NATIONAL MASTERS XC AND GREENOCK FIVE MILE ROAD RACE

KILMARNOCK DUO BRAVE THE ELEMENTS IN THE HIGHLANDS

Last weekend (Jan 30th) saw the town of Forres between Inverness and Aberdeen play host to the Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships, and despite severe snow in the area in the days leading up to the race, the day took place with no hitches.

With the race being open to athletes aged 40 and over, there were two members of Kilmarnock Harriers who left Ayrshire on the Friday, to compete at the Saturday event.

Although there were no Female athletes from Kilmarnock taking part, the day began with inform Garscube athlete Lesley Chisholm continue to impress as she took the ladies title with a bit of daylight from Lothian runner Edel Mooney.

Next up were the Senior Men and in the field were an impressive 169 athletes who made the jaunt from all corners of the Country. The race was 2 laps of the same course which hosted the event in 2010 and 2013 and totalled approximately 8K, or 5 miles in old money.

Both Harriers certainly did themselves justice in tough conditions. With the top 3 podium places all heading to Cambuslang (with Kenny Campbell taking the title from Kerry Wilson and Jamie Reid), it was Gordon Reid who was first home for Killie. Gordon clocked 32.36 to finish inside the Top 40, and with Connell too finishing well inside the top half of a quality field both can be happy to rack up yet another tough Cross Country race in prep for the coming road and track season.

Next up, and final Cross Country event of this Winter for most runners, is at Callander Park in Falkirk at the end of February where once more the town hosts the blue riband of many an athlete’s season – the National Cross Country Championships. For this, there are races throughout all age groups and any athlete competing should have already seen their coach/rep for full details.

Lone Harrier Connell Drummond once more braved the elements this weekend as he headed for Greenock to take part in the Greenock 5 Mile Road Race.

Using the race purely as part of his London Marathon prep speed training, Connell clocked an impressive 30.46 despite extremely strong headwinds and a waterlogged course.