Medals with Laura Muir support at West District XC relays

The West District Relays returned to the excellent Alexandria Park course in the East End of Glasgow  for the 2^nd time in 3 years. Shettleston Harriers being the host to their 3^rd championship event 2023 following the Scottish 10km Championships and the Scottish Hill Running Championships in the Summer. With a yellow weather warning in force throughout the day due to heavy rain it was a tribute to the clubs efforts putting on the championships this year.

Before we highlight the excellent performances of the club athletes we must thank Bill Breckenridge and John Duffy and their team who arrived at 7am and spent the whole day making sure the course was set up and of course removed at the end of an exciting day of racing. Over 20 clubs members were involved setting up the course, officiating, running the café and feeding the officials.

A massive thank you to all of them. The club cannot exist without your help. Milnbank Sports Hub and especially John Gormlie are excellent community partners and provided the hub and support to hold the championships. They are key partners to the club.

46 club athletes took part over the 4 races and with one Gold and two Bronze medals, it was a great return for the club.

Ladies Results 

The ladies again provided the Golden moment taking the Senior Ladies title for the 2^nd year in a row. In an exciting race with Cambuslang H, Fionnuala Ross anchored the team home after Hannah Terrance and Lynn McKenna had put her in the position to clinch the title. Last weekend Fionnuala was in Riga (Latvia) competing for Ireland in the World Road Running championships where she finished 41^st in a time of 74.40 over the ½ Marathon distance. Avril Mason is putting together an excellent Ladies squad and it was highlighted with two other teams finishing 7^th & 8^th.

1^st Hannah Terrance (16.28)  Lynn McKenna (14.53 -2^nd fastest of the day)  Fionnuala Ross (14.35 -fastest of the day )

7^th Victoria Riddell (17.09 Holly Morrison (17.11), Charlene McCallum(17.58)

8^th Avril Mason (17.27) Emma Baird (17.33)  Amy Maclellan (18.10)

Incomplete team Elena Heger (16.68)  Caryl Monaghan (20.48)

Men’s results 

After a few years out of the medals the senior men added to the record haul by of any club at the District Relays  winning the bronze and adding to the total of 34 championships medals. All of the team winning their first West District Relay medal 

3^rd Lucas Cheskin (13.39)  Taha Ghafari(13.03)  Matthew Turner (13.38) Philip Neilson(13.30)

22^nd Andrew Taylor (14.17)  William Bradley (17.57) David Houston(15.49) Scott McKelvie (15.51)

Masters results 

Denis Williams has had a long time to wait – 46 years he tells us since his last West District team medal. With  the masters also  taking bronze in another exciting race with Jethro Lennox putting the club into medal position on the last leg. John Duffy after a long day also  manged a leg in the B Masters team 

3^rd Ronnie Strachan (15.56) Paul Sorrie (14.35) Denis Williams (17.06)  Jethro Lennox (14.47)

21^st John Oates (18.480 Bob Porteous(25.37)  David Murphy (19.16) John Duffy (17.45)

Girls Results 

It was great to see so many of our Young athletes having a go over the country for the first  time . In particular the young ladies  who are obviously gaining  inspiration for the senior ladies, breaking into the top 10 for the first time for many years

9^th Zoe Roberts (13.23)  Mairi Stephens (13.24)  Katie Woods (12.29)

29^th Eilidh Stephens  (15.11) Daisy (14.21) Emma Leiper(14.10)

37^th Charlotte Reilly (15.15) Imogen Millar(14.25) Katie Burns (14.42)

Incomplete Team Alexia Rigg (15.31) Katie Monaghan (14.25)

Boys results 

36^th Euan Grant-Pantry (13.50) Cameron McArdle (16.25) Matthew Fox (11.08)

37^th Ciaran Curley (15.11) Lucas Millican(15.36) Adam Clifford (11.20)

Incomplete team 

Times TBC John Storrie  & Joseph Reilly

Full results here

The club would like to thank Laura Muir who attend the event and as well as presenting medals and posing with lots of athletes for photos has donated two large bags of Nike clothing and shoes. A lot of young athletes are going to be very happy! Thank you Laura what a gesture.

Report by John Mackay