Hamish Armitt en route to Inter District gold.

Report by Croy Thomson
THE PRESTIGIOUS Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships last weekend in Stirling saw no less than 27 Giffnock North athletes take part across the various age groups for Team West, and bring home an individual title and medals aplenty against rivals from East and North Scotland.

Erin Wallace went in the 4x1500m mixed relay and edged her Scotland U20 foursome into fourth, though they eventually faded to seventh against high-class, and more senior, international competition from GB, Europe and USA. Track star Laura Muir anchored her GB squad to a comfortable win.

In the shadow of Stirling Castle, on a rolling surface of parkland and golf course, Giffnock’s Hamish Armitt won the U17 crown over 5k, just holding off team-mate Jack Patton, as they led West to team victory. West’s U17 girls took silver, with southsiders Helen Chong and Clare Wallace among the counting finishers. West’s U15s claimed both girls and boys crowns over 4k, with Chris Perkins second in the lads’ event, ably backed by Reuben MacDonald and Harris Paterson.

Reuben MacDonald on the left helped his U15 team to gold.

The triumphant U15 girls counters included Zoe Flower, Valencia Wright, Hannah Ryding and Julia Cash, who packed home 4th, 5th, 6th and seventh.

Craig Shennan took individual fourth with a last-gasp dip on the line to help West land the U13 title on countback over 3k, with Alex Robin in 11th. It’s worth noting that Calan Chong, while not counting for the team, finished ahead of the final East counter, which helped level the scores and forced the countback. West U13 girls took team silver, the counting athletes including Amber Wade and Katy Donnelly.

Big well done to all our athletes, who gave their all in an always competitive event that attracts top talent from every corner of the country. Cheers also to the organisers, officials, coaches, supporters, fans, pals and pets who made the journey (and the day).

Giffnock North Inter District Selections:
International Relay – Erin Wallace.
West District U20 – Charlotte McKenna
Under 17s – Hamish Armitt, Ethan Carolan, Jack Bell, Helen Chong, Clare Wallace, Jill Carswell and Kate Richardson (Heather Barnes was picked but declined, injured).
Under 15s – Zoe Flower, Valencia Wright, Hannah Ryding, Julia Cash, Kate Paul, Isla Scott, Chris Perkins, Reuben MacDonald, Harris Paterson, Ross O’Brien and Jacob Luc.
U13s – Amber Wade, Katy Donnelly, Kirsty Wylie, Craig Shennan, Alex Robin, Calan Chong and Matthew Murphy.

USA Captain Garrett Heath with Giffnock North athletes Matthew Murphy, Craig Shennan, Reuben MacDonald and Cameron Green.

Many thanks to Gary Leek of Athletics Digital for photos from Saturdays Scottish Athletics Indoor league.

The young Athletes in the club had their Xmas Disco and Awards night on Friday 7th December in GHA.
This was a great event, well enjoyed by all the athletes and also by the coaches, helpers and parents who came along to see the fun.
The Awards presented at this event were 1) Certificates for all the U11s who have competed for the club on the Track at the SAIL [Scottish Athletics Indoor League ] last winter , the CSSL in the summer, 2) the Star Track event we held in the Emirates and, of course 3) for those who like the mud ,who turned out to compete for the Club at XC at the Renfrewshire Cross Country Relays and XC Championships as well as some other schools XC events.
We also recognised all the medalists Gold,Silver & Bronze in all 4 events contested at the Club Championships in September.
4) Finally, Awards were also presented to the U11 Athletes of the Year Male and Female.

We were honoured to have Nikki Manson, our superb High Jumper, present the Awards to the athletes on the night. Dudley Walker our great MC , explained in his introduction of Nikki her early start in the club, the range of events she competed in as an athlete from Middle Distance to Thows to Sprints to Jumps before finally settling on the High Jump as her preferred event. He suggested the young athletes should check out the huge array of Club Records which Nikki holds, at all Age Groups, in all these events, before outlining her National and International career as a High Jumper reaching the position of becoming the Scottish HJ Record Holder with her 1.90 Metre Jump. Nikki came along in her GB kit which she earned representing GB at the European indoor Championships when she and David Smith the club’s other prestigious High Jumper were both in the British Team. Both have also represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Dudley had brought along a measuring tape and with the help of one of the youngsters displayed what an achievement Nikki’s soaring 1.90 was. It was great to have Nikki there. She spoke to the athletes, shook all the hands , handed out the medals and certificates and patiently dealt with the queue of requests for signatures and selfies. Thankyou Nikki from all at the Young Athletes Disco & Awards Night and also from all at the Club for the experience of seeing your continuing development in your GB Scottish & Giffnock Vest.

