Masterful performance from Irvine Athletics Club

Feb 13 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

Irvine Athletics Club, Colin Miller

IRVINE Athletic Club’s veterans collected three medals as almost 300 runners descended on Irvine Moor for the Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships on Saturday afternoon.

Conditions were cold but sunny and there was a good turnout from the host club with Irvine runners in all male categories from Over 35 to Over 65 and the ladies competing in the Over 45, Over 50 and Over 55 categories.

A top three finish was achieved by Colin Miller who took bronze at Over 50, but the ladies went one better with Helen Morton claiming a silver medal at Over 50 and Liz McGarry doing likewise at Over 55.

Unfortunately Alex Allardyce just missed out on a medal after an excellent fourth placed finish in the Over 35s race.

Only one team award is made at the Scottish Masters which means that clubs which can field a complete team of 'younger veterans' have a greater chance of success.

The Irvine men's team of Alex Allardyce (Over 35), Dougie Connery (Over 40), Colin Miller and Brian Craig (both Over 50) did extremely well to finish in fifth place behind Cambuslang, Kilbarchan, Shettleston and Carnegie, while the ladies finished 11th in their team contest.

Special mention must go to Irvine’s Stevie Connell who made a successful return to competitive running after having one of his kidneys removed in October.

Irvine placings were. 12 Alex Allardyce (33 minutes 46 seconds); 31 ColinMiller (35.09); 46 Brian Craig (36.04); 55 Douglas Connery (36.49); 57 Ian Berryman (36.52); 106 Andy Rennie (40.36); 107 Jim Sneddon (40.54); 112 Jim White (41.38); 119 Fergie Collier (42.12); 152 Mike Flinn (46.18); 157 Bob Nicol (46.52); 163 Stevie Connell (49.59).

In the women’s race Helen Morton was 25th in 28.16,Liz McGarry was 54th in 31.48 and Mary Miller 58th in 32.18.