Buchlyvie 10k – 28/1/23
New member Jennifer Telford was the solo Harrier at the Buchlyvie 10k finishing 62nd place, 13th female and 1st female in her age category crossing the line in a very good time of 46mins 53secs. We look forward to seeing Jennifer at more races in the season. Shout out to Jennifer Turner who also finished in an excellent time with husband Greig supporting, hopefully we will see Jennifer in a GGH vest one day.
Results
Jennifer Telford – 46:53
Jennifer Turner – 1:02:20
Masters 3000m Indoor Championships – 29/1/23
Paul Monaghan added another National medal to his impressive collection winning silver in the 3000m indoor track race at the spectacular Emirates Arena on Saturday. Uncharacteristically of Paul, he set of with a slow first lap and began to pick the pace up as the race went on. Feeling strong Paul pushed on to open up a gap and go for gold, however, John Coyle had other ideas and came through the field to finish strong on the last lap. Paul admitted he couldn’t match John’s pace but is delighted with the race and result.
Paul Monaghan – Silver
In the v55 category it was over to Gavin Morrison. Gavin’s training has been excellent and coming into form for this race there was hopes of another National medal. In what is another strong category Gavin will be delighted with his time of 10:25:17 and a 4th place in the race, finishing 4 secs outside of the medals.
Results
Paul Monaghan, 2nd V50, 9:43:47
Gavin Morrison, 4th V55, 10:25:17
Murcia Marathon – 5/2/23
While the rest of the Harriers are training and racing in the freezing cold rain, one athlete decided to head for sunnier climates. Susie Gillies jetted off to Spain where she competed in the 10th Anniversary of the Murcia Marathon. Susie finished in an excellent time of 4 hours and 30 mins taking 5th in the vets category. Well done Susie.
Winter warmer Half Marathon & 10k – 5/2/23
On a lovely Sunday morning three Harriers headed to Glasgow to take on the Winter Warmer 10km and Half Marathon distances. Setting off first was GGH new member David Thomson taking on 4 laps of Glasgow Green. David has his sights set on Manchester Marathon and used this race to practice his pacing which he executed extremely well.
An hour later Liza and Debbie set off on the 10km race which navigates 2 laps of the Green. Both runners finished closely together but run of the day has to go to Debbie for finishing in an excellent 47 mins and 8 secs which is a big personal best time over the distance.
Half marathon result
David Thomson, 2h 25m 13s
10km results
Liza Brydon, 46:21
Debbie McKenzie, 47:08
West League race 3 – 11/2/23
Six Harriers headed to Bellahouston Park, Glasgow for the 3rd and final instalment of the inaugural West District cross country league, an event we hope to see back for 2023/24 season.
Having competed in the previous 2 races, Dylan was looking to build on his race fitness ahead of the National XC in a couple of weeks’ time. Dylan started quickly on the 4 lapped course, but stomach issues meant he fell off the pace. Thankfully after a shout of ‘encouragement’ from teammate Andy, Dylan recovered and ran away from Andy to finish strong.
Despite a niggle on the day of the race Danny went on to run a very strong race and looks to continue his excellent form for the races coming up. A little further afield it was a tight race between Scot and Gerry with Scot taking Gerry on the last bend and open up a gap with a sprint finish. Both Gerry and Sarah completed 2 from 3 of the races across the series with Sarah having a very good final race.
Results
27th – Dylan Crawford, 29:49
28th – Andy McCall, 30:09
78th – Danny McLaughlin, 35:30
129th – Scot Hill, 39:52
130th – Gerry Gallacher, 39:56
148th – Sarah Jane Whalen, 44:25
Devilla Forest 15k trail race – 12/2/23
Two Harriers returned to Devilla forest to participate on the 15km trail race. With both runners very familiar with the territory through their employment they were eager to see how they would go racing in the forest. Kev Craig was first Harrier home in 6th place with Greig Turner crossing the line in 56th place.