Dudley had a very busy weekend : MC for this event, taking his squads to the West District XC Championships on Saturday, followed by another gig at the Main Awards Night on Saturday evening. Grateful thanks to him for generously giving his time.

Well done to all our athletes , those who have moved on to U13s, those still with the U11s and those who have recently joined us .
All the coaches and helpers think we have a great bunch of keen and enthusiastic Athletes to celebrate and the dance floor antics certainly underlined that. We had several athletes who were late due to being at their dance exams but who gave an impromptu display and then had everyone join in including coaches and helpers. Craig Armstrong led the Arm Wrestling competition in between dances . We don’t think he let anyone beat him.

Medal winnners below

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2018
Joint Winners
Emily Williams & Freya Campbell
Oliver Bryers & Lewis Davidson

CLUB T&F CHAMPIONS
GIRLS
1)Madeleine Mackenzie
2)Emily Williams
3)Leilani Spelman Ikedashi
BOYS
1)Lewis Davidson
2)Alfie Bradley
3) Logan Johnston

A great event for the youngest of the future Club athletes.
We have to thank properly the following members of the Junior Committee who organised the night and did a great job especially ensuring the DJ and the always welcome Pizza delivery.
Lynda Scott, Tracey Davie & Alison Watson
Additional thanks to Emily and Eilidh for the service at the Juice Bar
A special thanks to James Turnbull , dad to Hannah who came and took all the photos on the night.
In conclusion the U11 Coach Team on the night of Craig Armstrong, John O’Donnell, Steve Taylor, Clare Stevenson and Andy Munro would like to thank our band of parent helpers ( soon to be coaches we hope) for their input on the night and at sessions.
Patricia Gallagher, Gillian Pollock, Gillian Gallagher &a Jennifer Jackson

Lachie Stewart , Erin Wallace and Luke Traynor

Giffnock North AC Annual Awards Night , Saturday 8th Dec
Report from Gerry Duggan.

It was the athletic version of A Christmas Carol at our Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday night, but instead of ghosts, we had heroes past, present and future in attendance.
Our Hero of the Past, and joint guest of honour, was Lachie Stewart, Scotland’s 10,000m gold medallist from the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games. We were treated to video footage of Lachie charging down the back-straight to win his medal as he was being introduced to the attendees. A recent inductee into Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame, Lachie complemented the club for all its recent achievements and for developing such a strong young athlete section.
The other guest of honour and Hero of the Present, was our very own Luke Traynor. Luke has been tearing up the road racing circuit across Europe, winning the Ceske Budejovice Half Marathon, finishing second in the Manchester Half Marathon & third in the Great Scottish Run.
And why have one Hero of the Present when you can have two? We were delighted that Erin Wallace, World Junior Triathlon silver medallist and 1500m CYG Winner  was able to join us too.
Luke and Lachie  raced through the presentation of 30 plus Club awards, ranging from Under 11 to V55 Masters, [including all the National Title winners certificates which required a production line effort from Graham Dunn ] before finishing the awards section of the evening by presenting Erin with her Scottish Athletics Under 20 Athlete of the Year Award which she had missed out on receiving earlier due to training commitments.
While we congratulate all our award winners, listed below, we also salute everyone at the club who has trained and competed over the past year.
Medals and certificates awarded, the starter’s gun was fired for the fun part of the evening. Pausing only briefly to fuel up from the buffet and bar we swapped our spikes for dance shoes and took to the floor for some serious ceilidh dancing. The band was fantastic and the dance floor was full all night long.
Now you may be wondering about the Heroes of the Future? We were delighted that so many of our Junior Section were able to join us at the Awards Night. They burned off more energy on the Dance Floor than they do at a training session and a few may even have set a personal best or two in the process! This group of young men and women will be our Heroes of the Future, whether winning National or International medals, competing and coaching for Giffnock North or simply maintaining an enthusiasm for the sport we all love.

We hope everyone enjoyed the evening and hope the coming year brings more success for Giffnock North that we can celebrate next year. A huge vote of thanks to all those who organised and helped make the night such a great success.

Thanks Gerry.

Special thanks also to Dawn Armitt for her role in organising, and Dudley Walker, our ace MC and Coach to the XC Squads as ever, here sharing memories of athletics with Lachie, his former clubmate at Shettleston Harriers. David Chong for taking all the photos and to all the others who helped to ensure we had a great night recognising the efforts and achievements of all the athletes. But special thanks reserved for Lachie Stewart who at 75 looks as fit as a fiddle and who regaled Dudley and Billy with his amazing tales of competing abroad and finding the prizes were such items as a fridge! From Spain to Glasgow not really possible !!

