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| Press Releases - Monday 27 October 2008 |
| Conditions were horrendous at Cumbernauld last Saturday for the National Cross Country Relay Championships but despite this, Kilbarchan Athletic Club athletes produced some fine performances and won their biggest ever haul of medals.
Over 1000 runners competed in the 4 races over the hilly course in conditions of wind and driving rain which also made for underfoot conditions of mud and bog, making it a severe test of endurance. The Senior Women's race was 3 laps over the 4K circuit and the Kilbarchan team of Leanne Hamilton, Elspeth Curran and Kerry Lang produced a fighting performance to finish second behind Central AC, winning the Silver medals with Elspeth’s 17 minutes 10 seconds, one of the fastest times of the day. With 70 teams competing, it was great encouragement for the club that the B team of Hannah Waugh, Jessica Martin and Natalie Sharp finished 7th with the C team of Louise Manson, Karen Yule and Christina Rankin also finishing ahead of many top teams, in 14th place.
In the Men's race, Kilbarchan won their first medals for 8 years. Robert Quinn, who won his first medal in the event way back in 1985, showed that he is a still class act, leading his team to Bronze medal position behind Central AC and Shettleston Harriers. Also in that 1985 team was Robert Hawkins and this year sons Derek and Scott were vital parts of the quartet that also included Conor McNulty on the final leg. It was good consistent running from the team with Conor just the fasted of the four with a time of 14 minutes 34 seconds. There were also Medals for the Kilbarchan veteran men's team with James Snodgrass, Tom Hearle, John McMillan and Donald Petrie, 19th overall but winning Silver in the Veterans category.
The boys, last years winners, made a brave effort to retain their title, just missing out to local rivals Giffnock North. The team included Christopher McStay, Calum Macleod and the third Hawkins brother, Callum, who ran the fastest time of the day, 9 minutes 10 seconds for the 2.5K circuit. There was also an excellent 6th place for the Kilbarchan B team of Euan Gillham, Russell Mountford and Stephen Fleming.
Arthur M Smith Monday 27 October 2008 |
