Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Two Ferries
Bobby Young has a real affection for the Two Ferries race and goes back year after year with or without company to turn out in the West Highlands race. This year he was tenth in the good time of 71:02. Well done Robert!
Lament for the Edinburgh - Glasgow Relay
From the 1930's into the twenty first century the top event of the winter (maybe apart from the National Championship) was undoubtedly the E-G eight stage relay. Only twenty teams took part and they had to be invited. It was different because it was between Scotland's two biggest cities, it was different because it was invitation only, it was different because the stages varied in length between 3+ and 7 miles and it was different because it required eight runners from every team. The first fifteen in any year received an automatic invitation for the following year and the others had to qualify. One criterion was to finish in the first fifteen in the National Senior Cross Country Championship and the remaining teams had to be selected from the short relays. It was vital that every club had at least eight senior/junior road and cross country runners for the team. More was better because the team needed reserves. Excitement was intense and the event was talked about for months beforehand - who would be in the team, what stages they wanted to run and were these the best stages for them to run and so on. It was a disgrace when the event was murdered by scottishathletics.
What is the significance for us now? Quite simply, having four good runners is not to me or anyone with half a brain an indicator of a club's strength. Short four man relays can be seriously influenced by one or even two good athletes - for instance Springburn won many medals with indifferent teams simply because Adrian Callan ran the last leg. One man can have a disproportionate effect in a four man team. A better measure of Clydesdale's position in County athletics is where the second team finishes. If five of our first eight are faster than five of the Kelvin top eight, we're better than them! Is our eighth man or woman better than Garscube's? Short relays are important - partly because we don't have any long relays! - and we need to do well in them but a club's strength is measured by more than their top three (women) or four (men)!
Come back E-G, scottishathletics needs you.
What is the significance for us now? Quite simply, having four good runners is not to me or anyone with half a brain an indicator of a club's strength. Short four man relays can be seriously influenced by one or even two good athletes - for instance Springburn won many medals with indifferent teams simply because Adrian Callan ran the last leg. One man can have a disproportionate effect in a four man team. A better measure of Clydesdale's position in County athletics is where the second team finishes. If five of our first eight are faster than five of the Kelvin top eight, we're better than them! Is our eighth man or woman better than Garscube's? Short relays are important - partly because we don't have any long relays! - and we need to do well in them but a club's strength is measured by more than their top three (women) or four (men)!
Come back E-G, scottishathletics needs you.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Hill Race
Michael Diver took part in the Ben Venue Hill Race
on Saturday 3rd October.
on Saturday 3rd October.
Weather was very windy and the race was shortened
due to weather conditions.
due to weather conditions.
Michael finished 31st in 64:49.
Monday, 5 October 2009
West District Relays
The West District Relays are this weekend at Stepps on a good trail that has been used in the recent past and where club runners have done well. In the past they have been run locally at Strathleven in the Renton, at Braidfield Farm in Clydebank, in Bearsden and in Milngavie. Stories abound about the club in these relays - eg at Stirling in the mid 60's Johnny B Maclachlan on the first stage was running third along the Gargunnoch straight when just before going up into a farmyard, he leapt a barbed wire fence tearing his undercarriage! As Albert Smith of Vicky Park put it afterwards, "You should have heard his language - and he's a BB officer as well!"
Despite many good individual performances in the event (Bobby Boyd was fastest individual in 1947 or thereabouts against many of the very best Scots of all time such as Emmett Farrell, Ian Murphy, James Austin and others have done well) we have only won it once and that was in 1995 at Lenzie where Ewan Calvert gave us a first stage lead, Des Roache held on to it, Grant Graham increased it before James Austin took the final stage and brought the club home first well clear of Graham Wight of Shettleston. And just as good, we were third on the first stage with Irishman Shane Daly and Kheredine Idessane maintained third on the second. Derek Halpin and John Hanratty completed the quartet which finished in seventh. That in itself was an excellent result and all four could be pleased with their run.
The following year was our second best ever. On a very wet day at Kirkintilloch Allan Adams, who had just joined the club ran the first stage and finished eleventh - it was only after he had started that Lynn told us he had had a bad cold all week and had actually blacked out at one point! Kheredine (who had been fourth fastest in the whole race the previous year) took second stage and brought the club up to fourth, then James Austin took the club up to third before Des Roache ran a superb last leg to just fail to get first place despite third fastest time of the day. The second team of Derek Halpin, Graeme Reid, John McArthur and Mark Govan also ran well and as in the previous year the club had four teams out.
