Golden day for Habbies
Elspeth Curran was the big winner as Kilbarchan enjoyed a golden afternoon in the mud of Kilmarnock at the West District XC Championships.
The Habbie had been the clear favourite heading into the women’s race and she more than stepped up to the plate as she raced away from second-placed Michelle Sandison, of Spingburn, to seal the top spot in a time of 33.44. Nicola Hood, of Dumfries, took the bronze to complete the podium over the 8.5k course.
Sharon Hastie was the Habbies’ only representative in the women’s competition, winding up overall 19th as she crossed the line in 38.51.
Kilbarchan enjoyed further success in the younger age groups, with Cameron Wright taking gold in the Under-20s race.
Wright took top spot in a time of 22.56, to finish ahead of Cambuslang Harriers’ Gavin Smith and Shettleston’s Lewis Raeburn.
Kilbarchan also took the team gold in the competition, with Wright’s run backed up by solid efforts from Craig Kennedy, who finished ninth, and Robbie Ferguson who crossed the line in 11th spot.
There were further medals in the Under-17s boys race as Jack Patton continued his impressive form with a bronze medal run.
A gold followed in the team event as Lewis Hannigan finished fifth, David McNair in 10th and Cameron MacKenzie in 19th.
The Under- 17 girls team of Libby Sutherland (10th), Alisha Sivell (14th), Laine Alemu (17th), and Leona Murray (21st) landed a silver in their respective team event, backed up by another silver for their Under- 15s counterparts.
The youngsters grabbed their medal thanks to runs from Louise Hastie, who also got her hands on individual silver after finishing second, Sarah Forbes (19th), Evie Livingston (30th), Abbie Alemu (33rd), and Belle McCormack (34th). The Under15s boys also went home with team silver following impressive displays from Matthew New (fourth), Oliver Patton (10th), Luke Lindsay (17th), and Murray Wallace (38th). There were also Masters golds for Shettleston pair Jethro Lennox and Avril Mason with the team golds for Cambuslang men and the women of Bellahouston Road Runners.
Lachlan Oates saw off the challenge of Andy Douglas to claim gold in the men’s Championships.
Cambuslang Harriers however packed best and thus successfully defended the Senior Men’s gold they had won a year previously at Irvine. Shettleston, after winning the women’s race, took the men’s silvers with Inverclyde in third.