Results 2007 .... 

Report from Arthur Smith ....

Kate O’Brien won the Donald Crawford Cup, the annual Kilbarchan Harriers Hogmanay race, a tough 11 mile run round the hilly roads, behind Kilbarchan and Bridge of Weir. After Kate had passed the early starter Max McFarlane, she looked to be running away with the race as the back markers did not seem to be making much impression. However a group including Ian Beattie, John Kynaston and John McLaughlin were chasing hard and further back, James Snodgrass was picking up the pace. As the runners came along Torr Road into Bridge of Weir, Kate was still well ahead but the gap was closing and over the back road to Kilbarchan, as Kate got to the Penwold bend, the pressure was building with John McLaughlin beginning to close quite quickly. However Kate found something in reserve as she worked hard down Shuttle Street and up new Street and came to the finish at the park fountain,  80 metres clear for a well earned victory.  John McLaughlin ran a personal best for 2^nd place, as did John Kynaston for third and they were followed home by a Girls Relay team, then Stevie Hards 5th and in 6^th place, the back marker James Snodgrass, who passed Ian Beattie near the end.

Fastest scratch time was 63.15 by James Snodgrass, then John McLaughlin 69.41, Girls relay 70.04, Ian Beattie 70.23, John Kynaston 70.26, Dave Mewse 70.37, Stevie Hards 70.52, and Michael Finlay 70.56

Some track athletes took the opportunity to compete at the Kelvin Hall at the Open Graded meeting and there were some good performances.

Cameron Clark, now competing in the under 20s category, cleared 6.37m in the Long Jump, a Kilbarchan club indoor age group record as well as a quality Triple Jump effort measured at 13.46m and a speedy 60m timed at 7.52 seconds. Covering the same events in the Senior age group, David Watson ran the 60m in 7.58 seconds, cleared 6.34m in the Long Jump and an impressive 14.04m Triple Jump from a short run up.

Also performing well was Andrew Cunningham in the under 15 age group, who ran 8.25 seconds for the 60m,had an impressive Shot Putt of 11.71m and jumped 5.25m for the Long Jump.

40 runners turned out for the traditional Relay at Kilbarchan Park and were drawn in 7 teams, each team running 10 laps round the 0.8 mile circuit starting at the park fountain, to the far park gate, down New St, Barn Green and back up Well Road. All ages and abilities took part and it was difficult to forecast the winner until the last 2-3 laps. With 2 laps to go, Katherine Wilkie for team 7, took over from Robert Quinn and set off  with a good lead  but realising that some other teams had their fast runners going last and would be closing. Stephen Fleming put team 3 in 2^nd spot and Jim Ogilvie put team 2 in a good position, finishing 3^rd and handing over to Fraser Williams who now looked the favourite to cross the finishing line in first place. All the last team runners were doing 2 laps and with a lap to go, Katherine was still in the lead but Fraser was closing all the time and further back, Andrew Gibson was rapidly moving his team through the field.

In the end, Fraser was first to finish, with Andrew catching Katherine just in the last 80metres. Winning team, John’s Jaguars, was John Kynaston, Jenny Eadie, Gregor Wylie, Kieran Hards, Jim Ogilvie and Fraser Williams, time 49.55. Second team was Andrew’s Aces, including Andrew Gibson, Russell Mountford, Kim Urie, Evan Williams, Donald Kennedy and Iain Chisholm .and 3^rd were Bobby’s Dazzlers Katherine Wilkie, Amanda Herron, Stevie Hards, Fiona McIntyre and Robert Quinn.

Top times were Andrew Gibson 7.59 and Robert Quinn 8.02 while for the Ladies, top 800m specialist Claire Gibson smashed the club Ladies record with a time of 8.59

11 runners set off from Kilbarchan Park for the annual race to the Marshall Moor Trig point and back, a distance of over 7 miles and covering some very rough terrain. Although this is a scratch race, runners set off at intervals with Christine Scarles and Ann Hannigan starting first, followed by Max McFarlane, then Gardner Masson, Then at 10 minutes, a big group including Stevie Hards, Andrw Clugston, Jim Ogilvie, Dave Mewse, Michael Finlay and John Kynaston, with Donald Petrie last off, a further 5 minutes behind.

There is no set route for this race and experience and know how of the terrain counts for a lot with Dave Mewse and Donald Petrie showing their expertise to come to the fore, while the likes of John Kynaston and Jim Ogilvie had problems with their sense of direction.

Dave was first to finish but Donald the overall winner in a time of 46.17, a Vets 50 record, Dave second in a Vets 55 record of 49.55 and Michael Finlay 3^rd in 51.51. Christine Scarles and Ann Hannigan finished in 91.43, both delighted to having made the journey.

