Stornoway Running and Athletics Club
“Seasonal” Weather for Club’s Christmas Handicap!
There was an early (well early for me) morning phone call from Mandy half an hour before the meeting time for the annual Christmas handicap;
Mandy – “is the run still on …. “
Ross – “oh, aye! Yer rite, just looking out the curtain for the first time the day ….. see what you mean! Mmmm, naw we’ll not cancel … no lightening, no trees blowing down!”
Mandy – “ Och, we’ll be fine once we’re running”
Ross …. Thinks to himself – rather you than me, but they’ll be ok! Ho ho
Get the Picture
Ever the coach Adrienne …. (but Ti Chi?)
“Robbo” good soul that he is organised the New Year fire works before arrival and provided a much needed coffee for the unfit (flu wearied) handicapper and time keeper! Amazingly very little by the way of haranguing and hustling for better handicap’s, perhaps ‘cause they were all freezing and desperate to start running! But the decision to start Adrienne off ahead of Mandy proved to be the right “call” as Mandy overtook the blone and ran 2minutes 51 faster!
As Tony now appeared and ready to run, having finished business responsibilities for the day, he took the slot of first runner. Big Sandy MacLean had been going to be it but unfortunately a throat infection put paid to his run! If SRAC were ever to join the Stornoway Thespians on stage for the Christmas panto he’d not have been Scrooge, as he still turned up to drop off a secret Santa which allowed even the time keeper to select a wee Christmas gift! At the other end of the start list was the scratch runner Robert Jones starting 13 minutes and 45 seconds behind Tony. Needless to say Robert sheltered during the long wait!
Yes this is a morning run!
The howling wind and sleet conditions luckily didn’t continue throughout the run and cleared up within the first couple of miles. The route was the well run castle grounds loop of 5.4 miles and there were some very decent times returned!
Jason returned from a bit of a lay-off and started sixth but ran very well coming through to win from Jonny by 20 seconds and Robert a further 9 second behind. Jonny will have enjoyed the run and clocking a faster time than Mr Jones who is one of the club’s brightest prospects in distance running!
Before the Duel
Too fast be pictured running in to win!
Everyone picked up something from Santa’s sack!
Christmas Handicap
Castle loop 5.4 miles - 19/12/09
| Start times | Names | Clock time | Place | Actual Time | Fastest times |
| 00.00 | TONY ROBSON | 54.14 | 8th | 54.14 | 8th |
| 00.36 | ADRIENNE STEWART | 48.22 | 5th | 47.46 | 7th |
| 03.00 | MANDY MACDONALD | 47.55 | 4th | 44.55 | 5th |
| 05.42 | JIM BRUCE | 51.02 | 7th | 46.20 | 6th |
| 07.00 | JASON LAING | 45.31 | 1st | 38.31 | 3rd |
| 08.30 | CHIRSTY MACLEOD | 48.44 | 6th | 40.14 | 4th |
| 12.50 | JONNY PRITCHARD | 46.41 | 2nd | 33.51 | 1st |
| 13.45 | ROBERT JONES | 47.45 | 3rd | 34.00 | 2nd |
A Tupper