Dumbarton 10k, and Monklands Half Marathon (inc West District HM Championships)

Much of Kilmarnock Harriers – and indeed a large percentage of athletes from the West of Scotland – converged at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena over the weekend for the West Districts Track and Field Championships (results to follow next week). There was however still some road races across the country which featured a few Harriers in the past 7 days.

On Sunday, the Monklands Half Marathon took place and this incorporated the West Districts Championship race over the distance which gave the event an added edge. Pre race favourite Robert Gilroy came home first in a race he has won for the past 14 years or so, although also in the field was Kilmarnock Harrier Amanda Bryden who was using the race as a last minute sharpener for next week’s Stirling Marathon which she will be running along with a number of other Harriers, and Amanda was joined by her team mate Jacqui Sandler.

Using the race purely as a training run, Amanda ran 1 hour 52 minutes which although a bit quicker than intended shows that she is in great shape for the 26.2 miles she will face next Sunday morning in Stirling. Jacqui too was happy with her run and although not a pb for the half marathon, her time of just over 2 hours was a very good workout on a tough and hilly course.

An added bonus too is the fact that, as the race was in the Kilmarnock Harriers Club Championships, a welcome 15 and 14 points respectively will be heading to the duo to add to a very constructive day.

A few days previously, on Thursday night the Dumbarton 10K took place. Formerly part of the massively popular 4 Race Polaroid 10K Series, the event is now part of a new format sponsored by Babcock and features a race less, with the previous Series finale at Vale of Leven now being held separately.

2 Kilmarnock athletes were in the field on Thursday night and in a race eventually won by London 2012 Olympic Steeplechaser Wayne Ghebresilassie in an excellent 31.05, Craig Ferguson was first home of the Killie pair in an extremely good time of 36.52 for 37^th place overall. Craig was followed by Connell Drummond who continues a comeback from an injury by clocking 38.18 in another solid run in 62^nd position.

 

Much more info is at www.kilmarnock harriers.com