Male Harriers are pride of the Clyde
Medals at Down by the River 10K and 3K events
Cambuslang Harriers’ males dominated the prizes in a 10k road race along the river Clyde.
The Down by the River 10K and 3K events last month finally took place 11 weeks after the event had to be postponed due to heavy snow.
But the Harriers certainly didn’t freeze when it came to race day.
And in the 10k, Cambuslang took first and second places thanks to the rapidly improving Fraser Stewart in a time of 32.20 and to club captain Iain Reid in his first race since the London Marathon, who finished 32 seconds adrift.
In an exciting sprint to the line, Paul Sorrie, of Shettleston, just got the better of Colin Reilly. Colin however, had the consolation of being the third counter for the victorious Cambuslang team.
Cambuslang also took the Masters 40, M50 and M60 prizes thanks to Stevie Wylie, Alick Walkinshaw and Brian Hughes.
In the ladies event, Laura Wallace, of Ayr Seaforth, was first home in a time of 38.49 followed by Ruth FraserMoodie of Springburn and Romy Beard, of Bellahouston Road Runners, who led her club to team victory. Emer Campbell, also of Bellahouston Road Runners, was first female 40 while Joyce Allardice, of Motherwell, and Erica Christie, unattached, lifted the respective F50 and F60 category awards. Morgan Beaton secured the U20 ladies prize.
Both male and female race winners were presented with the Jimmy Sands Memorial Shields in honour of former member Jimmy who won a Paralympic gold medal in 1988.
Cambuslang had a good representation in the 10k, with Ritchie Carr setting a personal best in sixth place. He was followed home in order by Jamie Reid, John Paul Murphy, Mick O’Hagan andFrank Hurley, who recorded the fastest M65 10k time so far this year in the UK.
The 3k race was a predominantly young athletes’ event with Cambuslang securing the first three male and female finishers. Michael Black crossed the line first in a time of 10.06 closely followed by Robbie Woods and Aaron Grew, with only six seconds separating the under-17 trio.
Susie McLaughlin was first female U17 home in a time of 11.21 with U15 Millie Nicholl next in 11.38 followed by U15 Shona Carey. U15 Cambuslang runners Zac Povey and Lewis Roddis took fourth and fifth spots followed by team-mates Abbie McCue, Peggy Nan Rodger, M60 Alan Wyllie (who recorded a personal best), Holly Brock, Eilidh Kennedy, Lucy McGrandle, Korin WeirStewart, Jacob Reilly, M65 Willie Mitchell, Olivia McNicol, Christopher Black, Katherine McNicol and Cara McDowall.
Also last month, club member Moira Stewart set a 10k track personal best of 33.41.17 by representing the Czech Republic in the European Cup Championships. Moira, the Czech 10K track champion, is the daughter of Eddie Stewart, the current Scottish M60 Cross Country champion as well as the M60 Czech 10K Road champion.
Justin Carter was also in action last month representing the West of Scotland in the UK Inter Counties Hill Running Championships in which he finished second M45 and the third West counter. There were also 5K park run victories for Stan Mackenzie, Ian Littler and Michael Healy, while Des Dickson and Michael Black set personal best times.