CAMBUSLANG ATHLETES AND COACHES DO THE CLUB PROUD
Members of Cambuslang Harriers have been heavily involved in midweek and weekend road, track and hill competitions.
The Flat N Fast 3 and 5K events organized in mid April by Stride Athletics, whose director and founder is fellow Cambuslang Harrier Callum Matthews, attracted 29 club athletes. The course utilizes the new custom built 1km cycle circuit in Linlithgow thus ensuring an enclosed tarmacked loop, perfect for fast times. In the opening two 3K races U13 runners Brooke Walker and Carlo Brown both set personal bests when finishing 3rd and 4th in their heats. In the premier men’s event the leading 3 club athletes Jamie MacKinnon, Andrew McGill and Callum Tharme crossed the line in quick succession with less than 4 seconds separating them with their times ranging from 14.11 to 14.15. 3 others posted times of under 14.52. Gavin Smith on his return journey to full fitness clocked 14.36 with Kevan Harvey and Andrew Carey posting well deserved pbs of 14.45 and 14.52. Both Stuart Donnachie (15.00) and Rory Muir (in a pb of15.01) came tantalisingly close to a sub 15 minutes time. Chris McLew (15.13) and U20 Seonaidh MacInnes (15.40) completed the club’s involvement in this men’s A heat. In the corresponding female event Zoe Pflug (16.51) and Grace Drummond (17.25) delivered pbs while Eve MacKinnon ran a solid time of 17.37. In heat 3 Lewis Roddis and Zak Povey crossed the line together in times of 15.36.3 and 15.36.4. The next 3 club athletes over the line – Steven Fitzpatrick (15.40) and the 2 U20s Sam McCarthy (15.50) and Chris Black (16.02) lowered their pbs by 2, 38 and 18 seconds respectively. All 6 athletes in event 4 acquitted themselves well with the leading trio of Owen Leach (16.39), M50 Mark Gallacher (16.51) and Keir Crawford (16.54) breaking the 17 minutes barrier. Both Owen and Keir were rewarded with personal best times. New member M55 Steven Allen (17.08) in only his 2nd race after a lengthy injury had a competitive workout. U17 Euan Reid (17.20) gained valuable experience against older and more experienced opponents. There was a significant pb of 28 seconds for triathlete Lewis Anderson (17.31). In heat 5 coach Ross Noble (19.23) set a 9 seconds pb while W35 Marie Kane’s final sprint finish helped her to dip under 20 minutes by 4 seconds. Round 6 witnessed a strong positive performance from and significant pb for Natalie McWilliams (20.22).
The London and Manchester Marathons took centre stage during the last weekend of April. In London the consistent Steven Fitzpatrick achieved the excellent time of 2.33.55. In his last 3 marathons he has clocked a pb of 2.31, 2.32 and now 2.33. M55 Paul Donaldson made his debut at this distance and recorded 4 hours and 25 minutes. In the accompanying mini event in which he competed well Daibhidh Kinnaird had the honour of representing the Scottish U17 team. After finishing 3rd in the Senior Scottish Cross Country Championships and 2nd in the Scottish 10 Miles Championships Kevin Campbell’s debut marathon in warm conditions in Manchester was eagerly awaited. There was no anti climax as Kevin secured a close 3rd place in the very fast time of 2.17.38. Race winner Josh Griffiths, a 2.11 GB marathoner, only headed him by 42 seconds. Kenny was ably supported by experienced marathoner Fraser Stewart (2.24.54). M45 Arthur Calnan (2.54) and Tom Adams (2.56) did well in their first marathon to break the 3 hours barrier while M40 athletes Chris Campbell and Iain McNair can be well satisfied with their debutant times of 3.29 and 3.36. M50 Brian Campbell, no stranger to marathons, finished ahead of them in the useful time of 3.15.
The midweek Troon 10K in early May was next up on the events calendar. M45 Gordon Robertson’s impressive time of 32.28 sealed his win. Callum Wright was the next club athlete home in a pb of 37.40 which reduced his previous time by 68 seconds. M45 Paul Kernohan was only 4 seconds adrift. W35 Marie Kane (40.41) was another athlete to come away with a pb by 44 seconds. Remarkably Paul Donaldson only 10 days after his London Marathon managed to lower his pb by 8 seconds to 46.27.
