West District and Club Cross Country Championships

On Saturday, Irvine Royal Academy was the venue for the West District Cross Country Championships. It was also the race chosen to decide the 2011 DRC Championships with David Parrish and Allie Wilson taking the honours for the year.... Jim Buchanan reports.... 

"On Saturday we were heroically represented by the womans team of Allie Wilson, Susan Gallagher, Gemma Leadbetter and Jo Needham, and a depleted mens team of David Parrish, Jim Buchanan, Alan Baxter and Les Hill. Two team members succumbed to injury, with Craig Malcolmson making the journey, but in view of the muddy conditions deciding not to risk further injury. The weather was much kinder on the day than throughout the previous week but most of the course was sodden and this gradually churned up into glutinous mud during the day, with an icy wind to numb any part of the body not fully immersed. The women had a two lap course of approx 4 miles with the mens' race being a three lap course of approx 6 miles.

The sensible order of the day was to set a steady pace and stick to it , as every lap became more energy sapping with two hills (steep up and down sides) to do on each circuit. We each seemed to find our own pace on the first circuit hence there was little team running, more a case of personal survival! There was a palpable sense of relief after the race as we warmed ourselves with good humour, exploring the many possible reasons for so much velcro on one of the other team's all-in-one winter-warmer.... I digress, but really, you should have been there."

 

DRC Results:

Ladies:

Allie Wilson, 46th, 28:48

Susan Gallagher, 67th, 31:08

Gemma Leadbetter, 98th, 35:51

Jo Needham, 100th, 36:46

 

Men:

David Parrish, 50th, 35:10

Jim Buchanan, 69th, 36:10

Alan Baxter, 110th, 38:07

Les Hill, 141st, 40:47