Fancy dress adds colour to the Harriers’ annual race
Festive fun in fancy dress was the aim of the day as Calderglen Harriers hosted their annual handicap race.
Club runners donned a vast array of outfits for the run through Calderglen on December 15 and it was Chris McCarron who claimed victory in his stone-age gear.
Due to the ongoing roadworks at the main entrance, the course was shortened from its usual four miles to just under three (4.6km to be precise), taking in the Tor Trail.
Davie Searil had the honour of being first to set off in his easy access Harriers vest, but was under strict instructions to stop after two laps and to walk the uphills, which he did.
Making his debut on the event, Colin Banks should have been flying in his air force overalls but instead made steady progress around the course.
Anne McLellan started off with big hair but shed that after a lap as visibility was becoming a problem.
Ever the gentleman, Andy Henderson was also an officer for the day, smartly dressed in white but handicapped by the absence of a belt, meaning a one armed running style to keep his trousers up. Russell Couper is working his way through the superheroes and ran a well paced race, almost winning but being caught on the final lap.
No one gave Billy Buchanan a ghost of a chance but he still managed to spirit himself around the course.
Gordon McInally has done this event a Pharaoh few times and is always there or there abouts.
Not content with having run the juniors race at 10am, Kai Wheeler was the youngest runner and completed the tricky course.
Marion O’Connor always runs well on this one and made cat-like progress around the trail. Jim Holmes thought that there were not enough hills on the course. Kevin Farmer’s prayers were answered with a problem free run.
And,with the excitement building, the last lap was where it all changed at the front. With Russell starting the last lap with a gap to Gordon and apparently big gaps behind, it looked like Russell might have it in the bag.
This is one of the few Harriers’ events that Allan McLellan has not won and with 100m to go, it looked like Allan might just do it. But Chris McCarron pipped him, crossing in 19:50 for the only sub-20 run of the day.
With no need for any Dastardly short-cuts, Martin Duthie brought Muttley home in third place with a time of 20:39 and second fastest of the day.
The winners were delighted to be able to nominate a charity to receive the donations generously provided by the Duthie family. These charities are Horatios Garden, Kilbryde Hospice and Marie Curie.