Central AC clinch fourth title in a row

The Central Men’s squad confirmed their top flight status winning their fourth title in succession but the ladies had to be happy with bronze medals.

Central’s Men have again dominated the early season races in the East of Scotland but at Cumbernauld they anticipated strong competition from rivals Shettleston Harriers and Inverclyde Athletic Club. Indeed as the race of over 100 teams unfolded it was Shettleston’s Tsegai Tewelde who led with the fastest leg of the day covering the 4000 metre course in 12min 7secs. Inverclyde’s Andrew Douglas was in close pursuit (12.24) with Central’s Scott Green coping well with the favourite’s tag with a 12.33 effort in fifth. Alex Hendry (12.36) picked up Central’s second leg challenge making inroads to Shettleston’s lead catching some 10seconds on Kamil Sierecai (12.46) as Central moved into second with Inverclyde now some 27seconds behind. The third leg saw an excellent effort from Alastair Hay (12.30) as he moved Central through to first passing Shettleston’s Michael Deason to hand over a 16second lead to Andrew Butchart on the final leg. Inverclyde were still intent on pushing for Silver and reduced the gap to Shettleston to just 20seconds by the end of the third leg. The final leg saw Andrew extend Central’s lead to 38seconds with the second fastest leg of the day (12.18) while Shettleston’s Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab (12.35) held off Inverclyde’s Craig Ruddy (12.23) just 10seconds behind by the finish.

Central ladies knew they would have a fight on their hands over the same 4000metre course as the men, and fought a determined battle to come away with bronze medals. Jennifer Wetton (14.39) took on first leg with mass start and brought the team to changeover in contention and 6th place. Fiona Thompson (14.37) took off to peg back the lead. By halfway, she was heading the race and trying to build a lead for the final leg. Lyndsay Morrison faced the unenviable task of holding off other top teams, with Edinburgh, Fife and VPGlasgow just 22, 27 and 42 seconds behind respectively. Edinburgh’s Scottish cross country champion Madeleine Murray made up the deficit by mid-leg as they went on to victory, but the battle with Glasgow’s Josephine Moultrie was a much closer run thing with the gap closed about 800 metres from the finish with the VPCity of Glasgow colours looking set for runners up place. Any prospect of a reversal of fortunes disappeared as Lyndsay ended up on the deck on the slippery descent to the finish, bringing the team home 12 seconds adrift and a lap time of 15.03. Patricia Milne(17.00) produced a good run as she had a solo run on the first leg with 28th place at the time.

Central’s mens ‘B’ team of Jamie Crowe (12.34), Conan Caughey (13.07), Dale Colley (13.01) and Cameron Milne (12.54) finished in a fine fifth place overall less than a minute from the medals while Central’s ‘C’ team showed the Club’s strength in depth with tenth place through Iain Davies (13.29), Aidan Thompson (13.04), Lewis Millar (13.50) and Michael Wright (13.18). There was great effort from incomplete teams through Will Hensman (14.37). Jack Kerr (14.12) and Cameron Harris (14.00) also Kenny Hislop (17.18), Scott Brember (15.48) and Ian Dunsmore (16.23). Central’s Over 50’s finished sixth in that competition through Robin Mussett (16.22), David Eckersley (15.23) and Robert Hutchison (16.39) and there was further strong efforts in this category through Billy Mitchell (18.58), Raymond Milne (19.05), Hugh Kerr (18.05), Allan Gall (19.08), John Millar (21.37) and Cameron

Campbell (20.02). There was no less endeavour in the remaining incomplete Masters’ teams of Phil Williams (15.02), Bob Steel (15.37) and Donald Shaw (16.24) with the team in tenth after three legs.

Central’s Junior Boys teams each ran 2500metre legs with the ‘A’ team of Daniel Bruce (10.22), Keir Howlieson (9.12) and Jamie Wastling (10.12) finishing 27th overall with Keir running the fifth fastest Under 15 leg of the day. The ‘B’ team of Jacob Organ (10.52), Ben MacMillan (9.30) and Craig Palmer (10.03) all ran to form finishing in a useful 36th overall. Under 13’s Cameron Fraser (11.22) and Harris Almass (14.09) were the only runners in their incomplete teams but will have gained good experience here.

For the junior girls, Central’s ‘A’team came through to eighth place. Amy Kirkpatrick took on the under 13 leg one for the team (11.12), passing on to Rosie Eckersley (10.52) with Kate Gallagher taking on last under 17 leg, posting the second fastest time of the day (9.37). Central B team were 19th through Jessica Turnbull (11.13), Heather Scott (11.14) and Madeleine Woods (10.53). Katie Burr lead off the C team with 11.28, passing onto Skye Henderson (11.06) and a final lap by Jodie Currie (11.22) for 28th place. Darcy Baxter ( 12.44) , Elizabeth Thompson (11.18) and Lauryn Turnbull (10.41) 35th team. Fiona Davies (10:59) and Eleanor Hanson (11.46) ran as an incomplete team.