500 Frolic in Fife Mud Bath

25 NOV2009

Carnegie Harriers hosted the second event in the East District Cross Country League in Dunfermline on Sunday, November 22. Despite the heavy going terrain, almost 500 runners battled their way through the muddy Fife fields in the various races.

Young Lassies Run Through the Fife Puddles

An impressive total of some 75 women, representing 17 different clubs, rose to the challenge of the tricky 6km course. Youth was the difference on the day, with Central's 18 year old Catriona Buchanan continuing her fine form, which saw her winning last month's British & Irish Junior Home Internationals, to earn Gold in a time of 22:51. Silver went to, slightly older, Hunter Bog Trotter Sula Young (30) who finished in 23:13 with Edinburgh AC's vet Jenny MacLean, in her last race as a 35 year old, earning Bronze in 23:27.

Buchanan's Golds

It was double Gold for Buchanan whose fine performance helped Central AC to win the Women's Team prize, ahead of second placed Edinburgh AC and third placed Gala Harriers.

Brown Shirts to the Fore

In a field of 182 runners, it was the brown shirt of Murray Strain which crossed the line first in the men's race. The 26 year old Hunter Bog Trotter managed to negotiate the 8.1km mud fest in an impressive time of 28:52. Central's 29 year old Ross Houston fought off the challenge from Pitreavie's 25 year old John Newsom to earn second place with a time of 29:15, two seconds ahead of his four year junior.

Half Hour Hunter

HBT's 42 year old Steven Cairns won the vet's race in half an hour. The Northern Irishman finished in 30:00, eleven seconds ahead of club mate Phil Mowbray who helped ensure that the Holyrood Park based club took Gold in the team event. Houston helped Central achieve second place with Corstorphine AC placing third out of a tremendous total of 35 men's teams.

Full Results

Photos from www.roadrunpics.com