The Shettleston Babcock 10K in Glasgow Green launched the first of three 10K Races with the other 2 being held in Dumbarton and Helensburgh. 18 Cambuslang runners lined up for the first event which also incorporated the West District Championships. With Ethiopian Omar Ahmed, a 28.27 athlete, and Logan Rees, the Scottish Cross Country Champion and a 28.30 10K performer himself on the starting line, a fast race was ensured. Cambuslang runner Ryan Thomson whose previous best time was 29.45 took up the challenge. The 3 athletes worked together on the twisting course before Ahmed surged ahead leaving the 2 Scottish athletes to contest 2nd and 3rd places. Both Logan and Ryan remained locked together until the former prised open a small gap in the sprint to the line. Ryan had the double consolation of taking 9 seconds off his pb and of being awarded the West District Gold Medal. Clubmate Callum Tharme’s excellent time of 30.04 gave him the West Silver Medal. Unfortunately there was no West Team Award but with Rory Muir (31.46) in support the men’s open team prize was ensured. Eve MacKinnon (35.50) scooped the West Women’s Individual Bronze Medal and led Zoe Pflug (35.56) and Catriona Bain (40.28) to the runner up spot in women’s open team competition. Both Zoe and Catriona recorded pbs. Our master ladies and men all fared well with club captain Kirsty O’Brien 5th W40, Jacqui Thomson 1st W60, Julie Reid 6th W40 and Erica Christie 2nd W60. M40 Ian Hodge recorded his fastest time for 3 years while Mark King was 3rd M50 and Chris Upson was the first M60 over the line followed by M45 Paul Kernohan, M50 Justin Carter, 4th M60 Dave Thom, M55 Iain Wallace and M40 Stephen Walker having a rare outing in open competition.
5 days later 34 Cambuslang athletes including 3 representing Glasgow University, Sam Gurling, Seonaidh MacInnes and Zak Povey assembled at Silverknowes to participate in the SRI Chinmoy Scottish 5K Road Championships. A red and white vest once again pushed race winner and new record holder, Logan Rees, all the way to the line. The first 3 Rees (14.04), the club’s Jamie MacKinnon (14.06) and Sean Chalmers (14.08) all broke the course record of 14.12. 4th and 6th spots went to Callum Tharme and Ryan Thomson thus ensuring a decisive team victory for the Cambuslang trio. Callum equalled the previous record with Ryan 4 seconds adrift. Unfortunately Callum went over on his ankle towards the finishing line but his momentum and adrenaline kept him going. However, he will require a period of rest. 35 men including 7 from Cambuslang broke the 15 minutes barrier. In addition to the 3 members of the winning team there were Gavin Smith (14.30), Cameron Smith (14.45), Andrew Carey (pb of 14.51), Rory Muir (pb of 14.54) and Sam Gurling (pb of 14.54). U20 Seonaidh MacInnes, Zak Povey and U20 Sam McCarthy finished very close together with times ranging from 15.19 to 15.26. Both Zak and Sam achieved pbs. A further 4 members achieved sub 17 minutes performances namely Chris Black, Steven Fitzpatrick, M50 silver medallist Mark Gallacher and Owen Leach. Another quartet comprising Keir Crawford, M50 Stephen Allen, Kevin Farmer who set a pb and M40 Richie Carr crossed the line with times between 17.08 to 17.21. M45 Paul Kernohan and M55 Charlie Thomson posted times of 18.01 and 18.35. It was great to have Charlie back racing again after a 2 years absence from the sport due to illness. Coach Ross Noble was only 4 seconds away from breaking 19.00 minutes but nonetheless was content to set a pb. Club president Des Dickson (19.39) narrowly missed out on the M60 bronze medal. M55 Iain Wallace and M45 David Scott were safely under 21 minutes and M55 Iain Crawford dipped under 24 minutes by 17 seconds.
