S.A. Inter District XC inc. Celtic XC & UK Cross Challenge
For the first time this XC season the sun was shining for Race Day at Renfrew and there were several brilliant performances to match the glorious weather. The course was flat, fast, and included some interesting scenery on its winding way around King George V playing Fields.
The U13 girls kicked things off with some gutsy runs as a visitor from Exeter Harriers took the race out hard. We had 4 in the West team and a fabulous 6 running for the club. The West had to settle for the silver medal after a strong showing from the East, with Lucy Tonner (6), Erika Tait (9) and Eve Cameron (10) all as counters. In a tight finish Megan Jackson (41), Eilidh Brown (42) and Eva McGrory (43) pushed hard down the home straight, Chloe Simpson (48), Freya Mearns (51), Rebecca (62), and Ruby McWilliams (66) raced well cheered round by many local supporters.
The U13 boys were up next and 9 of our boys were representing the West squad. The boys all did the Club and West proud and worked hard together as a big group for a good bit of the race. Heading into the final straight a bunch of East and West vests fought it out, with Kian Dick coming out with 3rd in the British Cross Challenge and 2nd in the Inter District competition. Such was the mele in the home straight that supporters thought that Evan had snatched 3rd spot for the districts, but they hadn’t spotted an East vest nicking down the right-hand side! Evan Tyler took and excellent 4thplace, with Sam Deery in 7th and Ewan Kennedy pipping an East vest on the line to take the 6th counter spot and secure West Gold on equal points! Donald MacInnes was inside the top 20 and there were good runs in their West vests for James Andrews (21), Logan McNulty (27), Leo Carroll (28) and Ollie McFarlane (37).
The sun was still shining for the U15 girls race but the course was getting a little heavier underfoot, though the U15 (and U17/20) were spared the tight 180° turn of the earlier and later races. In the West squad we had Hollie Simpson, Amy Gallagher, Eilidh Caldow, Millie Boothman , Isabella Wilson And Nicole Yates with Erin Reilly and Eve Wilkinson running for the club. The girls navigated the course and growing crowds well with Hollie taking an excellent 4th place in the district competition and as the first counter for the West team. Amy was in 16th for the 5th counter. The West team took silver on this occasion after a strong showing from the East team taking the top 3 spots. There were determined runs from Eilidh (29), Millie (32), Isabella (33), Nicole (35) Erin (54) and Eve (60).
The U15 boys went off like a train as expected and stampeded round the tight first right-hand bend. Things soon settled down with a couple of West vests pulling a group of around 7away a little from the rest. The East won this one in the end with Aaron Reid running well to be our sole counter in the West team in 15th spot (11th for district). In the top half of the field with good runs were Finlay Laskey (23) and Cameron Mitchell (28) in their West vests and flying the flag for GNAC were Cameron Nugent (26) and Ethan Scobie (35).
Moving on from the younger age groups we come to the Under 17 and 20 men and women. It was an exceptionally successful day for our men, who were representing Scotland,Team West and Giffnock North. Trying to work out the various team and individual competitions was a bit of a headache, but our guys made it fairly simple by being at the sharp end of the finishers….so here goes……I’ve given overall positions in this report….check the full results via the link below.
Jamie Connor had an inspired day on what was a very flat course…he won the Cross Challenge event, finished first in the under 17 Inter district event and led Team West to team victory. Calum Dick who was running up an age group was first finisher for the Scotland Under 17 team in the Celtic Nations event and mounted the podium in 2nd place with Jamie and Alasdair Nugent who finished 3rd in the Cross Challenge event, with the same placings for the Inter Districts.Our boys did a good job at hogging the podium.
This trio was superbly back up by Oliver MacDonald (21st),Jack Wallace (30th) and Alasdair McLean (54) Jamie, Calum, Alasdair, Oliver and Jack comprised the Inter District gold medal winning team along with James Alexander of Garscube A.C.
Our Under 20 duo of Glen Griffiths and Mathew Knak went well in the mixed under 17/20 race and finished well in Glen(23) overall and Mathew (32) not too far adrift.
Our Under 17 girls were also very much in the mix flying the flag for the West with Ruth Walsh finishing 15th overall followed by Scarlett Wilson (23), Freya Campbell (35), Freya Scobie (38) running up from under 15 age group and representing Scotland under 17, Saoirse McNulty (47), IslaMunro (53) and Iona Stroma Hubbard (58). Ruth, Scarlett, Freya, and Freya were all counting members of Team West who won silver in the Inter District competition.
Returning from injury saw Hannah Ryding having a solid run to finish 11th overall and help her ease back into competition.Esme Dougall (43) was the other member of our Under 20 squad who finished strongly.
Finally, it was the turn of the senior teams and there were still a good number of younger supporters to cheer round their older teammates and coaches even if some were doing so from the lengthy food van queue! Emma Creasey continued her good form with 17th place overall and 12th in the District competition claiming 4th counter for the West team who claimed Silver medal position behind the East. The fantastic coach/athlete duo of Allie Chong (45) and Anji Carson (64) were joined by the inspirational Hilary Carswell (61).
An exciting Senior Men/U23 Celtic race saw Duncan Robinson representing Scotland U23 in the Celtic Nations event set out with intent in an early breakaway group of around 7. In the second lap Jamie Crowe (Central) and Scott Stirling (Falkirk) pulled away leaving Duncan and Lewis Hanningan (Kilbarchan) to fight it out for the bronze position overall and Gold in the U23 Celtic race with a visitor from Aldershot Farnham and District. In the end it was visitor Joseph McConnell who claimed the bronze with Lewis in 4thspot and Duncan 5th. Celtic Nations title went to Scotland with Lewis in 1st and Duncan in 2nd backed by Andrew McGill.
There were 2 other vests to cheer round to finish of the day as Luke Nelson (83) and Scott Kelman (92) took the opportunity to enjoy a competitive local race. All in all an enjoyable and successful day for many and definitely wetting the appetite for the National event in Falkirk on February 24th entries are open so please get your names down soon.
Thanks to Dudley Walker & Eilidh Macdonald for reporting and Jordan Orr for most of the photos from Renfrew