Report from Arthur Smith ...

Kilbarchan Athletic Club’s series of festive season races got off to a good start with 50 runners taking part in the Christmas handicap chase round the streets of Johnstone, covering a distance of 4.2 miles.

The race consists of two laps starting on the Beith Road and going via Cochranmill Road, Kilbarchan Road, Quarrelton Road and back along the Beith Road to the start and finish point and at the end of the first lap, young Ainsley Hards, one of the first starters, was still well ahead though another youngster, Nicholas Love was closing gradually, as was Elaine Eadie.  Further back, a big pack of runners, including Robert Allison and Cara Sloss were going well as was last year’s winner Graham Evans. Towards the rear of the field, the back markers including Fraser Williams and Tom Hearle were chasing hard but had a lot to do.

With so many runners and so much happening, few of the spectators noticed 14 year old Calum Macleod working his way through the field until he emerged in the lead with 600m to go and came home a clear winner, with Nicholas Love 100m behind in second place and another youngster, Andrew Campbell 3^rd, just ahead of Robert Allison. Ainsley Hards held on for 5^th place, leading a group of girls including Cara Sloss 6^th, Elaine Eadie 7^th while the top ten was completed by Jim Ogilvie, John McMillan and Tony Carroll

Fastest Scratch run was by Tom Hearle, whose time of 21.30, could only get him 22^nd place on handicap. 2^nd fastest was Fraser Williams at 23.05, then John McMillan 23.13 and Donald Petrie 24.00 while notable for the youngsters, under 15 boys  Graham Evans and Calum Macleod were 7^th and 8^th overall, timed at 25.24 and 25.28. For the Ladies, fastest scratch was Cara Sloss 26.04, then Jessica Martin 26.56, then Christina Rankin 28.15, while also notable was 13 year Elaine Eadie at 28.41.

Callum Hawkins was best placed Kilbarchan athlete at the UK Challenge Cross Country meeting in Liverpool last Saturday, having a fine run to finish 8^th in the under 17 men's race against top British opposition. Callum’s time was 18.07 and in 14^th place there was also a great effort from Stephen Fleming who finished 14^th.

The Hawkins boys were also involved in the under 20s race, which was also the qualifying race for the GB team for the European Championships next month. Scott was best placed Kilbarchan finisher in 18^th position, time of 22.00, with brother Derek 43^rd in 22.33. In the under 15 boys race, best Kilbarchan performer was Connor Henderson who continues to improve and did very well to finish 14^th, with club mates Graham Evans 23^rd and David Claes 37^th.

More locally, Kilbarchan Athletic Club had individual and team successes at the Renfrewshire County Championships last weekend, staged at Ardgowan House, Inverkip.

Leanne Hamilton added to her growing reputation by winning the Ladies race over a difficult 4mile trail, finishing 180metres ahead of Claire Thomson (Bellahouston Road Runners) in a time of 25 minutes 35 seconds. Kilbarchan jus missed out on the team title, scoring the same as Giffnock North, 16 points, but losing on count back. Still, it was a good effort with Karen Yule and Lynsey Curran both showing improved form to finish 6^th and 9^th respectively.

The Men won their Team title, with a super run by 18 year old Paul Leck in 2^nd place in 32.55, closely supported by 20 year old Fraser Williams in 3^rd place. The experienced club runners provided the back up needed with 6 to count in the team event and the nest 4 counters were John McMillan 9^th, Donald Petrie 12^th, Michael Finlay 15^th and Stevie Hards 18^th.

In the absence of a number of athletes down at Liverpool for the UK Cross Challenge event, new recruit Nick Emsley represented the club in the under 17 men's race and showed a lot of promise to finish 2^nd, time of  16.01 for the 3mile course. Similarly in the under 15 boys race, there was a fine run from Jack Lochans to finish second and there was also an excellent 2^nd place for Matt Wild in the under 13s race.

The Club also had girls at Liverpool but there was a good effort from Michelle Bell to finish second in 20.02 and there was gutsy support from Samantha Kelly 4^th and Amanda Herron 6^th, to win the team title. There was another second place in the under 15 girls, with Sorcha Lynch finishing 2^nd but in the under 13 girls race, Kilbarchan had another winner with Kate Gillies crossing the line in 13.06. With Robyn Lewis 7^th and Cara Butler 8^th, Kilbarchan were a close second in the team contest.

First event of the afternoon, the under 11s girls race over 1 mile, proved a fine start for the Kilbarchan club with Chloe Hardie a convincing winner in 6.31 and club mate Gwen Gillham a good second. Mhairi Rundell in 8^th place ensured another Gold in the team event.

