weekend round up, december 3&4

​Lindsays Scottish Athletics West District Cross Country Championships
Cat Macdonald and Anthony Janetta travelled over the Border at the weekend to take part in the above xc regional fixture at Kilmarnock.
Both representing Bellahouston Road Runners, Cat had a fine run to come home in 1st place in a time of 31 minutes 58 seconds, some 13 seconds ahead of the 2nd place runner, with some 129 finishers.
In the Senior and Masters Men’s race, Anthony was 121st and 21st Masters competitor. Some 276 ran.
 
Blyth Sands race
A combination of an easterly wind blowing a hoolie off the North Sea, shivering the timbers and whipping up a frothy spume across the beach, allied to a rising tide and slippery groynes, meant the 62nd Blyth Sands race was again not one for the faint-hearted.
Maybe some people had had a look out of the window early doors, as, despite a sell-out entry, there didn’t seem to be that many taking part.
Jim Alder ‘the younger’ was Morpeth’s sole representative. Running off a 7 minute handicap, Jim was 42nd, with evergreen 72 year old Mike Harris 7th off an 11 minute handicap.
The race was won by triathlete Steph Maclean Dann of NSP in 28:47. With NSP having four in the top six they comfortably won the team prize.

Mike Harris navigates one of the many obstacles at Blyth Sands

Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Marathon
Shaun Land had a better idea, flying South to take part in the morning’s Valencia Marathon, where he recorded his first sub 3-hour run over the distance, coming in at 2:58:21. The race was won in a time of 2:13:12  by Derek Hawkins of Leeds City AC with Natasha Cockram first female finisher in 2:26: 14.
 
Hexhamshire Hobble
Another event for those of a hardy disposition, there were some 71 finishers in the annual Hexhamshire Hobble organised by Allen Valley Striders.
With the redoubtable Jarlath Mckenna of Bristol and West AC breaking another course record to finish in a time of 1:02:07, two club members put recent injury problems behind them, with Richard Kirby the club’s 1st finisher, albeit in an NFR vest, 33rd in 1:35:14 and Gary 39th, also with NFR, in 1:38:00. Stocksfield Strider Claire Davies was 1st female finisher in 1:22:23 and 19th overall.
Steve Haswell was 38th in 1:37:37, with Jane Kirby, Anna Wright and Jennie Belton running together to finish in 40th, 41st and 42nd places in 1:38:08 and 1:38:10. ​