I. Marvin (Heating & Plumbing) Ltd Western Isles XC Championships
18th March 2006

The re-scheduled I. Marvin (Heating & Plumbing) Ltd Western Isles Cross Country Championships went ahead at the second time of asking following the snowfall of a fortnight ago that caused the event to be postponed. A total of one hundred and sixty-nine runners completed the various races, which catered for age groups from under nine year old’s to senior runners! There were some super races to the line in many of the categories to decide the destiny of the medals that were keenly contested from throughout the Western Isles.

In the first race of the day the time keepers had a tough job just to keep up with the noting of finishing times as the a constant stream of runners crossed the line to the applause of the on looking crowd. The first six runners finished only ten second apart, Ross Allison of Stornoway Primary took fist place ahead of Uist’s Nicky Spears and two fellow school pupils of Ross also placed in the top four! Uist’s Nyree Troughton edged Peigi MacKellar, Sir E Scott into second place to retain the under 9’s title she won in Hosta last year The race was very close for the first three girl’s,  four seconds the difference from first to third.

Uist’s Graham Black and Tolsta’s Campbell MacDonald had the closest fought battle of the day in the boy’s under11 race. The two were neck and neck throughout the 1,500metre course and coming onto the Castle green and into the view of the crowd they were cheered to the finish where they were only one second apart! Both performed like champions but eventually the one second advantage went to MacDonald to take the under 11’s title. Following Campbell’s success his school Tolsta were to have further success as Catriona MacKay led from gun to tape in the girls 11’s race, just what do they put in the cornflakes in Tolsta?

Olan Spiers, Uist continued in winning ways having had success at both local and regional levels in recent seasons but was pushed hard by Sandwickhill’s Callum Lawson and Calum Robertson, (Nicolson) only four and five seconds behind. The girl’s 13’s race was an all Nicolson/SRAC front battle as sisters Jane and holy MacIver fought the main placings out with training pals, Ailis Murray and Tyler MacLean. The experience and strength of Jane however gave her a fine win ahead of Tyler and sister Holy, who both have a year to run in the age category.

Harris not to be left out of the winner’s presentation had a fine winner in Calum Smith in the boy’s under 15 race with one of the most convincing wins of the day. The girl’s winner defending her title from last year was Uist’s Laura Johnson. Laura showed good strength on the country to keep clear of Kirsty Munro (Nicolson) and Eleanor MacDonald also of Uist.

Andrew MacKenzie missed the opportunity to race Uist rival Iain MacDonald (who unfortunately was ill) in the men’s under 17 event over 4.5k, but did put in the fastest laps of any runner on the day and ran out comfortable winner. Chirsty MacLeod continued her good winter season by winning the ladies under 20 race ahead of Uist’s Marina MacDougal, however it is good to see Marina back running after a period of injury.

Jane Miller won the ladies title ahead of Kathleen MacLeod and Ross Munro made it a SRAC double by winning the men’s race ahead of club mate Ian Gilbert.

The I. Marvin (Plumbing & Heating) Ltd sponsored event was a great success in which the spectating friends and parents got a fine morning entertainment for free. Thanks to them all for supporting whomever they went along to see! Thanks to North Uist AAC for amassing such a good travelling team, the bye-standing parents bush whacked into marshalling, medal presenting or some other task! Woodies and Hebrdies Haulage for providing “portable cover”, the Lews Castle College for the prize giving facilities and of course all the club members that were helping put all the bits and pieces together.

A Tupper