Round Arran Relays 2014

DECENT DEFENCE BY KILLIE AT THE ROUND ARRAN RELAYS

On Saturday, a number of Kilmarnock Harrier athletes were in action at Arran where they found themselves in the pleasant position of having to defend a title that they won 12 months ago.

The Round Arran Relays take place each July and the format consists of each team having 6 runners complete the 56 miles of the island, with each leg being unique as they have various distances. The 3 legs on the south side of the island are slightly hillier, but this is tempered by the fact that the North leg runners have further to run and no leg is easy.

Kilmarnock fielded 2 teams, including people who have completed the whole 6 stages, to a number of people setting foot on the island for the first time and as such it was a great mix. Special mentions go to Susan Beattie, who on completing 1^st leg South now joins a group who have completed the island.

To the race, and on the North side the Senior Men had Marathoners Robert Lindsay, Stuart Murdoch and Connell Drummond put in strong performances to all finish in and around the top 5 of the respective legs, while the experience of Paula Wilson combined well with debutant Kirstin Dale in the Ladies Team.

On the shorter South side, Roger Naughton and Scott Martin won their legs, and along with late draft Murray McDonald the Killie team went on to finish 3^rd overall in a respectable defence of the old trophy.

Susan Beattie and yet another debutant Darren Rideout both ran well to complete the 10 Kilmarnock athletes in action on a very wet day on the island.

Massive thanks to Kelvin Runners for takilng on the organising of the event in 2014, and Kilmarnock times on the day were –

North 1^st (11 miles) Robert Lindsay 1.10.31, Paula Wilson 1.29.12

North 2^nd (10.5 miles) Stuart Murdoch 1.08.52

North 3^rd (10 miles) Connell Drummond 1.00.24 (3^rd), Kirstin Dale 1.21.20

South 1^st (7.5 miles) Scott Martin 42.43 (1^st) Susan Beattie 1.00.46

South 2^nd (9 miles) Roger Naughton 53.10 (1^st)

South 3^rd (8 miles) Murray McDonald 1.05.40, Darren Rideout 1.06.03

Well done to all, and a great taster for the next Relay event in September at the shorter George Cumming Relays in Houston, Renfrewshire.