In a similarly competitive senior women competition our 3 counters Eve MacKinnon, Katie Clubb who had travelled down from Lerwick and Grace Drummond were agonizingly 2 points short of claiming the bronze medals. The trio had packed well posting times of 17.10, 17.22 and 17.26. Catriona Bain was next in a pb of 19.21. Both Katie and Catriona are preparing for the Small Island Games to be held in Kirkwall in July as are Seonaidh and Lewis Anderson who did not participate in the 5K. Jacqueline Etherington whose training and racing has been hampered through injury in the last 2 years made her journey worthwhile from the North East of England to register a time of 19.34 for 9th place in W40 category. Only 4 seconds separated Natalie McWilliams and W40 Julie Reid whose time of 20.04 was a significant pb by 64 seconds. Bernie O’Neil’s sub 22 minutes run saw her finish 8th in the W50 age category. Erica Christie added another Scottish medal to her vast collection by taking 3rd place in the W60 age group. Spare a thought for Zoe Pflug who had hoped to race. Unfortunately she was unable to do so hampered by an existing twinge which flared up in her warm up.
The following day Moira Stewartova continued her build up after having recovered from injury and took first place with a time of 16.09 in the inaugural senior Czech 5K road race.
The 2nd Babcock 10K took place 6 days later at Dumbarton. Jacqui Thomson and Erica Christie were the only female representatives and distinguished themselves by finishing 1st and 3rd in the W60 age group. Colin Reilly was the first club athlete home finishing 2nd M40 in the good time of 32.48. Kevin Farmer squeezed under 37 minutes with M40 Paul Kernohan a little over 38 minutes. M55 Tony McCutcheon (40.30) fared well 43 seconds ahead of M40 Gary Lyon. M55 Iain Wallace and Dougie Gillon crossed the line in close proximity in around 42.30.
The final holiday weekend of May served up 3 road events in the Mull of Kintyre, Stornoway and Edinburgh. M40 Andrew Anderson in his first race since the Inverness Half Marathon in March led the field home. Local athlete Jennifer Reid took 2nd W50 spot, a position she replicated several weeks earlier in the Balfron 10K. Unfortunately her husband Kenny is still sidelined with a persistent knee problem. M65 Eddie Carr also performed well in his age group.
A small group of club athletes travelled to Stornoway to contest the 10K and Half Marathon events. In form Rory Muir was a clear winner of the 10K setting a course record of 32.26 in the process. Catriona Bain racing on her home island and running in the colours of Stornoway AC finished runner up in the female competition. Her Cambuslang team mates Marie Kane, Natalie McWilliams and Rachel Wardrope closed in in 4th, 5th and 7th positions. Kathmar Dow also had an excellent run to lift the W50 prize. Coach Iain Crawford and Kathmar’s husband Colin participated in the longer half marathon event.
8 Cambuslang athletes made a shorter journey through to Edinburgh for the Half and full Marathon Runs. At the longer distance M40 Ross Mullen did very well to clock 2.53 in the difficult conditions. Chris Cox, Callum Wright and Russell Chan in their first ever marathon clocked times of 3.10, 3.23 and 4.10. A close contest took place in the half marathon between Kirsty Wright and Zara Higgins. Kirsty’s time of 1.34.10 just edged Zara by 7 seconds. Jonathan Anderson who previously ran for the club as an U13 crossed the line just under 2 minutes behind and in so doing set a pb. M60 Iain Kinnear (1.47) gave a good account of himself.
The Babcock Helensburgh was the final event in the series. Only 5 red and white athletes participated. The leading club runner home, Kevin Farmer, equalled his time for the previous Dumbarton 10K. The remaining 4 athletes, M40 Paul Kernohan, M55 Iain Wallace and W60 masters Jacqui Thomson and Erica Christie took part in all 3 events in the series. Both Paul and Iain did it the hard way. Due to train cancellations they arrived late but were kindly allowed by the officials to set off 20 minutes after the official start. They eventually caught up with the backmarkers and proceeded to overtake some. Paul was timed at 39.46 and Iain at 43.06. Jacqui and Erica again achieved first and second in their age category.
The Friday evening Helix Pond Races held in Falkirk offered runners a choice of a one mile or a 3K race. Steven Fitzpatrick’s speedy time of 4.38 for the mile made him the pick of the Cambuslang bunch with Tom Adams and Kevin Farmer next in 5.02 and 5.13. M50s Iain Wallace and Chris Paton posted times of 6.03 and 6.24. In the 3K A race runner up Rory Muir clocked a pb of 8.39 followed by M40s Iain Hodge and Richie Carr with times of 9.59 and 10.02. In the B event M65 Des Dickson, W60 Jacqui Thomson, Natalie McWilliams and W55 Bernie O’Neil were respectively timed at 11.22, 11.50, 11.57 and 12.50. Natalie achieved a pb so as not to be outdone by her fiancé Rory. In terms of overall age graded performances Jacqui, Des, Kevin, Bernie, Iain and Steven finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.
