Athletics: Lothian Running Club's great 2009

Jan 7 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LOTHIAN RUNNING CLUB have enjoyed another landmark year on the tracks and fields of West Lothian and beyond.

Records have been shattered and claimed while new personal bests have been recorded as the club churn out another promising crop of athletes.

But what were the highlights of 2009?

The Courier takes a look back at the last twelve months to find out.

JANUARY — 21 club runners contested the East District XC League match at Dunfermline.

Mhairi Inglis won the Junior under-20 women’s race.

Meanwhile in the same month, her sister Sarah Inglis was part of the Scottish quartet that won gold medals at the Celtic Nations XC Challenge in Wales.

At the age group indoor championships Lana Turnbull was third in the under-17 800 metres with Lauren Arbuckle sixth in the under-13 800 metres.

FEBRUARY — Sarah Inglis continued her brilliant form by taking home a bronze medal in the National XC Championships under-20 and a silver in the Scottish 4k Championship.

Edel Mooney was fifth in the Senior women's race at the Nationals where the women’s team finished 10th and the men 13th.

MARCH — The first weekend in March was a good one for the club as Edel Mooney led home 340 runners to win the Arbroath Smokies ladies 10k race while Ross Milne was victorious in the Lasswade 10 mile road race.

And Sarah, Robert and Mhairi Inglis all recorded big wins.

Sarah broke off from her hectic XC schedule to take the Scottish Uni’s indoor 3k title.

Her siblings were the respective male and female under-20 winners at the Cupar five mile road race in Fife.

In the Gartmorn 6 Lynne Murray was first FV with Iain Horsburgh second under-13.

Sarah Inglis represented Scotland in the Home Countries XC in Wales and helped win a team silver medal.

APRIL — In the Edinburgh Half Marathon Scott Balfour and Scott Nelson were the first club runners home with the former winning the M60 category.

Ally Robertson was first under-20 at the Hunter Bog Trot race.

The club claimed silver medals at the National Road Relay Championships by virtue of fine runs from Edel Mooney, Suzanne Matonti and Sarah and Mhairi Inglis.

MAY — In the Scottish Junior Hill Championships Ally Robertson was third and Chris Rumbles fifth in the under-19 men’s race, with Lana Turnbull sixth in the girls under-16 race.

Teresa McMenemy first female vet at a cold and wet Cape Wrath Marathon while 730 runners took part in the Black Rock 5 with Edel Mooney first female home.

Suzanne Matonti emerged as the female winner at the inaugural West Lothian Half Marathon.

JUNE — The club had a great day at the Markinch Games. Sarah Inglis won both the 1600 and 3200 with brother Robert third in both. Darren Thomson was second in 90 metres with youth’s Alice Horsburgh, Bethany Nelson, Hannah Stewart and Lauren Arbuckle all in the prize money.

The club hosted their annual Trail Race at Dechmont Law and won both the male and female team events.

Mhairi Inglis and Darren Thomson both had wins at Newburgh Games.

JULY — Edel Mooney won the Crieff 10k.

Sarah Inglis took the Scottish 3k title at Pitreavie.

Robert Inglis won the 1600 at Cupar Games with Lauren Arbuckle runner up in both the youth’s 90 and 800 metres.

Sarah Inglis smashed her PB for the 3000 metres twice, at the start of the month in the English under-20/23 championships, then at the end of the month ran the race of her life to take gold in the women's under-20 race at the Aviva London GP at Crystal Palace taking an amazing 13.63 seconds of the time she set just four-weeks earlier.

AUGUST — Lana Turnbull made her track debut for Scotland in the 1500 metres steeplechase at the Celtic Games in Wales with a new PB.

Darren Thomson clinched the Fife Games points league at Inverkeithing Games where Lauren Arbuckle and Iain Horsburgh also had wins.

Yet another PB for Sarah Inglis this time in the 1500 metres at the Scottish under-20/23 championships.

Hannah Stewart won the youth’s 800 at the Bridge of Allan Games where Jill Horsburgh also won a cup for her run in the 3200 metres.

Craig McDowell set new figures for the 800 metres with two PBs in the space of four days.

Sarah Inglis ran second behind Scottish champion Freya Murray in the 10000 metres at the Falkirk Cup, and less than 24 hours later won three races at the Oban Games.

Lauren Arbuckle won the youth’s 1600 at Birnam Games.

SEPTEMBER —Darren Thomson and Lauren Arbuckle clinched their respective Scottish Games points league titles at Pitlochry Games.

Edel Mooney ran the fastest leg by a women at the Comrie Hill relays, and along with Mark Kassyk, Lorna and Colin Eades they were fourth mixed team.

OCTOBER —Represented by Lynne Murray, Sarah Inglis and Lana Turnbull the ladies finished fourth at the McAndrews Road Relays.

David Berril ran a new PB at the Aviemore Half Marathon.

NOVEMBER — Mhairi Inglis helped her Glasgow Caley team to bronze medals at the Scottish Uni’s Road Race Championships.

DECEMBER — Mother and daughter Mags and Lana Turnbull braved the snowy conditions to run the Edinburgh Park run with Lana winning the ladies race.