Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 11:00
Historic win in Hebrides
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TEAMWORK: Members of the Helensburgh Atheletics Clun in Harris.
Helensburgh Athletics Club ladies made history at the weekend by becoming the first all-female team to win the Hebridean 3 half marathon series.
The trophy has in recent years been won by big city clubs such as Edinburgh’s Hunters Bog Totters and Portobello Running Club.
Michelle Hetherington, Julia Henderson and Mary Louise MacQuarrie beat mixed and all-male teams to win this prestigious trophy with their best times for three half marathons from five counting towards their overall score.
Michelle led the team with cracking performances, coming in first lady and always in the top 10 at Barra, Skye and Benbecula, with Julia finishing first lady at Stornoway and second at Barra, Benbecula and Harris, and Mary Louise third at Harris and Skye and fourth at Benbecula.
The team was well backed up, with club members travelling the length and breadth of the Western Isles to race and to give support, with Anna Wylie deserving special mention for being the third counter towards the team’s first prizes at Skye and Harris.
The club’s seasoned ultra runner, Ellen Thomson, chose the Hebrides as the venue for a unique double marathon weekend, running a marathon on Lewis on Saturday and on Harris on Monday and finished second lady and first veteran lady overall, illustrating her very own trademark grit and determination.
Meanwhile, the reasonably fast courses in the Polaroid 10k series gave improving runners a chance to run some personal bests, with Rachel Bailey, Ewan Crumley and Paula Darbyshire all doing just that.
Jan Fellowes triumphed over friendly rivals David Spy and Alistair Wylie in the three-way clash of the titans at Dumbarton.
David reaped revenge over Jan, employing stealth tactics at the Vale of Leven.
The ladies team of Jan Fellowes, Julia Henderson and Claire Heasman finished second team in the Scottish 10k Championships held at this year’s Vale of Leven 10k.
Runners are taking to the hills this summer too. The Helensburgh Highland Games Hill Race resulted in a 1,2,3 finish for Damien Theaker, Paul Thompson and Stevie Bell with Julia Henderson making a guest appearance on the hills and coming 7th overall.
l Training continues throughout the summer at the clubhouse in the grounds of the old Hermitage Academy on Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm.
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