The Scottish athletics Awards night is a fantastic celebration of our sport and last year Club member John Mackay was awarded the Tom Stillie award for his contribution to our sport for over 50years.The club was delighted to hear this week we are shortlisted for the off track club of the year. The club will take a table at the event and if you would like to buy a ticket to join us please let John Mackay know ASAP. Shettleston Harriers have had an outstanding season over a variety of surfaces in the off track category – Road, Cross Country and Hill Running/Ultra Running in the season 2022-23.
The club has also contribute to our sport by hosting the Scottish 10km Championships (Glasgow Green) and the Scottish Hill Running Championships (Goatfell).This along with the biggest club road relay event in Scotland (Allan Scally Memorial Relay ) puts us in the fore front of athletics in Scotland.
The Senior ladies qualified for the European Clubs Cross Country championships for the first time after winning the British Trial at the Liverpool Cross challenge in November. This was a catalyst for the girls to have the best ever season winning the National Cross Country title for the first time, taking the National Road Relay title for the first time, breaking the course record, Winning the Scottish 5km team for the first time and finally winning the Scottish 10km team title for the first time.13 different ladies contributed to the different winning teams throughout the season and our female numbers continue to swell. The ladies also gained their first medals at the National Cross Country Relays winning the bronze medal .Finishing 5th at the Short course was also the highest the ladies have finished. Meaning while at District level they won the WD Relay title and finished 2nd in the District Cross Country .At an individual level Lynn McKenna won the 5km, a first for the club and Fionnuala Ross took a medal at the ½ marathon. International selection and district selection has also been achieved by a number of our ladies. The club has been keen to support the ladies to compete throughout the UK using funds to support their travel supplied by a donation by former Scottish internationalist Alistair Blamire.
In recent year the men have out shone the ladies but they still have had an incredible season by any standard . A record 56th team medal in the National Cross Country when they finished 2nd .A first team gold medal in the Marathon championships and a bronze team medal at the Short Course .At district level they achieved success by finishing 2nd at the cross country championships winning a record 40th team medal at West District level. Again the club supplied athletes at District and national level for international team’s selection .The club continues to support athletes from all back grounds with refugee athlete Taha Ghafari selected for the Refugee team for the World Cross Country Championships (Australia)and the European Cross country Championships (Italy).Weynay Ghebresilaasie continues to be one of the best marathon runners in Scotland finishing 2nd in the marathon championships .
At master level the club won medals at District level and national at the relays (National) and team medals at district /national at the cross country championships.
On the hills the club have developed a programme to encourage young athletes to try this section of our sport and former Hill running Scottish National Coach Malcolm Patterson has organised events to support this. A fantastic video to support this was produced and can be found on the club website –www.shettlestonharriers.org.uk
The club continues to have outstanding success on the hills with men team winning the Scottish Athletics team Championships at Goatfell with yet another lady picking up a Scottish athletics medal –Zoe Barber ,making it 14 different ladies with medals off track .Again club members picking up international vests on the hills .Last weekend the men clinched the Scottish Hill Runners team title with Dan Dry 1st and Harry Pullman 3rd in the individual championships .CJ McPhail took the silver and the ladies team was 3rd overall. Continuing the run of success Kenny Richmond took the M50 title
Flat&N Fast 5km
A new event has appeared on the calendar with a “Flat &N Fast” 5km taking place in West Lothian on Friday evening .12 Shettleston athletes took the opportunity to sample this graded event with 4 races over the flat 5km course .This was a great warmup for the West District Relays due to take place at our home course – Alexandria Park on the 7th October. The club has 18 teams entered over the 4 races.
Not running but can help on the day ? We need people to set up /take down the course ,work in the tuck shop or marshal -Please contact John Mackay with your name.
Results: Sam Lesley 15.48.8, Andrew Taylor 16.11.6, Cameron Wallace 16.49.3, Joshua Mirtle 16.54.3, Andrew Casey 16.59.3, Adam Clifford 17.18.9, Aoife Carr 18.05.7, Victoria Riddell 18.39, Kirsty Mann 18.55.4, Elena Heger 19.14.8, Ross Noble 19.29.2
Linlithgow10km
Paul Sorrie returned to the site of his numerous wins in the popular Linlithgow 10km. He took the M40 title finishing 6th 35.38 with Kirstin Vieria Da Lux finishing 11th overall in the ladies race 46.05
Win for Taha at Strathclyde Parkrun and other results
At Strathclyde Parkrun, Taha secured 1st place in a time of 16.14 with Fred Davies next Shettleston Harrier over the line in 11th place in a time of 19.35. Toby Hession finished in a time of 20.38.
The usual battles continued at Tollcross Parkrun, with Ronnie Strachan at the business end finishing 2nd place in a time of 18.15 with David Murphy finishing an excellent 5th place in 22.20. Bob Porteous finished in 26.42 and John Craig in 29.40.
At Victoria Parkrun Andrew Shields finished in a time of 23.19.
Finally, Melanie Hayes finished the Alness Parkrun and Jodie Waite finished the Palacerigg Country Parkrun.
Well done everyone !