Happy days - roll on Stepps!
Despite many good individual performances in the event (Bobby Boyd was fastest individual in 1947 or thereabouts against many of the very best Scots of all time such as Emmett Farrell, Ian Murphy, James Austin and others have done well) we have only won it once and that was in 1995 at Lenzie where Ewan Calvert gave us a first stage lead, Des Roache held on to it, Grant Graham increased it before James Austin took the final stage and brought the club home first well clear of Graham Wight of Shettleston. And just as good, we were third on the first stage with Irishman Shane Daly and Kheredine Idessane maintained third on the second. Derek Halpin and John Hanratty completed the quartet which finished in seventh. That in itself was an excellent result and all four could be pleased with their run.
The following year was our second best ever. On a very wet day at Kirkintilloch Allan Adams, who had just joined the club ran the first stage and finished eleventh - it was only after he had started that Lynn told us he had had a bad cold all week and had actually blacked out at one point! Kheredine (who had been fourth fastest in the whole race the previous year) took second stage and brought the club up to fourth, then James Austin took the club up to third before Des Roache ran a superb last leg to just fail to get first place despite third fastest time of the day. The second team of Derek Halpin, Graeme Reid, John McArthur and Mark Govan also ran well and as in the previous year the club had four teams out.
Happy days - roll on Stepps!
Sunday, 4 October 2009
News Report week ending 4th October
The Clydesdale Harriers were busy over the past few weeks as usual with road races and relays. Most recently was the Dumfries Half Marathon on the 27th of last month. Paul Carroll put in an excellent run to finish 6th overall over the hilly course running 1.19.16 and winning first veteran over 40 prize. Marina McCallum was several minutes back putting in a strong finish to clock 1.32.01 and second female overall.
The previous day had juniors and adults running in the Glasgow Parkrun in Pollock Park (a weekly free 5k open to all levels of runners – it’s simple – just register at www.parkrun.com). Fastest finisher for the club was Ryan Nelson (20.37), followed by young Roisin McShea (21.41 pb and fourth female), David Mitchell (23.06), Claire Reid (23.15), Yvonne Green (23.39 pb), David Campbell (24.03), Lewis Wood (25.12), Rachel Busby (27.31), and Andrew Hunter (31.08). Also that day was the George Cummings Relay at Houston. Each leg was approximately 2.6 miles. ‘A’ Team had first off Iain Robertson running 16.32, then changing over to Gary Dick (15.22), Frank McGowan (13.51) and lastly John McArthur (15.12). Total time 60.57 and 10th overall. ‘B’ Team was an incomplete team which had Pete Cartwright (17.20), changing over to John Foley (15.49), then Bobby Young (17.09).
The previous Wednesday had juniors and seniors turning up at Knightswood ‘Pitch and Putt’ near Great Western Road for a tester before the cross country relays. The course was ably marked out by Phil Dolan and Peter Rudzinski with the youngest juniors running one lap (approx 0.9 miles) and the older juniors and seniors tackling three laps on the grass (approx 2.7 miles). Donald McLeod was timekeeper and some of the parents acted as marshals so many thanks to them all. On the one lap we had fastest finisher as Lewis Hay (7.00), closely followed by Rachel Campbell (7.32) and Caitlin Stewart (7.36). The three laps had Frank McGowan running a blistering 14.59, followed by Peter Bowman (16.11), Gerry Montgomery (16.40), Gary Dick (16.47), Iain Robertson (17.30), Brian Gallagher (17.31), Tony Dolan (18.52), Marina McCallum (19.12), Ryan Nelson (19.34), Roisin McShea (19.38), Claire Reid (19.44), Lewis Wood (21.19), Rachel Busby (21.33), Andrew Hunter (21.39), David Campbell (21.40), Kirsty Alexander (21.41) and Caitlin Dick (23.42).
