Scotland, Sweden, Spain

David Christie 1563 - 1563 • Published 17 Apr 2008 09:00 0 Comments

HELENSBURGH AAC ladies made a good solid start to the Scottish Athletics National Road Race Series at the Inverness half marathon in March.

The ladies team finished an excellent overall second team in 2007 and are looking at least to hold on to that position as the series becomes ever more competitive. Michelle Hetherington, Julia Henderson and Mary Lousie MacQuarrie finished second team in 6th, 7th and 18th place respectively.

Closer to home a number of members ran at the Balloch to Clydebank half marathon - Paul Thompson finished in 10th place and first in his age category in an excellent time of 1.18.06 followed by Euan Crumley in a personal best time of 1.35.38.

Paul Thompson again scooped his age group prize at the Clydebank 5k on March 15 with Michelle Hetherington finishing in 3rd place overall. Gordon Howatt and Andrew Henderson both ran personal bests on this fast, flat course.

A young at heart contingent travelled to the Prague Half Marathon on March 29 where, despite the local beer, Wilson Hamilton finished 30th in his age category in 1.53.09 with Jimmy Boyd coming in at 1.50.49.

The World Cross Country came to Holyrood Park the following day. The ladies team again ran well and finished second team with back up provided by Claire Heasman and Madeline Robinson who, aged 13, ran a fantastic time of 22 minutes and 43 seconds.

The Scottish Athletics Road Relays were held at a sunny Livingstone on April 5 where Helensburgh entered two ladies teams and a mens team. The ladies A team finished in an excellent eighth place with their B team coming in in a plucky 27th.

Special mention must be made of Rachel Baillie and Christine Stanfield running in the club vest for the first time ever. The mens team of six finished in 37th place - special commendation for Paul Thompson who ran a second lap of six miles in disguise.

Meanwhile, Anna Wylie rehearsed for London with a bottle of beer in her goody bag at the Dunbar 10k and Jenny Fitzgerald ran the Berlin Half Marathon.

Marathon man Gordon Howatt, who aims to run three Spring marathons this year, finished his first ever marathon in the heat of Barcelona in a creditable time of three hours 53 minutes.

The club wishes him and Anna Wylie all the best for the London Marathon this weekend. Gordon then runs Stockholm on June 9. Good luck also to David Spy and Jan Fellowes for the Lochaber Marathon later this month.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 16 Apr 08

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