GEORGE CUMMINGS ROAD RELAYS

GEORGE CUMMINGS ROAD RACE KICKS OFF THE RELAY SEASON.
On Saturday afternoon at Houston, Renfrewshire the traditional Kilbarchan AC organised George Cummings Road Relays took place and in a field of hundreds of athletes an impressive turnout of 21 from Kilmarnock Harriers were in action.
Each leg is a very scenic and undulating 2.7 miles and in the men’s event it is 4 per team with the ladies fielding 3. In the Killie ranks there was a fantastic mix of seasoned campaigners over the course mixed with a number of debutants and it was to prove a great day all round.
In the ultra competitive event Connell Drummond set off first for the Men’s A Team and in smashing his pb for the course he broke the 15 minute barrier for the first time to set himself up perfectly for this weekend’s Lyon Marathon where he will be competing along with his clubmate Stewart McAllister who too had a fine run in Renfrewshire.
Kilmarnock’s first team came home just outside the top 10 in a very credible 11th position with the quartet all running times within 40 seconds of each other and with the other teams too packing well this was an excellent effort by all to set themselves up perfectly for the Cross Country Season kicking off at Hamilton Racecourse in 2 weeks time.
In the ladies race, the first girls team finished just outside the top 10 like their male counterparts and again all had very good runs with new member Kirsteen Salisbury proving to be quickest from the Club in her first season of running.
Special mentions go to debutants in the Relays including Anna Walker, Chloe Adams, David Rutherford and Stephanie Dale, while it was great to see present and past Captains Les and Liz McDerment, and Paula Wilson making a welcome return to racing, and also to the athletes competing in incomplete teams.
Full Killie results were –
Ladies A – (13th) Anna Walker 22.24, Paula Wilson 20.33, Kirsteen Salisbury 19.20
Ladies B – (16th) Laura Carruthers 21.10, Chloe Adams 22.27, Stephanie Dale 25.31
Solo Team – Liz McDerment 19.40

Mens A (11th) – Connell Drummond 14.43, Cameron Mackie 15.18, Scott Martin 14.37, James Wales 15.07
Mens B (21st) – Neil Walker 15.20, Ross Connelly 16.15, Scott Lyden 15.23, Stewart McAllister 17.01
Mens C (36th) – David Rutherford 17.53, Les McDerment 17.35, Alex McGhee 19.02, Kenny Wales 18.41
Incomplete Team – Ian McAughtrie 19.58, Brian Darroch (20.04)

Well done to all, with a huge thanks to the Captains for all the pre and on the day organisation.
Next up will be the West Districts Cross Country Relay Champs and entries are in for this.
The first Ayrshire meeting of the season is the Ayrshire XC Relays (open to all age groups) are being held at Kilmarnock on 17/10/15, entry is on the day, more details regarding times etc will be posted nearer the date.
The National short course XC championship is at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow on 7/11/15 for athletes U15 upwards but we must have entries at registration no later than 22/10/15.
Senior athletes contact either Cameron Wilson or Paula Wilson for details of entry to these events, and although entry for the Ayrshires is on the day, they MUST know beforehand of athletes intentions to run as teams have to be selected beforehand.
Finally, the National Cross Country Relays at Cumbernauld is on 24/10 and the Senior deadline for entries is THIS WEEKEND (4/10).

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