Lastly on the 20th was the Kilmacolm 10k and Half Marathon. In the 10k we had Brian Reilly running an excellent 39.42. In the Half we had Pamela McCrossan running her first distance race since injury put her on the side lines for several months. She finished in 1.29.52 and first lady overall proving she is nearly back to her best. Also that day was the City of Stirling 10k where Pete Cartwright ran well to finish in 41.12.
The next main fixtures for the junior and senior members are the Cross Country Relays which commence on the 10th with the West Districts at Stepps.
Marina McCallum
Press Officer
The previous day had juniors and adults running in the Glasgow Parkrun in Pollock Park (a weekly free 5k open to all levels of runners – it’s simple – just register at www.parkrun.com). Fastest finisher for the club was Ryan Nelson (20.37), followed by young Roisin McShea (21.41 pb and fourth female), David Mitchell (23.06), Claire Reid (23.15), Yvonne Green (23.39 pb), David Campbell (24.03), Lewis Wood (25.12), Rachel Busby (27.31), and Andrew Hunter (31.08). Also that day was the George Cummings Relay at Houston. Each leg was approximately 2.6 miles. ‘A’ Team had first off Iain Robertson running 16.32, then changing over to Gary Dick (15.22), Frank McGowan (13.51) and lastly John McArthur (15.12). Total time 60.57 and 10th overall. ‘B’ Team was an incomplete team which had Pete Cartwright (17.20), changing over to John Foley (15.49), then Bobby Young (17.09).
The previous Wednesday had juniors and seniors turning up at Knightswood ‘Pitch and Putt’ near Great Western Road for a tester before the cross country relays. The course was ably marked out by Phil Dolan and Peter Rudzinski with the youngest juniors running one lap (approx 0.9 miles) and the older juniors and seniors tackling three laps on the grass (approx 2.7 miles). Donald McLeod was timekeeper and some of the parents acted as marshals so many thanks to them all. On the one lap we had fastest finisher as Lewis Hay (7.00), closely followed by Rachel Campbell (7.32) and Caitlin Stewart (7.36). The three laps had Frank McGowan running a blistering 14.59, followed by Peter Bowman (16.11), Gerry Montgomery (16.40), Gary Dick (16.47), Iain Robertson (17.30), Brian Gallagher (17.31), Tony Dolan (18.52), Marina McCallum (19.12), Ryan Nelson (19.34), Roisin McShea (19.38), Claire Reid (19.44), Lewis Wood (21.19), Rachel Busby (21.33), Andrew Hunter (21.39), David Campbell (21.40), Kirsty Alexander (21.41) and Caitlin Dick (23.42).
Lastly on the 20th was the Kilmacolm 10k and Half Marathon. In the 10k we had Brian Reilly running an excellent 39.42. In the Half we had Pamela McCrossan running her first distance race since injury put her on the side lines for several months. She finished in 1.29.52 and first lady overall proving she is nearly back to her best. Also that day was the City of Stirling 10k where Pete Cartwright ran well to finish in 41.12.
The next main fixtures for the junior and senior members are the Cross Country Relays which commence on the 10th with the West Districts at Stepps.
Marina McCallum
Press Officer
McAndrew Relay
On a very windy afternoon the McAndrew Relay at Scotstoun The club had a disappointing turn out with only seven runners forward. However the A team was third in the vets race with some good times turned in. Gerry Montgomery got the club off to a solid start with 19:17, Gary Dick had a good run to be one second faster with 19:16 (setting up a wee bit of needle for the West Districts!), John Foley turned in 20:20 and Paul Carroll had an excellent run to be clocked in 18:50. Gary reckons that the wind was gusting seriously and was adding between 30 and 60 seconds to each lap. A second incomplete team of Bobby Young (21:13), Ryan Nelson (21:43) and Peter Cartwright 21:34) also turned out - pity that a club of our size could only turn out 7 male athletes. It is good to see Gary getting two good races back to back and with any luck he will go from strength to strength as the winter proceeds.
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Friday, 2 October 2009
More results from Michael Diver
Michael's been cycling again. Here are another two of his results.
20th September - Lake District, 'Cumbrian Killer', 103 miles, finished 57th in 8hr43mins
26th September, Ullapool, Sportive Cycle, 65 miles, finished 163rd in 5hr53 mins - (1/2 hr behind Dougie Vipond!)
Well done Michael!
