Action and titles from the SA National Cross Country 2023

Shettleston Harriers continued the great success our club has experienced over the years, in the race commonly referred to as The National. The date was Saturday 25^th February, and the venue was, as ever, Callendar Park in Falkirk. Conditions seemed to reflect the start of Spring with some sun and dry weather. Reminder it is still winter was given by the fact we are still experiencing minus conditions. This was a welcome change to previous years where we have had rain, sleet, snow, hail and blizzards. Even within the same race!

There was a strong turnout from our junior athletes, with great runs all round. Notable performances from Matthew Fox and Katie Woods who look to be continuing as they left off in 2023, after a strong 2022!

U13 Female

55          Mairi Stephen                    00:15:05              69          Orla Durkin                        00:15:31              

U13 Male

99          Lucas Millican                    00:15:15              

U15 Female

9            Katie Woods                      00:17:30              71          Emma Leiper                      00:20:53              

79          Kate Monaghan                 00:21:19              

U15 Male

21          Matthew Fox                      00:15:56              

U17 Male

45          Adam Clifford                    00:23:59 74          Joseph Reilly                      00:25:44

Shettleston Harriers won the first ever women’s national in 1930. It was a 6 x 1mile relay ran at Bothwell. Newspaper reports tell the story of women in distress after running the mile. On Saturday, the ladies ran 10km cross country to take another senior title!

New member Eilidh Bell was the highest placed in the team, winning the first Bill Scally Memorial Medal and award for first Shettleston finisher in the National. The senior ladies continued their superb run of form, winning the overall title from strong competition. Including a first national title for Moorfoot athlete Scout Adkin in some style.

This caps a tremendous cross country season having won the West District relays, 3^rd at National relays (first time ever), highest place for team in Short Course National 4km (5^th), represented UKA at the European Club Cross Country and now winning the National Cross country title! What a season!!! Team captain Avril Mason should be congratulated in pulling a fantastic squad together – every lady this year has been important in the events.

Senior Ladies

14          Eilidh Bell                           00:40:08              18          Anna Wallace                     00:40:55              

24          Aoife Carr                           00:41:36              25          Hannah Terrance               00:41:38              

26          Ruth Joss                            00:41:45              46          Holly Morrison                   00:43:28              

78          Tara Walker                       00:45:53              92          Kirsty Mann                       00:46:30              

112        Amy MacLellan                  00:47:37              190        Carly Monaghan                00:51:37

The senior men’s race was exciting with a closely fought battle between Jamie Crowe and Logan Rees at the front, with the Fife AC athlete returning from the US (and a considerable injury) to take his first national title.

There was double success with the senior men winning silver. Lachlan Oates was the first finisher at the national, and recipient of the Willie Laing Memorial Medal and the Flockhart award.

Shettleston men added to 55 medals won at the men’s national senior team event. This is the highest total for any club. On Saturday we had 4 men in the top 12 and 5 in the top 30. We also had the 2^nd highest total finishers of any club with 30. A big well done to all the runners.

Senior Men

6            Lachlan Oates                    MS    00:32:54              8            Jamie Burns        MS   00:32:57              

9            Ross Gollan                       MS    00:33:02              12          Seyd Taha Ghafari MS 00:33:24              

29          Daniel Bradford                 MS    00:34:20              41          Mark Mckelvie  MS    00:34:55              

49          Cameron Young                 MS    00:35:18              53          Robert Simpson   MS 00:35:23              

60          Matthew Turner                MS     00:35:34              66          Dan Dry      MS    00:35:54              

78          Philip Neilson                     MS     00:36:21              93          Lucas Cheskin  MS    00:36:43              

99          Sam Lesley   MS    00:36:56           101        Jethro Lennox MV45     00:37:03              

112        Fergus Donnelly   MS     00:37:20              138        Paul Sorrie              MV40     00:38:04              

150        Andrew Taylor       MS     00:38:36              173        Iain Pender         MS    00:39:10              

190        Scott McKelvie      MS     00:39:38              218        John Connaghan      MV50     00:40:23              

224        Daniel Lowe         MS    00:40:29              249        Andrew R Jackson  MS    00:41:01              

317        Johnj Duffy    MV55     00:42:31              371        Stephen Winter         MV45     00:43:54              

389        Gerard Pelegri    MS     00:44:16              438        John Oates                MV60     00:45:40              

581        Joseph Haughey   MV45     00:50:50              597        Stephen Clark    MS    00:51:30              

602        David Murphy     MV50     00:51:38              658        Gerard Mason      MV60     00:58:49              

This marks the end of the cross country season. Next up is our flagship event the Allan Scally Memorial Road Relay, and the club is looking for support with the organisation for any not running but able to attend. As ever a big thank you to all the coaches, parents and club officials who work so hard for the club