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National Cross Country Championships
20th February 2010
Results | Photos (women's race) | Photos (men's race)
Glorious sunshine and great running conditions greeted the participants at Falkirk's Callendar Park, for what turned out to be another enjoyable mudfest.
The women's race was won decisively by Freya Murray. Ellie had a very strong run to lead our women's team home, gaining places throughout her run and beating some notable opposition (see results), and was followed by Helen (having a storming day), Pauline, Elizabeth and Pat, who later added their support at various stages during the men's race.
The men's race was a much tighter affair at the front, with Central AC's Alastair Hay battling successfully to lead Shettleston Eritrean Tsegezab Woldemichael home. For the Westies, 666 was the number of the Snake (not the beast), and David Riach slithered through the mud to be first male Westie to finish. Due to Owen's retiral from the race, John Denovan was next home, nursing his dodgy calf muscles over the line. I followed, after making steady progress through the field, having started right at the back with GrimOrr. Dave Calder was next, on a similarly steady strategy, then Ken MacMahon, John Quinn, Hamilton, and the yellow teacosy of the Grim One.
Captain Chris was on photo duty again so I'm sure there will be plenty to follow. Thanks also to Don and Elma for support, as well as to all Westies cheering around the course.
Posted by Johnston Orr on Sat 20 Feb 2010 | 6 comments
Category cross country
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Comments
Chris said...
Well done to all Westies who ran!
Here are a few photos from the senior races:
Sunday 21st February 2010 8.20am
Dave said...
The Westies wimmin clearly outshone the men, with Ellie steadily coming back to form and Helen taking a few scalps with a really impressive race. By Pauline's recent standards this wasn't one of her better races but she's had a stonking season. Elizabeth finished brilliantly, but who is this "Margaret Turnbull" just behind her...was Drew's missus running incognito for Lothian? Or maybe Drew's making a comeback in drag? Pat was also looking strong all the way round, clearly still high on the champagne after last week at Carnethy?
The women finished well in the team event, just behind Bellarghhhhh and ahead of Carnethy!
The start of the men's race always looks fine and this year was no different. The grunting mass of humanity (and other east coast reptiles) snaking around the loch at Callendar Park must be one of the most impressive sights in Scottish running. It felt good to be part of it!
Sunday 21st February 2010 8.32am
Ellie said...
My priorities on this stunning day in Falkirk were ordered thus:
1) Overtake all brown shirts in sight
2) but do not repeat 2008 XC nationals disaster
3) (as a distraction strategy) Reunite disembodied voices of support with their owners without looking up and spiking self.
...by excessive focus on priority 3, identifying only Mr Calder and Ian Campbell (my word, aren't their bellows 'distinctive'?), priorities 1 & 2 were pretty effortlessly ticked off and I managed to have a fairly reasonable run - thanks Nige.
Just as my hypomanic post-race chatter was peaking, Helen shot in, having had a fantastically strong run and finishing in a mightily honourable position (did you note that Nige?) - although her speed may have had something to do with a pressing social event and teenage daughter waiting in the car! Pauline, following one of those physio-induced 'adjustments', was in next, with Pat and Elizabeth completing the team. Of course, the best bit was then sitting back and enjoying the men's race;-)
Well done all.
Sunday 21st February 2010 2.58pm
Grim Old Tea-cosy said...
As I've commented before, cross-country for the over-60s is not a matter of PBs, less still minutes per mile - it's a Grim exercise in survival, ie completing the course! That I managed it this year amazed me, seeing that I had coughed and spluttered for a short mile 2 days previously, before stopping to cough up what my cultured palate identified as something resembling oysters marinaded in white sauce. I am eternally grateful to an ageing Central AC runner, one Bill Gault - no relation of the legendary Carnethian, may I add - who coaxed me round the final lap. That was (as I told the Westy faithful at the finish) was further than I've run in the past year - probably since the Croftamie Handicap 2008. I paid for it after with an almighty leg cramp, but hey, the mucus (=oysters in white sauce) seem to have departed the oul' lungs. Thought you'd like to know that.
The margin of victory in the senior women's race at 1 minute 45 secs or so was amazing. I haven't seen a Scottish X-country field so dominated since McCafferty's days (and him a bloke).
Sunday 21st February 2010 3.03pm
muffy calder said...
I only want to see photies of westies - where are the westies wummin? I could only see Ellie, and a fine sight too, but where are Helen, Pauline and Elizabeth. I am dying to see evidence of Pauline's phyio-adjustment. Did it involve running with a Pilates ball??
Friday 26th February 2010 2.26pm
Pauline said...
Scantily clad and young might best describe most of the wummin who do appear in the photos. This might explain why Helen, Elizabeth and I don't make any of the shots. Helen's knee-length leggings probably spoiled her chances. Elizabeth is young but was overdressed, while I was overdressed and not young. You missed out Pat who incidentally, did manage to get in a shot consisting mostly of sensibly (overdressed) wummin.
I'm ignoring the comment about the pilates ball. The physio-adjustment was necessary as I'd been aware that I was running "wrongly" (and getting gradually slower as a result) for a while now. I would also like to point out that depite feeling "weird" from the adjustments, I was 11 seconds faster than last year's "feeling good" run.
Sunday 28th February 2010 7.54pm