Kilmarnock Harriers compete in London Marathon

May 1 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

THREE Kilmarnock Harriers were involved in Sunday’s Flora London Marathon, the 29th staging of the prestigious event.

Jan McLeod, Willie Duffy and Roddie Pugh all started the race with their own individual goals for the race, and despite sweltering temperatures in the last few tough miles which affected all the 35,000 runners, the trio weren’t too far away from their expectations and can be very proud of the fact that the 26.2 miles was completed and all bodes well for the coming Summer Road Racing season.

The previous day at Pollock Park a number of Kilmarnock Harriers team-mates were in action at the latest instalment of the weekly free to enter 5K Park Run.

Connell Drummond took a fine fourth position overall as his recent efforts over the same distance on the track begins to pay dividends.

Full times and positions from the club from a huge 238 entrants were: fourth Connell Drummond 17.57, 14th John Cairns 19.03, 20th Kara Tait 19.17, 24th Leslie McDerment 19.40, 26th Alasdair Murray 19.54, 36th Paula Wilson 20.49, 52nd Liz McDerment 21.41, 100th Ian McGaughtrie 24.04.

This week’s big event will be the Troon 10K on Wednesday evening where traditionally a massive turnout of Harriers take part, and this year will be the same. All runners are reminded that the race is pre entry only and anyone wishing to run who hasn’t done so already should contact Troon Tortoises direct.

The Hill racing season recently arrived with a bang with Killie Harriers represented at three races in 10 days.

First up was the Anniversary Waltz, a 13m race, 3000ft climb over four tops near Keswick in the heart of the Lake District. Roddy Pugh and Al Murray crossed the border for this long fell race which attracts over 400 runners.

In excellent, clear conditions Al finished the race in 2hrs 19min and 189th place and pleased with this debut, Roddy took it easy as he began the wind down to London Marathon and finished in 2hrs 32.

The following Saturday Roddy made the solo journey to Screel hill race, near Newton Stewart. A short race over 6.4km and 400m ascent Roddy made a top 100 finish in 46.57, including a brief oversight of a fellow runner who had fallen and broken an arm.

Next up was the first of the Bog & Burn race series, the Whangie Wizz, at Carbeth. This midweek race of 6.8km and only 240m ascent attracted over 150 runners and was to prove the seasons debut for recent Killie hillrunning converts, Keith Haining and Steven McNeill.

As always the early and finishing parts of the route follow a rutted and rocky pathway making footing difficult and a careful approach is recommended.

With this is mind, and after an interval session the previous night and a run on Wednesday morning Keith took the race relatively easy finishing in 31st place in 33.38.

After a less hectic training program Al Murray was a couple of minutes behind in 35.59 and 57th place, followed by Steven McNeill in 37.34 (70th place) and finally Roddy – four days before London marathon and his third hill race in 10 days – in 40.36 and 94th place.

Next local hill race is Kaim Hill, in Fairlie on April 29. Event details and full results can be found on www.shr.uk.com

Finally, Tuesday, May 5, is the date when all sections of the Harriers move to the Scott Ellis base for the summer, and all members and anyone thinking of coming along to the club for the first time should be aware of this.

Much more Harriers details at www.kilmarnockharriers.com