West District XC Championships 2019

Balloch Country Park was the venue for this year’s West District Cross Country Championships, and for those who enjoy a challenging course, this was a proper XC outing.

Non-stop heavy rain made the 8.5k course extremely muddy, and with most of the route winding up and down the hills it also became very slippy.

After some excellent performances from the junior section, Kara Tait made a fine return to form in her first XC for a few years to take 6th place overall in 36:29. Paula Wilson and Kirsty McNulty performed well in the vets categories to complete the course in 46:40 and 47:48 respectively with Karen Robertson also making a welcome return to the Cross Country scene with a time of 56:03.

By the time the senior men took to the course there wasn’t much in the way of grass left. That didn’t stop Craig Ferguson posting a time of 35:21 and just finishing outside the top 50 in a highly competitive field. The other men who completed the course were Dan Thompson (36:24), Robert Lindsay (36:27), Paul Markac (40:37), Murray McDonald (42:28). Stuart Nibloe (48:48) and a special mention to Russell Duncan who finished in 50:48 in his first attempt at a full distance XC.

Paula now leads the women’s table at the expense of Kirsty Alexander who drops to second, with Kirsty McNulty moving up into 3rd.

Craig Ferguson now leads the way in the men’s competition with Jamie Nix dropping to second and Robert Lindsay taking 3rd spot.

Next up – Harriers Vs Cyclists at Irvine this Saturday.