Marathon star Hayley Haining was in top form, winning the Brampton to Carlisle 10mile Road Race in 54 minutes 31 seconds, 9 seconds faster than her winning time 2 years ago and indicating that she is on target to win a place in the British marathon team at the Beijing Olympics next summer.

Former Scottish Cross Country Champion Robert Quinn continued his recent resurgence of form when he won the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International in Belfast at the weekend, (M35-49 INTERNATIONAL) covering the 8K course on 27 minutes 52 seconds.  Robert, 41, who has had all sorts of injuries in recent years, has been running well in early season races and gave notice of his intent, by winning the Masters race at the Gateshead International Cross Country meeting the previous week

Congratulations also to James Snodgrass who was in the Scottish team with Bobby. They won the team silver in the m40 race.

Locally, the popular annual Glasgow University Road race took place last Saturday with a large number of Kilbarchan Harriers taking part. Winner was Mark Pollard of Inverclyde AC and top local athlete was Tom Hearle from Barrhead who was 8^th in 26 minutes 11 seconds. Tom was second veteran to finish and not far behind in 11^th place was Kilbarchan clubmate Paul Leck who won the top Junior award, timed at 26 minutes 40 seconds. Also in the top 20, in 19^th place was John McMillan, in a time of 27.53.

Last Sunday, Kilbarchan harriers competed in the annual cross country meeting promoted by Kilmarnock Harriers and there was some fine competition.

Christina Rankin showed excellent form in the Women's race over 4miles, finishing in second place in 25 minutes 29 seconds and winning the top Junior award.  Christina was closely followed home by Leanne Hamilton, a  fine performance in her first full distance cross country race and with Wanda Phillips working hard to finish 18^th, the trio won the team award.

Callum Hawkins was a clear winner of the under 17 men's race over 4miles, in a time of 21 minutes 11 seconds, with Stephen Fleming second in 21.53. Kilbarchan won the team prize with third counter Andrew Renwick in 12^th place while Tom Ellis was 16^th.

There was another team title for the under 17 women race. Jessica Martin led all the way  to win in 19.30 and their was good support from Michelle Bell in 4th and Samantha Kelly 5^th.

The under 15 boys made it 4 winning teams altogether with 5 runners in the top eight. Connor Henderson was a close second, and Andrew Evans 3^rd and David Claes 4^th completed the team with other runners Simon Urie 6^th and Thomas McDonald 8^th.

For the under 15 girls, Elaine Eadie was first Kilbarchan runner, in 9^th place with Emma Haddock 23^rd and for the u13 girls, Vanessa Hogan was 6^th, Jenny Eadie 10^th, Laura McEwan 18^th and Morven McEwen 30^th. In the under 13 boys race,  Nicky Love was 12^th, Ross Heggie 13^th, Paul Brown 15^th, Adam Butler 21^st and Ross Fielding 22^nd.

Under 11 girls just missed first team with Chloe Hardie 6^th, Gwen Gillham 8^th, Abogail Reilly 13^th and Mhari Rundell 22^nd. For the under 11 boys, Gregor Wylie was 7^th, Euan Gillham 8^th, Tom Thickpenny 20^th, Alan Sharp 21^st and Stuart Bretherton 29^th.

The Renfrewshire Championships are on 24^th November at Inverkip and Kilbarchan Athletic Club will have teams in all age groups. For information, contact Arthur Smith on 01505 702480.

Saturday 10 November 2007 - Gateshead International Cross Country Races

Report of results from weekend of 3-4 November 2007 -

Report by Arthur Smith ..

Round 14 of the BG Triathlon World Cup series was staged in the beautiful Mexican resort of Cancun last Sunday and among the elite 41 competitors was local star Kerry Lang, whose ambition is to make the British team for the Beijing Olympics next year.     

Kerry, who is improving with every outing, had her best ever result, finishing in 8^th place in 2 hours 4 minutes 42 seconds and this fine result was a real bonus for Kerry after missing most of the summer due to knee surgery.

Because of the training demands of the three disciplines, swimming, cycling and running, to help her preparation, Kerry has reduced her work commitments as an Ear Nose and Throat Consultant.

Her running has significantly improved in recent times and in fact this coming weekend at Gateshead, she will compete as part of a Scottish representative team at the International Cross Country meeting. Kerry is a prominent member of Kilbarchan Athletic Club and recently part of the team that won the West District Cross Country Relay Championships and was second in the National Cross Country Relays at Cumbernauld where she ran the second fastest individual time of the day.                       

