Kilbarchan athletes kept busy over the festive period with a number of events ..The first event, the Marshall Moor race, was, as previously reported, won for the 5th successive year, by Donald Petrie,  time 52 minutes 15 seconds, with Chris McGlennon 2nd.

 

    On Boxing Day, the annual Christmas relay race at Kilbarchan Park, attracted 35 runners of various ages and abilities and the winning team was Claire's Christmas Crackers, led by Claire Gibson and including John McLaughlin, Bethany Craig, Kerry MacAngus, Michael McLaughlin, Kim Crawford and Donald Kennedy. Fastest individual times were 8 minutes 3 seconds by Callum Matthews and for the ladies, 8.56 by Claire Gibson.

 

    Then, in preparation for Hogmanay, on 31st December, the gruelling 11 mile handicap race for the Donald Crawford Cup, was won by Alistair MacAngus, who was chased to the finish by Elaine Eadie with Christina Rankin third. Christina also had the fastest scratch time of 68 minutes 32 seconds, despite taking a wrong turn coming through Bridge of Weir. The race was also used as a training session for some of the younger girls who covered the distance in teams of three.

 

    And after New Year, on 2nd January, a number of younger athletes competed in the Beith Harriers annual Road Races and dominated their events. Andrew MacAngus was a clear winner on the under 11 boys race and Eve Griffiths had to work hard for a good win in the under 11 girls event. Conor Thomson and Charlie Wighton looked the part and were convincing winners of the under 13 and under 15 boys races and in the under 13 girls event it was a 1-2-3 for the Kilbarchan club, with Laura Stark winning from Iona Miller with Rona Tytler 3rd. For the under 15 girls there was a good win for Jemma Reekie who out sprinted West Cross Country Champion Kirsten Oakley from Ayr.