Happy New Year

With the New Year upon us and the opportunity to get some extra training in during the festive season, we are looking forward to the Nigel Barge Road Race at Maryhill and the Jack Crawford at Huntershill in Bishopbriggs and remembering that the National Cross Country Championships coming up on 21st February. As far as the first two are concerned, the Barge is more important to the club than the Jack Crawford although there is no real objection to running in both. The Nigel Barge is a real classic having been run since the end of the War with all the top names nationally and within the club having run in it. It also forms part of the programme for the county winter league for the Centenary Trophy donated by the club back in 1985. It takes six counters - and not just any six counters but the best the club can turn out on the day. Just a few years ago we had Allan Adams and Mark Rudzinski in the first three but although I don't see anybody that far up we have enough strength in depth to pack well and have the team well up among the other county squads.

The National is the real biggie for the cross country season - it is the one where the club strength is measured against the rest of the country. Last year although we finished a team - unthinkable for Clyddesdale not to - it was possibly not the best we had. We really need all the club runners out in this one. The situation was com;icated last year by the fact that the National Association gave permits for the day after the race, notably the Kirkie Olympians Road Race. It was formerly the case that no permits were given out for the weekend of the National Championships or the weekend beforehand either. It was a good thing because then the field for the country's major event of the winter would nto be diminished either in quantity or in quality. Given the conflict (and the KO race counts for the Centenary Shield!) runners should really run in their national championships.

However, a very happy new year to all club members, past and present, and best wishes for a successful 2009.