Elsewhere at the weekend, Paul Arcari won the Templeton Woods 10mile Road Race at Dundee in 53 minutes 23 seconds and Conor McNulty and Ross Toole were in the Strathclyde Team that won the Scottish Universities Road Relay Championships at Baillieston, with Conor having the fastest lap of the day, timed at 23 minutes 42 seconds for the 4.7mile circuit.

Click here to see full results from Templeton Woods 10mile Road Race

(follow links to the race results)

Click here to see full results from Scottish Universities Road Relays Championships

Sunday 4 November 2007 - New York Marathon

Neal Gibson

3hr 23mins 14secs

Caroline Gibson

5hrs 2mins 1secs

Sunday 4 November 2007 - Eddie's Half Marathon, Fort William

John McLaughlin

1hr 25mins 58secs

Sunday 28 October 2007 - Venice Marathon

Gordon Allison

3hr 12mins 03secs

Sunday 28 October 2007 - Jedburgh Half Marathon

Neal Gibson (153rd)

1hr 37mins 47secs

Graham McMillan (164th)

1hrs 38mins 56secs

Joseph Sweeney (239th)

1hrs 44mins 53secs

Douglas Biggart (305th)

1hrs 49mins 42secs

Full results (In adobe from Scottish Athletics web site)

Photos

Summary of Kilbarchan Results ....

Girls 3x2.5K

1 Edinburgh AC "B" 31.20, 2 Dundee Hawkhill A 31.20, 3 Central A  31.21  

Boys 3x2.5K

Senior women 3x4K

1 Central AC "A" 48:25 .. 3 Giffnock, 4 Springburn ..  

Men 4x4K

1 Central 54.04, 2 Inverclyde 54.18, 3 Shett 54.34   

4 Kilbarchan AAC "A" 54.54 Derek Hawkins14.06, Paul Arcari 13.39,

                                                  Scott Hawkins 13.46. 4 Conor McNulty 13:23

12/V2 Kilbarchan AAC "B" (V) 57.24 James Snodgrass 14.37, Tom Hearle 13.53,

                                                                 John McMillan 15.03, Robert Quinn 13:51

15 Kilbarchan AAC "F" 58.32 Nicholas Moore 14.13, Grant Higgins 14.19,

                                                    Paul Leck 14.10, Stephen McGoldrick 15:50

57 Kilbarchan AAC "C" (V) 66.39 Donald Petrie15.36, Steven Hards 16.56,

                                                           Ian Chisholm 17.08,  David Mewse 16:59

94 Kilbarchan AAC "D" (V) 79.05 Donald Kennedy 17.23, James Ogilvie 17.25,

                                                           Robert Connell 19.53, Brian Graham  24:24

Kilbarchan AAC "E" James McMillan 18:28   

Full Results - (in excel)

Saturday 13 October 2007 - West District Cross Country Relays

Report by Arthur Smith ....

Kilbarchan Athletic Club Ladies were in top form at the West District Cross Country Relay Championships at Irvine Beach Park, winning the District title they last won 4 years ago.

Favourites Victoria Park Glasgow were never really in contention  and it became a battle between Kilbarchan and Springburn Harriers. International triathlete Kerry Lang gave the club the best possible start, running the fastest time of the day 13 minutes 49 seconds and handing over a lead of around 120 metres. Leanne Hamilton had to work hard to protect that lead and it was still just over 100metres when Elspeth Curran took over for the last 4000m stint. The 21 second gap closing ominously, 18 seconds became 15, then 13, down to 10 with still 1500metres to go. However urged on by her supporters, Elspeth put on a big push and suddenly the gap began to open again as Lesley Chisholm,  the chasing Springburn runner began to falter and Elspeth raced on to give the team a memorable victory. It was also encouraging that the Kilbarchan B team of Cara Sloss, Christina Rankin and Lynsey Curran finished an excellent 5^th.

The girls team almost gave the club another victory with Vanessa Hogan leading on the first leg for under 13 girl and under 15 Elaine Eadie still leading after the second stage. Natalie Sharp ran with great determination but could not hold off the Victoria Park Glasgow runner Beth Potter. Still, Silver medals was a fine effort.

The Senior men were also medal winners for their 4x4000m event with  the quartet of Paul Arcari, Robert Quinn, Tom Hearle and Conor McNulty, always in the top three and finishing in that place, behind Inverclyde AC and Shettleston Harriers. Again, club officials and supporters greatly encouraged by the form of some of the younger athletes with the B team and C team remarkably, finishing in 5^th and 7^th places. B team quartet was Grant Higgins, Scott Hawkins, Paul Leck and Calum Morrison and the C team Fraser Williams  James Snodgrass, John McMillan and Stephen McGoldrick.

