Lothian Running Club members in action at the Crieff Highland Gathering

Aug 26 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

THERE was a big turn-out of Lothian Running Club members at the Crieff Highland Gathering on Sunday.

And for the first time this season on the Games circuit the club failed to produce a winner.

With prizes in every race many still returned home with something to show for their efforts.

In the Open 90 metres Handicap Darren Thomson won his heat which qualified him through to the cross-ties where he was eliminated.

John McStewart from Armadale and granddaughter Sarah Stewart of Blackburn both exited in the heats.

Later in the afternoon Thomson won through to the final of the Open 200 metres Handicap where he finished in fifth place.

The 800metres attracted a big entry of 17 runners, and owing to her recent wins at previous games over this distance, Mhairi Inglis had to run from a reduced handicap. In a bunch finish she crossed the line in fifth place with brother Robert in sixth and sister Sarah in eighth. All three then lined up for the 1600m with Robert coming home best in fifth place.

In the longer 3200 metres Sarah ran her best race of the day finishing, as she did at Perth the previous week, in a good third place with Robert not far behind in fourth.

With only a handful of games remaining Robert leads the SHGA points league for races over 1600 and 3200 metres.

The club was also well represented in the youth events at Market Park, Nicola Kellock from Livingston and Hannah Stewart of Blackburn both went out at the heat stages of the 90 metres. Later in the day they were joined in the 200 metres by Lauren Arbuckle from Addiewell and brother and sister Iain and Alice Horsburgh, from Winchburgh, when again in very competitive fields they all failed to make it through the heats.

In the 1600 metres Lauren Arbuckle made it into the prizes in sixth place with Hannah Stewart and Iain and Alice Horsburgh just missing out.

The season continues on Saturday with the Birnam Highland Games in Perthshire.

A trio of club runners – Iain Donnan, Max McNeil and Ally Robertson – were in action at the weekend competing at the Scottish Hill Running Junior Home International Trial and Open Race held at Myreton Hill, Menstrie, Clackmannanshire.

In the Under-19 Trial Race, which was 6.3km with a 410m ascent, Max came home in third place in 31:20 behind Adam Gatens, Westerlands and Gary Rankin of Kilbarchan.

In the Open Men’s Race Ally also finished in third place in 34:00 where victory went to Mark Harris, Fife AC with J Knox of Anster Haddies second.

Iain Donnan was the victim of a marshalling mix-up in the combined under-19/open race. He and under-19 runner Peter Harrison Borders AC would both have won their respective races but were forced to run an extra loop of the course.

Eoin and Kate Richardson managed under-nine age category wins in the Fun Run while dad Matt was first Male Veteran (and last overall).

Club girls Lana Turnbull and Nicola Kellock had an excellent day at the Lomond challenge triathlon at Firkin point, Loch Lomond.

The girls were representing Deans High School in the competition. Despite blustery and choppy conditions on the loch the girls were lying fifth after the canoe section and held onto that position during the cycle stage.

Both girls had cracking transitions and were well placed going into the 3.4mile run. Lana had a strong run to finish second overall and first female. She was well supported by Nicola despite being less experienced at this distance and the girls picked up medals for second female team.

A trio of club runners contested the Edinburgh Parkrun on August 21.

Last weekend’s Forfar 10k winner Edel Mooney ran the race for the first time and completed the 5k course along the Edinburgh waterfront in 18 minutes 34 seconds. This placed her 17th overall and second female.

There were category wins for both Scott Balfour (MV60-64) and Ian Leggett (MV70-74). Scott came home in 24th place in 19:20 with Ian 119th in 24:03.

A total of 212 completed this week’s race.