20th September - Lake District, 'Cumbrian Killer', 103 miles, finished 57th in 8hr43mins
26th September, Ullapool, Sportive Cycle, 65 miles, finished 163rd in 5hr53 mins - (1/2 hr behind Dougie Vipond!)
Well done Michael!
10K Times
In this week's 'Athletics Weekly' Ian MacMillan who used to run for Invicta AAC in Kent has a letter about slow standards. Addressing the issue of falling standards in UK distance running he targets a recent article in the magazine. In the September 10th issue there was an item about training for the 10K targetting a 40 minutes time. He was quite exercised by this - how can we hope to progress when a journal like AW encourages athletes to target such a slow time for senior men as 40 minutes for the distance? I am inclined to agree with him to the extent that any male runner under the age of 40 should be able to get well under this time simply by doing four or five runs of moderate intensity a week. The editor in his reply said that there were only 20 men under 30 last year so it made sense to set a lower target! Seems like nonsense to me! If 30 is too fast for budding endurance runners, Heaven help us; but why do they have to go in 10 minute steps? 35 minutes?
Thursday, 1 October 2009
McAndrew Relays
The McAndrews are the traditional start to the cross country season and have been held over several different trails since I first ran in it in 1958. We used to have a trial that was run on the Tuesday night before the race to pick the team: it started in Second Avenue just along from Kilbowie Road and went right down to the bottom and swung round to come up Hawthorn Street past the High Park to Kilbowie Road, left across Kilbowie Road to where the roundabout is now and then along the Boule to Drumry Road. Over Drumry Road to finish outside the Provost's house (the one with the lamp post) just before Clarence Street. The club had many good teams out and several outstanding runs. In my time in the club we have twice has had two teams in the first twelve twice and several times we were in fourth. The best individual position was in the very recent past when the club was second in 2003. Graeme Reid had won the National in February and moved to live with his friend from America Peter Riley in Lancashire because that was where he could get a job. He came back up for the race and brought Peter with him. The team was made up with Allan Adams and Mark Rudzinski.
Allan ran the first stage and handed over a 24 second lead to Mark. Mark, a former Scottish Junior 10K Road Race Champion, was ahead of some of the very best in the country and although he lost one place to AC Muir of Mizuno (whose name had now become Favorit AC) he kept all the others at bay. Peter Riley was next up and as well as running the second fastest time of the day gave Graeme a slight lead over Glen Stewart for the last stage. Glen was in very good form and we all know that the guy behind, so long as he is not far behind, always has a slight advantage in that he can see the opposition and judge when to go for it. The result? Second to Favorit AC in a team time of 53:04. The third team was almost four minutes behind. (Mizuno had lost their sponsorship and were subsidised for a short time by an Edinburgh cafe called the Favorit Cafe). The second team had Brian Gallagher (36th), Derek Halpin (26th), John Hanratty (20th) and Bobby Young (21st) for an aggregate time of 75:06. Can the team this week do better than 75:06? There's a challenge. There was also a composite team of Scott Hughes, Jolene Ennis, Aileen Scott and Peter Rudzinski. A good day for the club but - here's the question - how many of the dozen will be racing this year? Any bets?
Allan ran the first stage and handed over a 24 second lead to Mark. Mark, a former Scottish Junior 10K Road Race Champion, was ahead of some of the very best in the country and although he lost one place to AC Muir of Mizuno (whose name had now become Favorit AC) he kept all the others at bay. Peter Riley was next up and as well as running the second fastest time of the day gave Graeme a slight lead over Glen Stewart for the last stage. Glen was in very good form and we all know that the guy behind, so long as he is not far behind, always has a slight advantage in that he can see the opposition and judge when to go for it. The result? Second to Favorit AC in a team time of 53:04. The third team was almost four minutes behind. (Mizuno had lost their sponsorship and were subsidised for a short time by an Edinburgh cafe called the Favorit Cafe). The second team had Brian Gallagher (36th), Derek Halpin (26th), John Hanratty (20th) and Bobby Young (21st) for an aggregate time of 75:06. Can the team this week do better than 75:06? There's a challenge. There was also a composite team of Scott Hughes, Jolene Ennis, Aileen Scott and Peter Rudzinski. A good day for the club but - here's the question - how many of the dozen will be racing this year? Any bets?
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