The Boys teams just missed out of the medal positions, the trio of Russell Mountford, Thomas McDonald and Callum Hawkins finishing 4^th but only 150 metres behind the winners Ayr Seaforth AC.

This coming Sunday 21 October 2007, the Renfrewshire County Cross Country Relay Championships are being staged at Lochinch, Pollok Park first race 11.45am .

Sunday 7 October 2007 - British & Irish Junior Mountain Running

Jessica Martin

32mins 10secs

Christina Rankin

34mins 47secs

Report by Arthur Smith ....

It was another fine performance from Jessica Martin at the British Junior Home International Hill Race Championships at Abergavenny in Wales at the weekend. Competing in the under 18 age group, finished 3^rd and first Scot over the difficult terrain. which included a 1000m climb.

Jessica from Neilston and a member of Kilbarchan Athletic Club is becoming a bit of a hill running specialist shows extra prowess on the uphill sections and was actually in the lead at the top of the climb. Her time of 32 minutes 10 seconds and she was only 17 seconds behind the Welsh winner at the finish. Clubmate Christina Rankin also had a fine run to finish in 9th place in 34.47 and the times indicate the toughness of the course.

Sunday 7 October 2007 - Chicago Marathon

Janice Moore

3hr 33mins 40secs

Well done to Janice Moore who ran 3:33:40 at Chicago in temperatures soaring  into the high nineties the hottest on record. Seemingly they were stopping the runners who had not reached halfway before the 2 hour mark for safety reasons after a death and numerous cases of heat exhaustion. Janice was disappointed with her time hoping for around 3:15 but had the sense to realise early on that this was a no go.

Sunday 7 October 2007 - Loch Ness 10k

Calum Morrison (4th)

32mins 24secs

Sunday 7 October 2007 - Loch Ness Marathon

John McLaughlin

3hrs 6mins 43secs (pb)

John Kynaston

3hrs 15mins 16secs

Michael Finlay

3hrs 30mins 51secs (pb)

Joseph Sweeney

3hrs 49mins 32secs

Lesley McKerral

4hrs 6mins 22secs

Saturday 6 October 2007 - McAndrews Relays

Report by Arthur Smith ....

The McAndrew Road Relays were held at Jordanhill on Saturday 6 October 2007 and with both the Kilbarchan Men's and Women's teams not at full strength, both did well to finish in 4^th place.

Men's team was Scott Hawkins, Tom Hearle, James Snodgrass and Fraser Williams and the Ladies trio were Elspeth Curran, Leanne Hamilton and Sarah-Jane Barr, with Elspeth winning the award for the fastest under 20 athlete.

Sunday 30 September 2007 - Berlin Marathon

Haley Haining (6th)

2hrs 30mins 43secs (pb)

Distance

Overall

5km split

5km

17:43

17:43

10km

35:31

17:48

15km

53:21

17:51

20km

1:11:06

17:45

25km

1:28:55

17:50

30km

1:46:43

17:48

35km

2:04:35

17:53

40km

2:22:49

18:14

Saturday 29 September 2007 - George Cummings Trophy

Report by Arthur Smith ...

The traditional start to the winter season ....                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

It was quite a spectacle in Houston on Saturday afternoon with around 280 runners providing

a colourful scene.  A great turnout from the club with over  6 men's teams and over 5 ladies teams

Men finished 4th and Vets team in 5th place, won the Vets team prize .. Robert Quinn,

James Snodgrass, Ted MacDougall and Tom Hearle. Winners were Shettleston Harriers

from Cambuslang and Inverclyde.

Inverclyde won the County title with our Mens teams 2nd and 3rd.

Ladies were 2nd and 4th ..Natalie Sharp, Kerry Lang, Elspeth Curran smashed the club record

with 46.11, a time that would have won the race 6 times out of the last 9 years since the race

has been at Houston. Kerry's 14.54 a club record ( .. and after a 50ml cycle run!!).

Ladies race was won by Victoria Park City of Glasgow ..

Our Ladies won the County Championship .. with our B team 2nd.

Altogether we had 42 runners representing the club .. a really good show.

Thanks to all those who contributed, helping on the day. Maybe unfair to pick out a few names

but Margaret-Ann and Jason are always there to help, Lorraine with the results, Jacquie and Lynn

and their team of helpers at the catering, Dougie and all his team of stewards and of course John R.

Congratulations to all who contributed to making the George Cummings Relay another successful day.

Results    

Photos

Sunday 23 September 2007 - Kirkstall Abbey 10k (nr Leeds)

Tom Hearle (1st)

34mins 09 secs