Athletics: Lothian in running to celebrate success

Nov 19 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THERE was double success for Lothian Running Club athletes at Saturday’s Edinburgh park run.

Brian Turner led home 150 runners to be the overall winner of the weekly 5k race along the Edinburgh waterfront.

Turner clocked an impressive 16 minutes 09 seconds which was 18 seconds quicker than his previous weeks run when he finished fifth.

Also setting a new PB for the course was Harry Mulholland who finished in 17th place in 19:00 which was six seconds faster than his previous best.

Chris Rumbles was 22nd overall and first junior in a time of 19:25.

Making up the handful of runners representing the club were John Malcolm in 33rd, 20:41, and Ted Finch who was in the veteran 55-59 category in 91st, 24:36.

The club were represented in the men’s and women’s events at the annual Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds Cross Country Races at Braids Hill also on Saturday.

On a very muddy six mile course Andy Kitchin led home a quartet of Lothian athletes in 61st place overall and second veteran in a time of 38 minutes 43 seconds.

Following him over the finish line were Alistair Robertson 39:07, 90th, Colin Eades 40:28 and Ian Hall 219th.

Only two Lothian ladies braved the tricky underfoot conditions in the women’s three mile race.

Kate Kitchen was 57th after a run of 23 minutes 28 seconds with Jennifer Laing 108th in 26:37.

The Lothian club head to Fife this Sunday for the second of three matches in the East District Cross Country League.

Following the first meeting in Stirling last month the club are well placed in a few of the categories.

The Senior/Junior Women are in fifth place in the standings with the Senior/Junior men in sixth place.

The under-11 girls are also sixth with the Masters Men in a lofty second place. The start is 1pm.