Kilmarnock Harrier takes podium place with pal in fourth

Mar 13 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

TWO young Kilmarnock Harriers were at Nottingham for the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at the weekend.

For senior/junior athletes, this is the World Cross Country qualifying race as well as the culmination of the UK Cross Challenge Series.

The two under 13 athletes, Brogan Wallace and Fern Wales were participating in the latter event. On this occasion the girls were representing the Scotland West team, having been selected on their standings within the Cross Challenge Series.

Before this final event (earlier events included Gateshead, Liverpool and Belfast), Brogan was in fifth equal position with Fern in seventh.

With double points on offer in this race the standings could easily change.

Both athletes fared well against the very best youngsters in Britain, with almost 500 athletes entered in their race.

Trophies are awarded to the first three athletes in each age group with the first four athletes in the rankings receiving sports vouchers. It was then a surprised Brogan that took the podium in third place to receive a trophy and £50 sports vouchers.

An even bigger surprise for Fern as she received fourth place and vouchers to the value of £40. This made the five hour journey home a little easier on their parents.

Afterwards both athletes agreed that UK Cross Challenge Series was a great learning experience and will no doubt benefit them in the future.

Marginally closer to home, some of Killie’s slightly older athletes ventured across the Erskine Bridge on Sunday to take part in the Balloch half marathon. Snow and gales awaited, mercifully however by gun time the weather had eased a bit and at 9.30am the hundreds of pre entered runners set off in decent running conditions.

Keith Haining was hoping for a high position, and right away became involved in a battle for third position, not far behind eventual race winner Kerry Wilson of Cambuslang.

Scott Martin was behind, hovering in and around the top 10 while Connell Drummond and Willie Duffy too were running close to their lifetime best paces.

The fifth Killie runner David Mitchell was using the run as a stepping stone to getting fitness back after major injury and happily was faring very well also.

Despite losing a bit of time in taking a slight detour around the five mile mark, Keith had a blinder. Finishing below 75 minutes for the first time, the Shortlees man not only finished fourth, but also took the first vets prize and definitely looks to be in shape to even better this soon.

Scott Martin dipped under 78 minutes, again for the first time, and in finishing 11th also took the second vet’s prize in what was turning out to be a good day for Killie.

In finishing well inside the top 30, Connell was also close to his best ever 13.1 mile time, and proved yet again that his sub three hour target in Berlin at the Marathon distance is definitely within reach, as is Willie Duffy’s 3 hour 15 minute target in London – he too running a pb.

Very pleasingly as well was David Mitchell completing the tough race distance, enjoying it with no ill effects.

Killie times and positions in a field of 388 finishers were – Keith Haining 74.54, 4th (1st vet), Scott Martin 77.47, 11th (2nd vet), Connell Drummond 81.27, 26th, Willie Duffy, 91.50 (77th).

Also, recently, seven Killie girls took part in the Happy Feet 10K at Blairquhan Castle in Maybole – Kirsten Thompson, Ann Graham, Ann Minto, Anne Anderson, Vicky Havers, Kay Campbell and Zoe.

Importantly, this Friday, March 13, is the Harrier’s AGM at the Broomhill Hotel.