The Kilmarnock Roon the Toon 10K incorporating the Scottish Road Championships in early June attracted a field of over 2000 competitors. It proved to be a very successful day for Cambuslang Harriers as they left the town with the senior women’s team award, the senior men’s team silver medals plus 3 individual age group medals. In recent years the senior ladies have twice captured the bronze medals. However, this year, thanks to Eve MacKinnon, Katie Clubb and Kirsty Wright, the Scottish women’s team title was secured for the first time. Later at the medal ceremony they were presented with their medals by Cambuslang’s Mike Johnston in his capacity as the Scottish Road and Cross Country Convenor. Eve (36.24) and Katie (in a pb of 36.48) spearheaded the women’s challenge while Kirsty (41.08) played her part admirably in completing the team as 3rd counter. W60 gold medallist Erica Christie continued her prolific run of sweeping up age category medals. On being informed of her achievement she was naturally delighted. It was great to have W40 Lesley McArdle racing again in the red and white vest. Although she moved to London in 2019 on account of her work she still enjoys competing for the club whenever she comes home to Scotland.
The senior men’s team consisting of 2 M40 runners Colin Reilly (32.35) and Gordon Robertson (32.56) along with Stuart Donnachie (32.36) all finished within 21 seconds of one another to land team silver medals. By way of a further bonus Colin was presented with the M40 individual silver medal. Gordon now in the M45 category has been competing and winning national individual and team medals since he joined the club as an U13 athlete. The next club athlete over the line was another master Stuart Gibson (33.39). Unfortunately there was no M40 team award which if allowed would have gone to Cambuslang. This would have been the case too for our M50 athletes. Steven Fitzpatrick recovering from a cold ran a solid time of 34.13. One of the star performances of the day came from relatively new member Stephen Allen. Stephen endured a lengthy 10 months absence from the sport due to injury. He has gradually been building up his training and fitness since March. His recent times over 1500M and 5K have demonstrated evidence of his progression. However, everything fell into place for him in the 10K as he scooped the M50 gold medal in a time of exactly 35 minutes. Stephen was naturally elated by his victory. Fellow M50 Mark Gallacher just missed out on the bronze medal by 5 seconds. M50 Justin Carter who is currently going through a low key period was 94 seconds behind Mark and the consistent M45 Paul Kernohan was again comfortably under the 40 minutes mark. A group of more mature Cambuslang athletes in the M55 and over age categories involving Iain Wallace, Eddie Carr, Iain Kinnear, Paul Donaldson and John Henderson filed over the finishing line in times from 43.26 to 47.25.
The 5 club athletes who contested the Kirkintilloch 10K did well in their respective age groups. Chris Upson finished 1st M60, Mark King 2nd M55, Marie Kane 3rd W35, Julie Reid 2nd W40 and Erica Christie 3rd W65. Similarly Paul Kernohan was 1st M45 in the Morpeth 10K.
The separately organised Men and Women’s 10K Glasgow Events held on Father’s Day attracted large fields. In the former race M40 Andrew Anderson was the leading club athlete to cross the line in just over 35 minutes. 4 other athletes, namely new member Mark McGurk, Dale Woods, Gerard Higgins, and Mark Jardine, followed with times ranging from 37.03 to 39.14. Ross Noble lost out on a sub 40 minutes clocking by 5 seconds with the M55 pair of Chris Paton and Paul Donaldson being timed at 45.53 and 46.30. This was the first time Chris had gone under 46 minutes and he was understandably delighted. Newcomer Mark also set a pb. In the women’s race both Zara Higgins (42.05) and Kathryn (43.22) finished well up the field in 11th and 22nd positions.
