Helensburgh Advertiser | Sport | Runners brave the elements

Wednesday, 7th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 30th November, 2006 11:06

Runners brave the elements

DESPITE wintry weather and horrendous conditions underfoot, athletes from Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Club had a successful outing at the Dunbartonshire cross county championships at Kirkintilloch.

The first race was for the U-11s over one mile and Helensburgh AAC had young Ross Kennedy representing the club in only his second race at this level.

He started tentatively but quickly moved though the field, showing his strength on the uphill section to be third at the halfway stage.

Continuing to press hard to overtake the two leaders, Ross gave the performance of the day, winning convincingly in a time of 10 minutes 26 seconds.

Next up were the U-13s with Madeline Robinson and Morven Thompson competing for Helensburgh over a two mile course.

Unfortunately, due to a re-occurring knee injury and the severe conditions, Morven had to pull up on the uphill section and did not manage to finish the race.

Madeline, however, managed to maintain a steady pace and finished the race in third place in 18:38.

In the U-15s the local club once again had two athletes competing, sisters Zoe and Cheryl Clarke.

Racing over the even more testing three mile course, consisting of the one mile lap of the U-11s and the 2 mile lap of the U-13s, both girls were somewhat apprehensive at representing the club for the first time at cross country.

Zoe lead Cheryl on the first lap in the middle of the field but Cheryl’s strength showed on the second longer lap and she pushed on to finish just outside the medals in fourth place in a time of 35:52.

Zoe managed to keep going despite the heavy conditions and finished a creditable sixth in 38:47.

The course was ankle deep in mud by the time of the seniors' race.

The ladies ran two laps of a two mile loop with the men running three laps.

Michelle Hetherington showed that she is on the way back to full fitness after injury coming home in second place with a time of 35.06.

Julia Henderson ran a well judged race to finish in fourth place (35.59).

With Jenny Fitzgerald finishing well up the field in 12th place (39.43) Helensburgh ladies won the trophy for second team, behind Garscube Harriers.

Not far behind Jenny came Jan Fellowes in 15th place (41.34).

Debbie Savage deserved a prize for determination as she lost a shoe on the second lap and, after looking for it in the mud for three minutes, she continued to finish in 18th place (44.50).

Alistair Morrison from Dumbarton Athletic Club mastered the conditions to win the men’s race in an impressive time of 39.19.

For Helensburgh, Damien Theaker and Paul Thompson ran together only separating during the sprint to the line where they managed to gain a few extra places.

Paul was 12th in 45.59 with Damien seven seconds behind in 14th.

Erwin Losekoot 26th (50.51) and Ross McInroy 29th (51.56) completed the scoring team giving the men fifth team slot.

Alistair Wylie made a welcome return to cross country, finishing 44th in 59.33.

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