Cambuslang Harriers take home prizes from‘Down the River’races
DAVID COONEY
Cambuslang Harriers defied the odds to put on their annual Down by the River 10k and 3k races at the start of March.
Course director Owen Reid had been regularly monitoring the route, which is run mainly on the Clyde Walkway, in the weeks leading up to the event.
Although Scotland had experienced its highest February rainfall in 30 years the course was water free on the Saturday.
However, persistent heavy rain during the night had led to flooding on the furthest out section of the course.
While this didn’t affect the 3k course, the 10k route was quickly amended and measured again so that the race could go ahead.
A total of 224 hardy athletes from the 302 entrants set off for the 10k.
From the start, defending champion Fraser Stewart of the home club went out hard with his club mates Stuart Gibson, Gordon Robertson and Iain Reid.
Livingston’s under-20 Alastair Marshall, Irvine’s David Millar and Keiran Cooper of St Andrews University were in hot pursuit.
In the end, Stewart crossed the line in a time of 31.36 to retain the Jimmy Sands Memorial Shield, with Gibson second in 32.11, after clocking 15.33 the previous day at the Allan Scally Memorial Relay.
Robertson won the battle for the Jim Fitzpatrick Masters Memorial Shield from Reid.
The ladies’ race was looking to be a two-way affair between Catriona MacDonald of Bellahouston Road Runners and Shona McIntosh of Hunter’s Bog Trotters.
Those positions remained mainly unchanged as the race unfolded.
MacDonald, who had finished 12th in the Scottish Ladies’ Cross Country Championships, continued her good form to lift the Jimmy Sands Memorial Shield for the first female finisher in a time of 38.32, 19 seconds ahead of McIntosh. Unattached runner Fionnuala Quinn took third.
Alastair Marshall’s fourth position earned him the under-20 prize, with Garscube’s Alice Gibson taking the ladies’ award.
Annemarie McGregor of Kirkintilloch Olympians was the recipient of the Jim Fitzpatrick Masters Female Memorial Shield.
Irvine’s David Millar was a worthy M50 winner, while Sharyn Ramage of Edinburgh AC secured the ladies’ award.
The male and female 60s awards went to club president Des Dickson and to Erica Christie, representing Achilles Heel.
Cambuslang Harriers were comfortable winners of the men’s team prize, and Bellahouston Road Runners lifted the ladies’ team prize.
Not surprisingly, on home territory, the Cambuslang athletes were well represented in the event and the red and white vests crossed the line in the following order: Andrew Anderson, Mark King, Chris Upson, Johnny MacNamara, Richard Cooper, Dave Thom, Graeme Gallie, David Marshall, Kenny Finlayson, Gary Miller, Des Dickson, George Pettit, Alasdair Murray, John Kelly, Frank Hurley, Dan O’Connell, Simon Gold, Kirsty O’Brien, Debbie Comer, David Scott, Jim McLaughlin, Jacqueline McLew, Iain Crawford, Stephen Walker, Chris Burns and John McCluskey, the latter acting as a guide runner for Raymond Ward.
The 3k race is targeted as a development race for under-17 athletes and the home club filled the first three male and female podium positions.
Zack Haggarty overtook Lewis Roddis in the closing stages. Sean Friel was in third place, with under-13 Sam McCarthy not too far behind.
Hayley Clarke was a convincing first finisher, ahead of Lucy McGrandle and Olivia McNicol.
Club President Des Dickson offered a vote of thanks at the presentation to our sponsors , the Fitzpatrick Family, club member Barnie Gough, Tunnock’s and City Building Engineering Services. He also thanked all club volunteers who helped with the race preparation and on the day, as without their support the race could not have gone ahead.