Helensburgh AAC March roundup.
Excellent half-marathon performances
Helensburgh AAC ladies made a good solid start to the Scottish Athletics National Road Race Series at the Inverness half marathon on 9th March. The ladies team finished an excellent overall second team in 2007 and are looking at least to hold on to that position as the series becomes ever more competitive. Michelle Hetherington, Julia Henderson and Mary Louise Mac Quarrie finished 2nd team in 6th, 7th and 18th place respectively.
Closer to home a number of members ran at the Balloch to Clydebank half marathon; Paul Thomson finished in 10th place and first in his age category in an excellent time of 1h18.06 followed in by Euan Crumley in a personal best time of 1h35.38.
Clydebank 5K
Paul Thompson again scooped his age group prize at the Clydebank 5k on 15th March with Michelle Hetherington finishing in 3rd place overall. Gordon Howatt and Andrew Henderson both ran personal bests on this fast, flat course.
Foreign shores
A young at heart contingent travelled to the Prague Half Marathon on 29th March where, despite the local beer, Wilson Hamilton finished 30th in his age category in 1h53.09 with Jimmy Boyd coming in at 1h50.49. Jenny Fitzgerald ran the Berlin Half Marathon on 5th April.
Scottish Athletics
The World Cross Country came to Holyrood Park on 30th March. The 2nd race in the Scottish Athletics National Road Race Series kicked the day off with a hilly 5k around Arthur's Seat. The ladies team again ran well and finished 2nd team with back up provided by Claire Heasman and Madeline Robinson who, aged 13, ran a fantastic time of 22mins 43.
The Scottish Athletics Road Relays were held at a sunny Livingston on 5th April where Helensburgh entered 2 ladies teams and a men's team. The ladies A team finished in an excellent 8th place with their B team coming in in a plucky 27th place. Special mention must be made of Rachel Bailey and Christine Stanfield running in the club vest for the first time ever.
The men's team of six finished in 37th place.
Meanwhile Anna Wylie rehearsed for London with a bottle of beer in her goody bag at the Dunbar 10k.
Forthcoming marathons
Marathon man Gordon Howatt, who aims to run three Spring marathons this year, finished his first ever marathon in the heat of Barcelona on 2nd March in a creditable time of 3h53. The club wishes him and Anna Wylie all the best for the London Marathon this weekend. Gordon then runs Stockholm on 9th June. We also wish David Spy and Jan Fellowes well in the Lochaber Marathon later this month.