Cambuslang athletes have also been active in track competitions. John Frood with a time of 2.04 was the quickest of our 4 U17 800M entrants at the GAA Miler Meet at Crown Point in late April. In his wake Rory Barclay, Angus O’Neil and Jack Gillon all set pbs. The Scottish 10000M Track Championships was also included in the programme. It was a profitable evening for 5 members. M40 Colin Reilly and M60 Chris Upson lifted gold medal with silver awards going to senior woman Katie Clubb, M40 Stuart Gibson and M55 Mark King. Although not among the medals Andrew Carey made a significant breakthrough in the senior men’s heat to break the 31 minutes barrier thus taking 78 seconds off his pb. His outstanding performance followed on one week from his first sub 15 minutes 5K clocking.
At the same time Moira Stewartova had her first race outing after having had a troublesome injury which curtailed her early 2025 racing programme. She duly took the Czech senior women’s 10000M title.
Scottish 1500M champion and sub 4 minutes miler Andrew McGill started his track season by competing in 3 rounds in successive days of the BUCS Athletics Championships in the first week of May. In a highly competitive final he came home 10th with his quickest time (3.47) over the 3 races being achieved in round one.
John Frood set a pb of 4.50.88 to be crowned the West District U17 1500M Steeplechase Champion. His same age group teammate Daibhidh Kinnaird (4.09.95), although setting a 5 seconds pb for the flat 1500M, just missed out on the bronze medal.
Both Stefanie Tucker and Andrew McGill had the honour of representing Scotland in the prestigious Loughborough International Meeting. Stefanie opened her outdoor track 2025 account with a useful 3000M time of 9.39. Andrew (4.07) in the one mile event was fractionally denied victory on the line.
The Lanarkshire 3 x 800M relays held at Cumbernauld saw Cambuslang athletes gain 3 medals. The senior ladies trio of Rachel Wardrope, Catriona Bain and Marie Kane and the U17 A team of Euan Reid, John Frood and Daibhidh Kinnaird took the gold medals with the U17 B team of Angus O’Neil, Rory Barclay and Jack Gillon gaining the bronze medals.
The Open Graded Stirling University Track Meeting presented U20 Chris Black the opportunity to record a 1500M pb of 4.08 on his home university track. Stephen Allen in his first outdoor track race for 20 months posted the excellent time of 4.28 which ranked him as 3rd in the M55 UK rankings.
At the Livingston Open Graded Meeting there were 800M pbs for U15 Brooke Walker (2.30) and U17 Angus O’Neil (2.09). John Frood and Euan Reid recorded season bests of 2.03 and 2.08.
10 club athletes participated in the 3000M events held within the GAA Miler Meeting on the 30th May. In the men’s A race Andrew McGill sat with pacemaker Jack Patton of Kilbarchan before running in isolation over the last 1KM. He crossed the line well clear in a new pb of 8.06.10. Club mate Gavin Smith snatched an excellent 3rd place in a time of 8.14.22, an indication he is getting back to his best form. Cameron Smith (8.24.29) 3rd in the B race is also another athlete approaching his best form after a lengthy injury. In the same heat Lewis Roddis in his usual gutsy manner produced a pb of 8.44.61. In another heat Seonaidh MacInnes broke the tape with a new pb of 8.51.56. U20 Chris Black also recorded a pb of 9.18.91. Stefanie Tucker competed well to fractionally improve her outdoor pb time of 9.21.63 while Eve MacKinnon performed solidly in a time of 9.52.77. U17 Angus O’Neil not having run a 3000M on the track before was placed in a slower heat. He ignored the pacemaker right from the start and solo ran a strong time of 9.26.53. M55 Stephen Allan (9.50.08) got another race under his belt as part of his plan to race himself fit. There were some additional 800M races. Rory Muir took the opportunity to record his fastest time (1.55.75) in a number of years. Fraser Stewart and Ally Campbell who acted as pacemakers deserve our thanks.
Stefanie Tucker ventured south to Birmingham at the start of June to compete in the BMC Grand Prix. In a star studded domestic field she acquitted herself well (16.32.09) in a time just 3 seconds outside her pb.
There was further Cambuslang track involvement the following week again in Birmingham, Belfast and Grangemouth. Ryan Thomson was originally given a place in the B Heat of the UK 10000M Championships. However, the day prior to the event he was informed that he was being promoted to the much faster A heat. How does an athlete react? He or she either freezes or embraces the challenge. Ryan chose the latter. He ran an intelligent race pacing himself well (splits of 14.24/14.33) and finished strongly to claim a superb 4th place in a UK Championship. In so doing he not only went under 30 minutes for the first time but broke the 29 minutes barrier. His time of 28.57.12 currently puts him in 3rd place on the 2025 Scottish rankings, 8 and 5 seconds behind Scott Stirling and Logan Rees.