VIEW ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE

Download (DOC, 23KB)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ol4qqwzkzesa5l1/AAC2OnnCWew3Qyb2JPNEaAl9a?dl=0

Report from Allie Chong

After most of the juniors had finished, just as the weather was closing in, the seniors took to the muddy course in Kilmarnock yesterday.
Churned to a quagmire in places, it was a challenging run, and slightly longer than advertised!
Mary McCutcheon had a strong run from the gun and was the first Giffnock female across the line, with Allie Chong one place behind her. Mary’s run made her the clear winner in the FV50 category – another medal for her trophy collection.
Frances Lowrie and Kathleen McLachlan made up the ladies team, finishing in 5th spot, with Mary, Allie and Kathleen claiming silver in the Masters team category.
Chris Greenhalgh led the Giffnock men round the hilly 8.5k in the men’s race, finishing in 46th place. Jordan Orr had a strong run as Giffnock’s second counter and Luke Chamberlain, Ted Gourley, John O’Donnell and Jason Steele made up the rest of the team, who finished in 7th spot. The men’s Masters Team were just punched out of the medals by one point, finishing just behind rivals Garscube.
All in all 20 seniors competed boding well for the Nationals in February, where even greater numbers are hoped for.

Thanks to Allie Chong for reporting for the Club Seniors and Masters .We can only echo her sentiments for an enhanced turn out for the Nationals .
Well done all the club athletes but especially Mary and the masters silver team medallists Allie & Kathleen adding to the weekend haul of medals.
Provisional results :

Lindsays District XC Champs will be centre stage

Harris Paterson to the fore!

Helen Chong & Clare Wallace for the U17 Women’s Team.

Report from Croy Thomson.

SIX TEAM GOLDS and a team bronze were on the scoreboard for Giffnock North AC’s juniors and Under 20s, and that was before the Seniors and Masters results were in at the West District Cross Country Champs

A most unfortunate stewarding error saw the U13 Girls run a (very) short race but Amber Wade, Katy Donnelly and Kirsty Wylie still claimed the team crown amid a crowded finish that needed video reviews to settle the result. Giffnock ultimately edged Ayr Seaforth by one point. The U13 Boys ran the full distance of 3.2k to deliver the same title-winning result, with Craig Shennan, Matthew Murphy and Alex Robin doing the damage.

U15 titles over four testing, muddy kilometers went to Valencia Wright, Zoe Flower and Julia Cash (first, third and fourth) and to Harris Paterson, Jacob Luc and Ross O’Brien. Under 17 Girls Heather Barnes, Helen Chong and Clare Wallace brought home the fourth crown of the day after 5.5k, before, and with the weather worsening amid gathering gloom, the U20 Girls lit up the day yet again, this time over 6.5k. Erin Wallace, Charlotte McKenna and Rhona Mowat earning the applause.

Under 17 Gents Ethan Carolan, Jack Bell and Blayne Wright – closely pursued by Andrew Robertson – produced a hard-earned bronze medal performance over 5.5k.

Great to see successful returns to action from Zoe Flower, Heather Barnes, Erin Wallace and Lynn McKenna among others. Commiserations and Get Well Soon to Hamish Armitt, Calum Young and Kate Richardson. Splendid to see Emily Crusher turning out for Glasgow Yooni – and making it onto the podium with her team. We applaud bigly the efforts of the coaches, officials, timekeepers, starters, families, fans, startled onlookers, dogs, tent wranglers et al.

Senior and Masters results weren’t available at time of scribbling, sorry. If I have any names wrong, I’m sorry about that too.

Well done to all our hard-working athletes who have gained automatic selection for West District squads. To those on the cusp, keep the faith, keep believing and above all .. keep training. Onwards!

Photos courtesy of Bobby Gavin & Scottish Athletics

Full results including Senior club athletes and more photos soon.Well done to all. We know you will have got the mud off before enjoying the Ceilidh and the Awards Night!

Just a reminder that the Junior Christmas Disco and the Club Awards Night are both this coming weekend, dates below.  So dont delay in getting your tickets if you are planning to come.

Junior Christmas Disco – Friday 7th Decmeber

Club Awards Night – Saturday 8th Decmeber

The first match of the Scottish Athletics Indoor League took place on Saturday 11st December. Results are being finalised and will be published soon.

Many thanks to Gary Leek of Athletics Digital for  the photographs from the event.