Results
6th – Kev Craig, 58m 7s
56th – Greig Turner, 1h 10m 20s
3k on the Green – 24/2/23
The “best wee race in Scotland” takes place on the last Friday of the month with Harriers toeing the line regularly. This month Andy McCall and William Taylor swapped their sandwiches for a blast at the 3k. For Andy it was a chance to stretch his legs ahead of the National XC the following day.
William started quickly in search for a new PB on the course. On the 2nd km William started to pay for a quick start but rallied to close the race in a time of 11:40 for 22nd place – 15 seconds quicker than January’s event. The following day William took part in the Greenock parkrun and ran a very similar time in the first 3km of the event.
At the sharp end of the race three athletes took to the front with Andy close on their heels. At the turn Andy moved into 2nd place and managed to open a gap on 3rd finishing in a new PB of 9 mins and 34 secs.
Results
2nd – Andy McCall, 9:34
22nd – William Taylor, 11:40
Track series, Half Marathon – 26/2/23
The 105 track series has proved to be popular with the GGH athletes since it started. Running laps of a track seems like a nightmare to a lot of runners but for others it’s an opportunity to race on a perfectly flat and accurate distance. It’s the type of race where you are never alone and the atmosphere is great.
No strangers to this event were Oliver and Fiona, both have podium positions and personal bests recorded at the event in the last few years.
Oliver Reilly was first home in 1:19:22 delighted to run sub 1:20 ahead of his London Marathon target. Next to cross the line finishing 2nd Female was the in form Fiona MacFarlane. Fiona smashed this race last year laying down an excellent half marathon PB, this year she took an incredible 4 minutes off her PB completing 52 laps in 1:38:48. Great prep again for London Marathon. Liza Brydon was next to finish and placing 4th female, just outside the podium positions. Debbie McKenzie continues her rich form rounding up an excellent day for Harriers in a time of 1:49:12.
Results
Oliver Reilly – 1:19:22
Fiona MacFarlane – 1:38:48
Liza Brydon – 1:42:10
Debbie McKenzie – 1:49:12
Alan Scally 4 x 5k Road Relays – 4/3/23
For the first time GGH managed to field a team at this event with 4 senior men traveling to Glasgow Green to take on some of the quickest runners in the country.
Leading the team out on the first leg was the in-form Dylan Crawford. On the back of his first club race victory Dylan set off looking to PB over the distance. Being involved in the first leg always ensures a fast race and Dylan was up for the challenge, he crossed the line in a time of 16 mins and 1 sec, taking a massive 22 seconds from his previous personal best time.
With the pressure on to keep the team up the field Dylan passed the baton to Ultra runner Kev Craig. Kev ran a strong race and was delighted to be within touching distance of his PB for the distance.
In leg 3 Neil Lafferty managed to claw back 5 places. Despite recent niggles Neil continues to produce excellent times and today was exception. Great signs of recovery.
On the anchor leg it was down to Stuart Greenway to see what he can produce having seen his club mates run so well. The top Harrier at the recent National XC produced another excellent performance bringing the team home in 27th place and his quickest 5k time since May 2022.
Results
Leg 1 – Dylan Crawford, 16:01
Leg 2 – Kev Craig, 17:26
Leg 3 – Neil Lafferty, 17:10
Leg 4 – Stuart Greenway, 16:38
Glasgow Uni Aquathlon – 5/3/23
Youngster Kyle Johnstone set out looking to make his mark on the Glasgow Uni Aquathlon. He started quick in the pool with a PB in the 750m swim in a time of 9:34 rounded off with a very respectable 5k time of 17:45. His total time of 28:02 was enough to take bronze, only 17 seconds off gold.
Down by the River 10k – 5/3/23
It was great to see the boys from Rothesay making a comeback to racing with Wes Pattison and Alan Poole completing the 10k race together.
Results
Wes Pattison – 38:29
Alan Poole – 38:30