U23 Andrew McGill made the short journey to Belfast to feature in the BMC Records Breaker Meeting. There was nothing he could do on the day in the one mile race to hold onto race winner, Nick Griggs of Ireland. However, in a multi scramble to the line his fast finish gave him 2nd place in the excellent time of 4.00.43. Less than 1 second covered the 2nd to 7th finishers.
Several club athletes represented their schools in the Scottish Secondary Track Championships held at Grangemouth. In the Girls C Age Group Brooke Walker was 5th in her 800M heat. In the Boys B Age Group over the same distance John Frood qualified for the final in which he came 7th. Both Rory Barclay and Jack Gillon also contested the heats. Ewan Reid and Jack Gillon participated in the B Age Group 1500M heats in which Euan narrowly missed out on a place in the final. Again in Group B Daibhidh Kinnaird was just pipped for the bronze 3000M medal. However, he had the satisfaction of recording the excellent time of 8.54. Over the same distance in Group A Sam McCarthy set a good pb of 9.03 for 5th spot while Alex Gillies ended up 10th in the 1500M final.
Olympian marathon runner Moira Stewart improved her personal 5000M pb and her own Cambuslang record to 15.23.1 in the Vienna Track Night Meeting. Her focus over the summer will be to build up for the World Half Marathon Championships in September.
M65 Hill specialist Colin Donnelly has taken part in the first 3 nominated events in the Scottish Hill Running Championships namely Screel (short race), Yetholm (medium race) and Stuc a’Chroin (long race). He is currently in the lead in the separate M60 and M65 categories having taken maximum points in both age groups. Additionally the Yetholm Event counted as the one off Scottish Championship Race with Colin being awarded the M60 title. Richard Cooper who has contested a short and long event is lying 4th M50. All contenders are required to complete one short, one medium and one long event and their 4th event can come from any of the 3 distances.
Walter Henderson successfully undertook 2 ultra distance events on the hills in late April and mid May. He came home 3rd M55 (4 hours 12 minutes and 55 seconds) in the 3 Peaks Race which is billed as the “Marathon with mountains”. Although a little under the marathon distance at 24.2 miles that’s more than made up for by the 1,600 metres elevation gain. This was a mere sprint compared to his next ultra trail venture in Snowdinia. Incredibly the race distance was 104 kilometers with an elevation gain of 6,460 metres. Walter, with a time of 19 hours, 13 minutes and 41 seconds, finished a superb 3rd in the M55 international category.
M35 Fraser Stewart travelled over to Arran on the same weekend for the Goatfell Hill Race. In very warm conditions the 2.18 marathoner had a useful workout in 10th spot.
The ubiquitous and indefatigable Chris Upson who is equally adept on road, track, country and hills headed for Sicily to participate in the European Mountain Running Championships. Unlike many athletes who would target one or at the most 2 of the 3 events Chris believes in getting his money worth. Therefore, he lined up for all 3 events and was rewarded with a European M60 individual silver along with a GB M60 team silver and 2 gold medals. His first race, an up and downhill event, saw him finish 5th and gain him team silver. His 2nd race, a vertical climb only, near to the summit of Mount Etna (which spectacularly erupted the following week) resulted in his individual silver and team gold. His 2nd team gold came in the long distance mountain event. Chris left the island as the most GB decorated medallist which was not a bad achievement for someone who only participated to “take a break from fast track running”.
5 Cambuslang athletes ventured into Fife for the Black Rock 5 miles Beach Race. M65 Dave Thom headed M50 Kenny Finlayson and his son Cameron in the under 20 category , M50 Iain Crawford and W50 Jacqueline McLew.
Club captain Kirsty O’Brien started off her triathlon summer season by winning the masters event in the Lochore Meadows Sprint Triathlon. This was a useful warm up for the various Scottish Championships to come in which she is most likely to prominently feature. M50 Brian Campbell dipped his feet in the water so to speak in a taster triathlon event.
A special thanks is due to all our coaches who freely give up their time to prepare our athletes for competition.
David Cooney
