There was yet more cross country success for PH Racing Club at yesterday’s National Relay Championships at Cumbernauld House. As usual it was the masters teams that brought home the medals with the men’s masters team winning gold and their female counterparts taking silver.
The event used the same undulating 4k course as previous years with senior and men’s masters teams completing four legs and women’s masters and over 50s teams comprising three laps.
Lead off man for the men’s masters team was World Masters 400m medalist Roger Clark, who would also have been eligible for the over 50s team. His time of 14:25 was bettered by only one athlete in the over 50 race, from the winning team, so this looked like shrewd choice. Roger handed over to Mark Ryan in sixth position and he made up a further two places, running a single second faster that Roger on a course that was by now very muddy in places. Leg three runner Andy Davis was the sole member of the team who won bronze last year and he hauled the team into silver medal spot with a lap of 14:09 before passing over to anchor runner Ben Hukins. By all accounts there was a tremendous battle between Ben and the athletes from Gala Harriers and Shettleston Harriers but his time of 14:03 secured a well deserved gold for PH.
Earlier, the women’s masters team of Kristin Lownie, Anne Hartmann and Julie Menzies had won a hard fought silver. Kristin Lownie posted a first leg time of 16:43, despite almost losing her footwear in the mud. Anne Hartmann took over in sixth place and bettered Kristin’s time, running 16:29 and putting the team into medal contention. Team captain Julie Menzies then pushed on even more to run a superb time of 16:06 for second place in the masters race behind Garscube Harriers. Well done also to Louise Lessels and Clare Graham who ran in the senior category.
Back to the men’s race and there were also teams entered in the senior and over 50 categories, as well as a masters B team. The senior team was lead off by Robert Sellar who was a masters bronze medalist last year, as well as at the recent East District Relay Championships. He clocked 15:08 and was followed by Colin Somerville (16:05), Aaron Bennet (15:11) and Phil Waring (15:04).
In the over 50s team birthday boy Mark McLean was the first leg runner, timing at 16:38. He was joined in the team by two other members of the East District bronze medal winning team with Johnny Cassells running 16:21 before men’s captain Wright Beveridge brought the team home in 16:14 to finish just outside the top 10 in what appeared to be a strong category.
Last but not least, the men’s masters B team finished in 17th position despite some further shoe-related issues! Fastest leg for the B team was Stuart Meiklejohn, running 16:06, with Michael Lindsay, Andrew Kinninmonth and Scott Love completing the team.
In other news, three of the athletes running for PH yesterday have been selected to run for Scotland at next month’s British and Irish Masters event in Dublin. Huge congratulations to Roger Clark, Anne Hartmann and Andy Davis, as well as Ed Norton. Mark Ryan was also close to securing selection and will be keen to do so in the future. It is great to see more of our members receiving international recognition.
At today’s Abingdon Marathon Mark Western enjoyed in excellent run in poor weather conditions with a time of 3:11:45, exactly 10 seconds faster than at the Milton Keynes Marathon earlier in the year. Well done to Mark for his consistent performances and to everyone taking part in the cross country. Thanks to Scottish Athletics for putting on an excellent event and to Bobby Gavin/That One Moment and Mark McLean for the photos.
PH Racing Club 