Press Report week-ending 22nd February

Last weekend was a good weekend for the Clydesdale Harriers. On the Saturday the Scottish Power Scottish National Cross Country Championships took place at Callendar Park in Falkirk. Conditions were good underfoot and the course was more or less identical to last year apart from the addition of an extra hill early on in the laps. The Under 13 Girls were represented by Rachel Busby who ran her 3200m race in 16.55 coming well up on the field. Under 15 Girls had Claire Reid and Kirstie Kelly both running well over 4000m. Their times were 18.57 and 21.43 respectively. Under 20 Men had Ryan Nelson running two laps (8000m) in 35.28. Next up were the Senior Women also running 8000m. We had two harriers running. First to finish was Marina McCallum (35.07) and Christine Duncanson (38.12). Lastly the Senior Men running three laps (12000m). Prasad Prasad was our first finisher (39.46) coming 29th out of 413 finishers, then Iain Robertson (46.03), Paul Carroll (46.28), Michael Diver (47.00), Bobby Rossborough (49.21) and Peter Rudzinski, running in his 26th National in a time of 59.48.

The other race that weekend was the Kirkintilloch Olympians 12.5k. An unusual distance but a tough course. However that didn’t put off four Harriers taking part. Gerry Montgomery continued his run of good quality racing coming 8th overall and was the winner of 1st vet over 50 in a time of 49.03. Next Harrier in was Pamela McCrossan who was also first lady to finish in 52.37, followed by Hugh Watson who won 1st vet over 60 prize in 55.35, then David Mitchell putting in a steady performance (61.15).

The previous weekend was the Carnethy 5 Hills Race (approx 6 miles) where Prasad Prasad finished second in 53.09 in this popular race. Also that weekend was the Bank of Scotland U17/U20 Indoor Championships at the Kelvin Hall where Peter Bowman ran the 800m in a new personal best time of 2:02.92 and third place.

Lastly nearer the start of the month (8th) was the Renfrewshire AAA County Road Race Championships at Battery Park, Greenock, where John Kennedy ran the 5 mile course in 28.55.

Marina McCallum
Press Officer