Ross lands Scottish title after 26 years
entral AC’s club stalwarts took centre-stage in the Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country Championships at Johnstone at the weekend.
The men’s race featured a close one-two finish for Ross Houston and Scott Brember - though both won titles in their age categories.
Covering 8km of a mainly flat but windswept course, there was a fine tussle between the Central clubmates and other leading contenders for the overall race winner in a field of more than 200 runners.
Ross returned this season to competitive running having passed his 40th birthday to become eligible for Masters events and he was pleased to win the overall race title and the M40 title with his run in 28.05.
But it was a close run thing with Central team-mate Scott just a few strides behind as he took second in the race with his 28.06 and M45 category champion.
“It is my first Scottish title in cross country after about 26 years of trying,”said Ross afterwards.“Scott has pushed me all the way there and Grant Baillie who was third, had a really good run.
“These guys are well used to cross country and to the Masters. I’ve had a couple of years where, while not stopping running altogether, I’ve been doing other things with the kids and and not really racing.
“I came back at the East Champs just a few days after my 40th birthday. There were muddy sections today and twists and turns that made it harder than it looked. And at times you were running into those really strong winds but it developed into a really good race with the three of us clear.
“I am racing at the National XC at Falkirk in a couple of weeks. It’s important for Central AC as we chase ten-in-a-row at Senior Men that we maybe have 10 guys really battling for the top six counting places. If I run at my best I might be close to the top six for Central but in some ways I’d hope not.!”
There was a strong contingent of Central runners in the race with David Eckersley also winning the plaudits with his fine second place in the M55 category with his 31.59 race. Other Central results: Donald Shaw (M45, 21st, 33.59); Alan Hume (M40, 34th, 34.32); Charles Graham-Marr (M60, 11th, 35.42); Will Hensman (M40, 42nd, 37.41); Liam McCabe (M55, 25th, 39.03); Allan Gall (M60, 27th, 41.58); Colin Sinclair (M50, 51st, 42.11); Cameron Campbell (M60, 29th, 42.43).
Roger Greenaway ran over the 6km course for more senior runners and was rewarded with sixth place in M65 category in 29.06.
For the ladies, Mandy Williams led the club home with a fine eighth place in the W40 category with 27.59, Hazel Dean was just outside the medals with fourth place in the W55 category with 30.31 and Shona Aiken was 14th in the W50 with 32.44.