U20/Senior Event Report 5th November 2024

November already! And whilst we have been fairly lucky with the weather, the dark nights
are definitely back, winter training is well and truly under way and some of our athletes have
even been competing at the indoors already. Our new neighbours have moved into the AAA
(oh yes they have…) and our younger athletes and the young at heart are looking forward to
seeing the pantomime in a couple of weeks’ time! But in the meantime, here’s what’s been
happening up and down the country and beyond…

The XC train continues to roll onwards, and we start this week’s report with the first big one
of the season – National Relays at Cumbernauld. Our young athletes shone in the morning
races, so the pressure was on for our U20, senior and masters runners in the afternoon.
Our master ladies most definitely took on the challenge, with Kat Kelly, Laura Haggarty and
Louise Potter (having her first race in a Kilmarnock vest) having a great race to claim the
V40 bronze medal, around 50s ahead of their next rivals. There was a fair level of
excitement when the realisation set in that the team were in contention for a medal, and it
was fantastic to see the ladies on the podium at a National event! For the senior ladies, our
team of Eilidh Ballantyne, Izzy Caufield, Katie Vallance and XC first timer Sophie Granger
finished a very credible 32 nd overall. Sasha I’Anson and Laura Jedrusiak were representing
their University teams and both had excellent runs – hurry up and graduate and come back
to the blue and white side ladies! The men’s race was certainly exciting to watch, and with a
full senior team plus one individual runner and a V40 team there were plenty of Harriers to
shout on around the course. Our senior team of Jonathon Downey, Tom Flood, Jamie Nix
and Mark Henderson finished in 60 th place, and great to see Jonathon run the 53 rd fastest
time of the day (11 th U20). Murray McDonald was our solo runner, and he had a strong run
round the tough Cumbernauld course also. Our masters squad of David McLure, Nick
Carter, Shaun Dunbar and Russell Duncan finished 13 th V40 team overall, great running
everyone!

Sunday the 20 th saw a distinct change in the weather, particularly south of the border where
John Speirs was competing in the Yorkshire Marathon. Despite howling conditions, John
completed the course in a fantastic 2:49:29 to finish 78 th overall and 8 th MV45 – well done
John!

The following weekend saw a little break in the XC schedule, but there was still plenty going
on! On the Friday was the next instalment of the ever-popular 3k on the Green. Laura
Haggarty was first female and 17 th overall in 10:31, with Adam Todd finishing 30 th in 11:20.
On Sunday the 27 th , Harriers stalwart Connell Drummond was out in Frankfurt for the
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Connell came home in a cracking 3:08:56 – great running
Connell. Also out of the country on this weekend, Jonathon Downey was in Italy
representing Scotland U20 at the Trofeo Vanoni in Morbegno. Along with teammates
Thomas Hilton and Harris Pagett, the team secured 13 th place overall – great racing in very
good company!

This weekend just gone was a busy one for racing, with athletes competing at various
venues around the country. A small squad travelled through to Kirkcaldy for the National
Short Course XC. For the ladies, Eilidh Ballantyne was 1 st back in 17:19 for a top 100 finish.
Izzy Caufield was next in 17:49 (42 nd U20) and Mhairi Ballantyne completed the course in
19:28 (44 th U20). For the men, Jamie Nix was our sole contender and completed in 14:39 for
151 st overall – well done Jamie!

While some of the team were running short course, Lucy Stanley was taking on a much
longer challenge. Having only made her marathon debut this year, Lucy took on the Glen

Ogle 33 Ultra where she completed the 33ish miles with some big elevation in 5:42 –
amazing running Lucy. Also running up hills on Saturday, Jonathon Downey had a fine run
at the Tinto Hill Race, finishing in 4 th place overall.

We also had a good turnout at the Run the Runway event at Prestwick airport on Saturday
from our Harriers and Jog Squadders, we will report on the results when they are officially
published (if anyone has a link please send it to Jennifer!), but was great to see everyone’s
pictures!

Sunday saw some of our team head up to Strathaven for the Run with The Wind 10k.
Despite an undulating course, Jackie Duncan powered round as first Harrier home in 53:43
to finish 21 st lady and 4 th V50 – great running Jackie! Next back was husband Russell
Duncan in 53:44, Mandy Nimbley in 1:00:50 and Kate Todd in 1:03:11. Kate was also 2 nd
V70 – well done all.

Now we have moved past relays and onto individual scoring events we have set up the
league tables – unlike summer, these are split into seniors and U20s as the U20s run
separate races at certain events. For the senior ladies, Eilidh Ballantyne takes an early lead
with 32 points, with Kat Kelly and Laura Haggarty equal second on 24 each. For the U20
ladies Izzy Caufield is in top spot with 32 points, with Mhairi Ballantyne second with 28 and
Jennie Munro third with 14. For the senior men, Jamie Nix tops the table with 25 points, and
it is currently a 5-way tie for second. For the U20 men Jonathon Downey is on top for now
with 24, with Matthew Monachello and Connor Scobie sharing second spot with 14 each.
Things will start to get interesting in the coming weeks as we move onto individual events!
The next scoring event is the Ayrshire Champs this weekend at Kilmarnock – names by
Wednesday at the latest please! We are also looking for names for West District Champs by
the middle of next week and entries are open for both Cyclists v Harriers and Beith 10k –
don’t miss out. See the latest tables here – Winter points 24.5