was first to finish from Stornoway Primary and Beth’s school will have a close battle with old rivals Sandwick who have the early lead in the team event.

The boys under 11 had a very strong field that included the SRAC threesome that placed first, second and third at the North Championships in Nairn as well as strong representation from Stornoway Primary. In a close encounter Campbell MacDonald won ahead of brothers Allan and Angus Murray by three and six seconds respectively. This is another contest in the series that will be worth keeping an eye on!

Andrew Millar of Carloway provided the winner of the under 9 boys race and is he first to win from the west side for some time, could this be start of something for the area? This race was even closer than the last as it was a sprint for the line and only a one second advantage that ensured the win for Andrew ahead of Michael MacMillan of Stornoway. Lewis MacDonald in third appears to be following in the successful running shoes of brother Campbell to ensure the “mighty” Tolsta are picking up important points in the team event and thus carrying on the schools impressive record. At the age of under 9 you might wonder if it’s too early to recognise athletic talent, but in the two girls that fought out the lead for their race, they seemed to show natural style! Peigi McKellar had won last seasons series and Mairi MacLennan had places second, amazingly both were in the younger end of the age group and re-ignited their rivalries on Saturday! It was a great race throughout but not even the roar of the travelling Harris support could prevent Mairi from reversing the last years result as she won with a two second advantage. Back’s Leanne MacDonald took third place to reinforce Mairi’s win, who will be strong contenders for the team event.

The under 13 and 15 age categories ran together, the under 13’s running two miles and the under 15’s two and a half miles. But “mixing” it with her older team and training pals were Holly MacIver and Ailis Murray. At the end of the first lap Holly MacIver was setting a good pace at the front of the field ahead of sister Jane, Ceit Stewart and Kirsty Munro. All the front runners have been working away at training and reaping good results for their efforts and on the day there were also fine runs by the athletes of differing ability throughout the field on a very difficult course.

At the tape the MacIver sisters took first place in the under 13 and 15 categories with Ceit Stewart who looked light footed with tremendous cadence over the heavy course in second and on an “off day”, Kirsty Munro placed third in the U-15 category. It was also encouraging to see Sam Martin from Harris looking stronger than last season and Karina Murray digging in to complete the course. Ailis Murray looked very good in second place in the U-13 race with a fine run and it should be remembered that the only runner ahead of her is this seasons North Champion! In third place in her first year I the category Rebecca Munro Finished well clear of her training buddy Catriona MacKay and has made big improvement this season. Katryn Sullivan, Alicia MacSween and Madeline Reedy also pushed the front runners in an age group that is beginning to show plenty potential for the future, from all over Lewis and Harris!

The boys under 13 race was the strongest field of the Day and included seven of the top twelve finishers at the North Championships in Nairn Last month! Calum Robertson, Josh Sinclair and the Lawson twins pushed the front running Robert Jones, but in a tight finish Robert took first place. Robertson in particular looked quick over the ground and will look to try to take the number one slot next time out. The five along with Sean Macleod and Mark Logue are training and pushing each other on a weekly basis and are showing good progress, six of them will make up the North’s team of ten in Edinburgh next month! Go get ‘em boys!

SRAC are thankful to sponsor Alex Murray Construction for supporting the series, the Stornoway Trust for the use of the Castle Grounds and patience with the ever changing dates (because of the recent weather) and all the club, and helpers. Woody’s Express and the Lewis Crofters for the use of vehicles as Grand stands for the morning!

The race day attracted the biggest entry ever with one hundred and forty-two taking part from all over Lewis and Harris. School teams from Lionel, Tolsta, Stornoway, Back, Sir E Scott and Sandwick are all in contention for team prizes. This is testament to the popularity of the cross country series and SRAC are delighted to see this, if your school is not mentioned? Why not come along for the next fixtures on January 20th and February 24th!

A Tupper

Race 1 - Results