Rutherglen Reformer

HARRIERS ARE THE NO.1 CLUB

A sixth consecutiv­e title for cross country aces

- Murray Spooner

Cambuslang Harriers have been named the best male cross country club in Scotland for the sixth consecutiv­e year.

The running team were well represente­d at Callander Park in Falkirk on Saturday at the Scottish Cross Country championsh­ips where they gained enough points to be awarded the title once again – all thanks to another sterling performanc­e on the roads.

Points are awarded to a club’s team in each age group and the club with the lowest overall score is awarded the AT Mays Trophy.

The Harriers can now boast the proud record of winning the award on 22 out of a possible 29 occasions.

Club pre si d e nt Dav i d Cooney admitted it was an accomplish­ment that was hard to beat.

He said: “This is an incredible achievemen­t and a huge thank you is due to the athletes, club coaches, officials and parent volunteers.

“We are a relatively small club and we are punching well above our weight. It’s down to the good hard work of the various people at the club.

“It ’ s certainly a great achievemen­t and is difficult to achieve when there is five age groups concerned.”

The conditions facing the athletes in Falkirk were very testing with the existing muddy conditions becoming even worse as the various age group races progressed.

Although pride of place went to the Cambuslang male athletes across the five different age groups, Under- 13,15,17,20 and seniors, superb performanc­es from all members kept up their fine record .

The Under- 13 male team of Fearghus MacGregor, Robbie Woods, Stewart Millard and Mark Cassidy finished 12th team in the opening race.

Christophe­r McLew finished a superb second with Ruairidh MacGregor an excellent eighth which led Brodie Aitken and Keir Crawford to Under-15 team silver.

The Under-17 quartet of Drew Pollock, Eamon Carr, Ryan Stephen and Andrew Carey took fifth place. And the Under-20 squad of Craig Jardine, Gavin Smith, Scott Sommervill­e and Scott McKay picked up another team silver award for the Harriers.

The senior men also rounded off the day nicely with team bronze thanks to first year senior Ryan Thomson, who was 15th from 647 finishers, along with club captain Iain Reid, veteran runner Robert Gilroy, Stuart Gibson, Alasdair and Alistair Campbell.

David said: “We are proud as a club and to win the AT Mays Trophy for the sixth consecutiv­e time and to win it 22 out of 29, it’s not a one off, it is recurring. With the number of people involved I believe success breads more success.”

 ??  ?? Trophy time Harriers’ top senior finisher Ryan Thomson
Trophy time Harriers’ top senior finisher Ryan Thomson

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