Lewis and Harris XC Series 2009-10 Race 3
Sponsored by Alex Murray Construction

Finale of Lewis and Harris Cross Country Series

The snow fall that threatened the final race in this season’s Alex Murray Construction Lewis and Harris x-country series thawed away, and the heat of the final day’s racing was definitely on! Though there were some “odds on winners” in some of the race categories there was still plenty to run for at the Castle Grounds on Saturday.

The fist race of the day as ever was the combined under17, 20 and senior runners with all but the senior men doing three laps of the 1,415 meter route, while the men did four. (The seniors having to marshal the junior races to follow.) It was a good race with participation form all levels of running fitness and the youngest and oldest male runners put on a good competitive race to watch! Robert Jones and Alastair Dunlop have enjoyed much success in their running at opposite ends of the age group range. But the young SRAC runner and the ever consistent adopted Niseach really set off at a lightening pace which they continued to push throughout their three and four laps respectively. Though Robert was unchallenged at under 17 his race with the old master will have given him a useful run in preparation for the National Championships in Falkirk in two weeks time. Dunlop himself was as impressive as ever finishing well clear of the improving Jonny Pritchard in second place, both took the same positions in the overall results in the series. Just a bit further behind was one of SRAC’s most improved athletes, Chirsty Macleod. Chirsty has suffered recent disappointments through injury in the lead up to big events’, but her winter work and racing in this year’s local cross series augur well for some good race placings and personal best’s in 2010! Another good performance in this combined race came from Jane MacIver who looks to be coming back to the kind of form that has won her titles in the past. Jane was closely followed in by the consistent Ceit Stewart and her sister Holly.

Among the most closely fought individual contests were the girls under 9 and 11 and the boys under 13 races. Isla MacKay (Knock) was just ahead of Emma MacDonald (Sy Pr), but on the day Ellie MacLean (Laxdale) seemed the more determined than Isla and in the final 150 meters Ellie managed to gain a two second advantage to win! However Isla’s second place was enough to win the under 9 title series overall three events. Back’s Catriona Bain all ready had two wins in the bag but a good race from Kirsty Thomson could still win her the event. Catriona Rigby who had missed one of the previous races also could have impacted on the Back lass’s success. However Catriona Bain held her nerve leading from the front over Catriona Rigby with a fairly good margin, while Thomson eventually finished third. A great race to see at the finish as there was no sign of the old expression “no pain no gain” on the girls faces as the three beamed big smiles of satisfaction with their very good performances!

The boys faces in the under 11 race were quite the opposite as Kyle Munro and Hugh MacKenzie grimaced in a neck and neck sprint finish for second and third place behind their Stornoway Primary team mate Daniel Duffy. Young Daniel Duffy has signs of fine potential with three straight wins and with Kyle and Hugh races behind so fiercely all three will improve the more they run and race! Like Duffy there were three straight wins for Ness’s Elijah Cracket in the under 9 boys race, Peigi MacKellar under 13, Connor MacLean under 13, Rebecca Munro under 15.

However all the youngsters taking part and local athletics are all winners on a day when one hundred and forty nine decide to run up hill, down dale and through all sorts of depths of mud. Cross Country running is often remembered as a hard but character building activity once so much part of school days. Now as its popularity grows among so many local youngsters year on year, SRAC are hopeful that the crop of future athletes will also become stronger year on year.

The final local cross country event of the year will be the Western Isles Cross Country Championships at Seilibost Machair on Saturday 6th of March. SRAC will be organising transport to the event and anyone requiring a lift can book a seat a club training sessions; Saturday Porters Lodge 10.30 – noon and track Tuesdays 6-7pm for under 13 – senior runners.

Thanks to sponsors Alex Murray Construction, Stornoway Trust, Lewis Crofters and Woody’s Parcels.

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A Tupper