HUGE TURNOUT AT GEORGE CUMMINGS ROAD RELAYS

RELAY GOOD RUNNING IN RENFREWSHIRE

Saturday saw the George Cummings Relays take place in Houston, Renfrewshire, and with the Kilbarchan AC organised race being one of the most established events on the Road Racing Circuit there were a large number of teams from across the country taking part, and amongst this number was an impressive 34 Kilmarnock Harriers. Pleasingly, the Club had a number of younger athletes, and people competing in Relays for the first time, and this was a great turnout and testimony to the efforts behind the scenes by Captains Paula Wilson and Stewart McAllister, who had been putting in weeks of hard work compiling teams in advance of the event.

On the day, both Women and Men set off together with 3 per Female Team and their Male counterparts having a quartet to make up their quota. All athletes complete a 2.7 mile undulating lap of the scenic town and is traditionally a great way to prepare for the upcoming Cross Country Relay season which begins next week at Hamilton for the West Districts.

On the day in Houston there were a number of excellent performances by those in Killie blue vests, with inform Richard Mair on first leg duty leading the way by example by running a storming lap to have his team sitting in 2^nd place after his run. This was to be the 8^th fastest time by any athlete on a day which had the likes of Internationalists Luke Traynor and Calum Hawkins taking part. Helped enormously by debutants Gavin Hogarth and Craig Ferguson, Richard led Kilmarnock to a Top 10 position, a big improvement of recent years and the highest position by the Club in a while.

There were a number of very good and extremely satisfying performances throughout the Kilmarnock Men, not least youngsters Jamie Nix and Lewis Wilson, and the days racing was certainly a worthwhile exercise for all taking part.

Leading the way for Kilmarnock in the Women’s Race, was Kirsty Alexander who too was running the race for the first time. Unconcerned by her lack of course knowledge, the Harrier had the team sitting just outside the Top 10 after the fastest Kilmarnock run on the day and backed up by team mates Liz McDerment and Amanda Bryden the team finished in a healthy 15^th position in another competitive field.

Full Kilmarnock times on a great day of racing were –

Mens A Team 10th – Richard Mair 13.25, Gavin Hogarth 14.00, Craig Ferguson 15.03, Scott Martin 14.43.

Mens B Team 23^rd – Scott Lyden 15.31, Gordon Reid 14.47, Mark Alexander 15.21, Robert Lindsay 15.21.

Mens C Team 39^th – Jamie Nix 15.45, Lewis Wilson 16.04, Steven Robson 16.39, Stewart McAllister 17.37.

Mens D Team 49^th – Ken Wales 19.20, Mark Lyden 19.09, Gordon Sandler 17.31, Stuart Nibloe 18.47.

Mens E Team 50^th – John McClarty 18.50, Les McDerment 18.57, Murray McDonald 18.54, Douglas Dickson 20.20

Mens Incomplete Team – Stewart McRoberts 20.20, Ian McAughtrie 19.30.

Women’s A Team 15^th – Kirsty Alexander 17.33, Liz McDerment 19.56, Amanda Bryden 19.38.

Women’s B Team 23^rd – Paula Wilson 19.43, Kerry Warboys 20.42, Kirsty McNulty 20.09.

Women’s C Team 26^th – Laura Carruthers 21.46, Jackie Duncan 22.02, Viv Lambert 20.11.

Women’s D Team 30^th – Alison Wales 23.36, Jacqui Sandler 22.17, Sandra Dickson 23.18

Well done to all !