Lewis and Harris XC Series 2010-11

Sponsored by Alex Murray Construction

Race 1 Results

Running Boom Explodes at AMC X-Country Opening Race

Numbers entering and running the first of three races in the Alex Murray Construction Cross Country Series at the Lews Castle Grounds on Saturday far exceed all expectations of organisers Stornoway Running & Athletics Club! Numbers were up by a massive 25% on the previous highest attendance with two hundred and eight taking part! The success of the event was not just with the young and fit as the senior race also had its best ever number of entrants! The huge entry however brought its own challenges to the organisers with increased numbers of vehicles needing to be shown where cars could be parked and the registration table had a continual line of parents entering their children. There were therefore some delays in the timetable but by the final race of the day most of the time loss was made up. So a big thanks to the community participating and supporting the event and also being patient as SRAC volunteers dealt with the huge entry.

SRAC used the event as the “dry run” (most parent will of course not think of it being anything like a dry run as the mud soaked clothing was cast into the home wash baskets) for the BIG event the club will host on the same course on Saturday November 27th! The familiarity now gained by the local athletes running in the North District Championships should see them do well as this past weekend saw many strong performances in the different age groups. These performances were returned in sufficient numbers that SRAC should be able to mount good challenges in most age group team events.

Laying a good marker was Robert Jones (under 17) in the first race which included U17men, U20 and senior men and women. Robert ran the fastest time of the day, running 25mins 56 for the undulating 6k route, the same distance run by the senior men on the day! Jones’s style may be deceiving as what appears to be effortless running action certainly get’s though the mud, hills and meters quicker than the rest of the field! Rebecca Munro put in the top under 17 female performance, SRAC with Rebecca, Holly MacIver and Katerine Sullivan should hold their own at the District Championship’s on home soil in three weeks! Rebecca’s training partner Ceit Stewart now running as an under 20 (and likely to be third counter for SRAC in the district event behind well know local lassies Chirsty MacLeod and Eilidh MacKenzie) also put in a solid run with the fastest female run of the day!

Campbell MacDonald the defending North Champion was given a real good race in the under 15 boy’s race by the talented Ross Alison. Campbell as ever was quick to put his stamp on the race in moving to the front. But he was shadowed by Ross and early in the first lap he took to the front and from there on in set the pace for the rest and took the tape in very impressive style! Whatever happens come the 27th of the month with the athletes from the travelling clubs of the “North” the tussle between Campbell and Ross should be a thriller and set up the SRAC team in a good position, ably supported by the gutsy Jamie Sullivan, Micheil R Smith, Ken MacSween and Co!

Isabelle Bain of Back came home first in the under 15 girls race with Alison MacInnes of SRAC inn second and Leena Toor of Sir E Scott in third. Leena could be the latest of a line of good Harris runners to start training with SRAC and she will also be competing for the ACF in national Air Cadet cross country race.

The first to do battle with the deep mud around the large castle loop were the under 13 girls. Peigi Mackellar of Sir E. Scott continued the fine form that she ended the last cross country season with and led from the start to the finish but it was clear that even Peigi found this District course a challenge. Mairi MacLennan of Back came in second after a closely fought tussle with Jade Keitch of Shawbost who boosted by a vocal support from the crowd came in a close third.

The under 13 boys race provided the most dramatic finish of the day with fireworks on the final lap of the green provided by Connor Maclean of SRAC and Hugh Mackenzie of Stornoway Primary exploding onto the green and racing elbow to elbow to the finish. Hugh eager to beat his older rival gave all he had in the sprint to the line but it was Connor who crossed the line first just ahead in what was a sparkling performance by both boys. Michael Macmillan of SRAC finished third and all three boys will line up for SRAC in the N Districts in what will be a strong team.

The under 11 girls race turned out to be a battle royal between Catriona Rigby of Stornoway Primary and Caitlin Mackenzie of Laxdale. The girls came onto the green together, well ahead of the rest of the field just as Connor and Hugh did in the under 13 boys but this time a short burst of acceleration from Catriona caught Caitlin out and despite a strong sprint in the final 100m she was unable to make up the ground and Catriona took the victory. In third place was Cara Macleod also of Laxdale.  Laxdale once again looking strong in the school’s team contest! Catriona and Caitlin will line up together in SRAC colours for the N Districts and are sure to produce another cracker of a race.

The under 11 boys race was also a close fought affair with Kyle Munro making it a Stornoway Primary double in this age group edging out Rory Mighton from Tolsta in another sprint to the line. John Bain of Back followed the pair in closely for third place.

The high level of participation in this series was in evidence in the under 9 boys race with 33 entries suggesting that they had all heard about the amount of mud on offer and wanted to do their best to spread it around. Undaunted by the slippery ground the boys set off at a terrific pace up the hill and some began to pay the price of their early enthusiasm as they passed the front of the castle, a lesson learned for the next race maybe? It was Evan Traynor of Tolsta who judged his pace to perfection as he sprinted to the finish just ahead of Cameron Macleod of Stornoway Primary with Calum Macleod of Back coming in third place.

Link to U9 GIrls race - ran 2 weeks later

Thanks to all the parents for their patience and support on Saturday, all the school leaders who took children to the event. Sponsors Alex Murray Construction, the Stornoway Trust who give permission to use the wonderful castle grounds and Sandy MacLean and Ardseileach Community Day Care Service for all the voluntary work in the grounds. Finally all the club members and “pressed” recruits from among the spectators (Stevie Munro / Alasdair Morrison)!

Remember this Friday Lamplight run on Friday starting at 5.30pm from the Woodlands Centre. Come celebrate 25 years off Stornoway Running & Athletics Club in this community fun run in the dark! You will need a head torch (or hand held), have a partner to run with, under 15’s £2, older £3 and Halloween / Guy Fawkes dress the order of the evening! Hot chocolate and fireworks at finish.

Put Saturday 27th of November in you diary and come spectate the North Cross Country Championships to cheer Stornoway on!