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| Press Releases - Monday 23 February 2009 |
| It was a fantastic day for the Hawkins boys from Elderslie at the Scottish National Cross Country Championships, staged in Falkirk last weekend.
Nearly 2000 athletes were entered for the various races round the tough Callendar Park circuit and Derek and Callum Hawkins were outstanding.
Derek, who had won the under 15 boys title at Perth in 2004. triumphed over the young Eritrean Tsegai Tewelde, making the pace all the way before breaking away in the last 500 metres to win in 24 minutes 47 seconds. Derek also led his Kilbarchan team to Silver medals with Paul Leck 5th, Scott Hawkins 8th and Nick Emsley 31st.
Callum, having been winning races all over the UK in recent weeks and also the current British Schools Champion, had to bear the burden of being hot favourite for the under 17 men's title. This he did with confidence, leading from the early stages to win by 150 metres and adding to the under 15 boys title he won in 2007. It was also Silver team medals for the under 17s, Callum leading a quartet including Andrew McAlpine 12th, Stephen Fleming 24th,and Graham Evans 26th.
There were also Silver medals for the under 20 women's team with good solid performances from Elspeth Curran 5th, Natalie Sharp 8th and Jessica Martin 9th.
The under 13 and under 15 boys teams did well to win Bronze medals against the best in Scotland. The under 13 boys were Callum Matthews 17th, Euan Gillham 18th, Chris McStay 23rd and Gavin McArdle 32nd and the under 15 boys led by a fine run from Russell Mountford for 5th place and including Craig Haxton 18th, Matt Wild 21st and Callum Macleod 39th.
There were nearly 500 runners in a spectacular Senior race over 12 Kilometres which included 3 circuits round Callendar park, Conor McNulty, just 20, showed terrific form to finish in 5th place, barely 100 metres behind the winner Alistair Hay of the Central club and 3 times former Scottish Champion and current Veterans Champion Robert Quinn, continued his recent form, mixing it with the young brigade to finish 10th.
For the Women, Leanne Hamilton improved 10 places from last year to finish 14th and there were also notable runs from Kirsty Harper 11th in the u13 girls race and Kate Gillies 12th in the u15 girls race.
Kilbarchan also won the ATMays Trophy for the best overall Male club at the Scottish Championships, which is quite an achievement.
The Celtic Cup Schools Indoors International was staged in Cardiff at the weekend and 2 Kilbarchan athletes were selected for the Scottish under 16 team.
Hazel Ross (Park Mains HS) was 4th in the 60m and a member of the winning Scottish 4x200m relay team. .David Kerr (Paisley GS), was 4th in the B 100m but unfortunately, the relay team did not finish as the first runner dropped the baton.
However congratulations to both for being selected and a great experience that should stand them in good stead for the future.
Arthur M Smith Monday 23 February 2009 |
