Kilmarnock Harriers' hill runners tackle Goat Fell

May 22 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

THE hill-running season continued at the weekend with three athletes from Kilmarnock Harriers competing in the Goat Fell hill race – an 880m climb over 13km.

Conditions were near perfect, and only for the last 400ft of the climb did the temperature drop as cloud covered the summit.

Al Murray had one of his better ascents, reaching the top in just over the hour and thanks to a gingerly descent, had a good run on the 1.5mile road section into Brodick and finished in 1.40.59 for 26th place and a PB in his ninth Goat Fell race.

Roddy Pugh followed, pleased with 1.54.06 and 47th place to record an improvement on his 2008 time.

The hat trick of runners was completed by hill veteran Matt Ferguson, in 2.03.28 and 67th place. He was running Goat Fell for the first time in a number of years and more than 25 years since his first Goat Fell race.

Roddy was continuing his recent personal hill racing series having completed Ben Lomond hill race in pretty poor conditions on May 8 in 1.47.03, preceded by Dumyat hill race in 54.20.

Eight Junior Harriers competed in the Scottish Athletics Age Groups Championships U15/U17 which were held at Wishaw under challenging conditions.

Kilmarnock Harriers was represented in two endurance finals (800 and 1500m respectively), long jump, shot putt and semi-final for the 200m sprint.

Bethany Ross U17 achieved an excellent fifth place in a time 2.21 in the 800m final, holding off a strong challenge on the last 100m.

Cameron Mackie was the only male representative in the U17 age group, running a very good time of 2.18 and coming fourth in his 800m heat.

In the U15 girls age group, both, Brogan Wallace and Eve Kerr qualified automatically from their respective heats, Brogan (3rd 2.32) and Eve (2nd 2.29).

Both girls then went on to improve on their qualification times, Eve Kerr clocking 2.26 and crossing the line fifth overall, followed closely by her team mate Brogan in 7th place and achieving a new PB of 2.31. Although Amanda Humes also qualified in a time of 2.32 for the 800m final, she decided not to run the final.

Gemma McCutcheon, U15, reached the shot putt final and achieved 7th, throwing 7.70m. Gemma also competed in the 200m event where she qualified automatically in third in 29.36 and achieved exactly the same time in the semi-final where she was 6th. Fern Wales, U15, was also in the 200m event, clocking 30.80 in her heat.

Cory O’Hara,U15, won a silver medal in the long jump event, jumping 5.43m (see p113)

Wishaw Stadium also hosted the new Superteams competition, organised by Scottish Athletics, and Kilmarnock Harriers had six teams entered.

All 24 of the younger junior athletes competed well against athletes from clubs from all over Scotland.

Over 180 athletes competed in four events: javelin, 800m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay.

Lorne Kerr, Kirsty Butcher, Hannah Bartl and Eilidh Baird finished 9th; Mary Morris, Alanis Brydon, Lara Ferels, Diane Frew finished 23rd; Ryan Wilson, Angus Kerr, Bryce Barrie and Michael Smith finished 15th; Rory Morris, Liam Gibson, Terry Mullholand and Hesham El Shafei finished 11th and Peter Baird, David Hall, Kyle Colquhoun and Sandy Hamilton finished 19th.

The youngsters are now preparing for the next event in August where they will be competing in the high jump, shot putt, 200m and 4 x 100m relay.

On Saturday a group led by Connell Drummond competed in the Loch Leven half marathon.

Seven Harriers were in the 500+ field, with Connell best of the club runners finishing in a fine 26th place in 1:23. Other finishers were Les McDerment (1:29), Paula Wilson (1:33), Brian Darroch (1:41), Lis McDerment (1:43), Joan Graham (1:59), Jade Minto (1:59).

The Ruby Young races will be held in the Dean estate on Sunday, June 14. The women’s and men’s 5K events take place at 11am and 11.30am respectively.

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