Clydesdale Harriers Brave the Elements in the Cross Country Championship

The cross country season is now well under way and this weekend Inverclyde played host to the Scottish Athletics West District CC Championship. The event grows in popularity every year and almost 1000 athletes turned out for the challenging course in the Ardgowan Estate. Clydesdale Harriers, whose popularity and profile continues to grow, has a strong tradition of success in country events. Their athletes braved the weather to enter several teams of juniors, ranging from novices to more experienced athletes. First out on the cold, wet and particularly icy course was the under 13 girls. Sarah Goggins and Caitlin Stuart were joined by sisters Chloe and Iona Allan for the 3.2 km trail. The girls ran well and looked strong throughout the course with Iona finishing in the front half of the field followed by Sarah, Caitlin and Chloe. Afterwards the girls said it was a tough race but they enjoyed the support from around the field. Next out was the under 13 boys. Stephen Kane, Lewis Priest, Ronan Ross, Harry Brothwick and Kyle Higgins battled it out in a field of other talented athletes and each of them gave very good personal performances. There was a lot at stake, as this weekend counts as the main selection race for the Inter District event on the 5th of January which will be held in Edinburgh. Following a very good run in the Dunbartonshire relay, Priest was in positive mood and gave an exceptional performance finishing 7th in a field of over seventy competitors, with less than a minute separating the top ten. He is now waiting expectantly and hopes to be representing the West District in the New Year. After the excitement of the boys race it was time for the under 15 girls to take to the trail and conditions underfoot were becoming more muddy and slow going by the minute as a light rain began to fall on the already water logged course. Representing Clydesdale were Emily Paxton and Charlotte Ross. Both girls showed character and determination by completing the Dunbartonshire AAA Cross Country Championship in Maryhill, in deplorable and arduous conditions and were looking forward to a quality run which they delivered in their usual positive style. As race day progressed, conditions underfoot deteriorated but that didn’t stop the under 15 boys from giving it their all despite one of the lads completing the course with only one shoe, the other having been lost to the mud. Brian Aird, Phil Allan, Darren Dolan, Lewis Hay, Luke Smith and Jacob Siems worked tirelessly. At the half way mark Brian and Lewis were neck and neck and showed their experience by working together to pull each other along and finish consecutively. In the under 20 category, Peter Bowman showed character and skill as he fought his way round the 8 Km course looking strong and determined to finish a very convincing 4th in a time of 28:32. Well done to all those who took part. Clydesdale will be in action again this weekend when they will swap the muddy terrain for the track as they compete in the second meeting of the Scottish Athletics Indoor League at Kelvin Hall. 

Report by Pauline Campbell