Club Championships

I was at the club championships on Saturday - the weather was beautiful. It was clear, sunny and warm, the races were good on the usual challenging courses and two former members were there. Joe Higgins is a bit of a folklore figure in the club: as a young athlete he was a member of the SAAA multi-events squad and a very good track and cross-country performer as well and Paul was an excellent cross-country and steeplechase athlete. In fact after the West District Young Athlete Relays were introduced, Springburn Harriers won them for the first six years and then, at Port Glasgow, Clydesdale were in fourth place at the start of the third (U17) leg and Paul pulled us up past Clydebank AC, Victoria Park AC and Springburn into first place and the Springburn monopoly was broken. Because of the weather last year and this I have missed a lot of races and what a change in the young athletes! Most of the young girls are now young women, Rachel has sprouted and some of the boys' voices have broken!!!
The only disappointment was the low numbers competing. Only five senior men is not good. The race between Paul Carroll and Peter Bowman was interesting: at first we saw Paul in front, then Peter was in the lead and he increased this until the last lap when Paul came back at him but in the end Peter won comfortably to take the Junior Men's Championship while Paul is custodian of the Senior Men's event. The only mishap was Ryan Nelson losing both shoes (not just one, but two!!!) in the deep muddy swamp that passed for a gate at the end of the big field. Fortunately a kind spectator in welly boots made his way into the depths ad fished them out. Despite losing a lot of ground Ryan ran on and was second at the end of the Junior race. Next week it's the Indoor League on Sunday: turn out and support the club!