Hamilton Sports Council 1k and 5k races were success

Nov 5 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DESPITE torrential rain, last Sunday’s Hamilton Sports Council 1k and 5k races were a success.

Competitors, supporters and organisers were drenched but 120 lined up at the start and 92 finished.

South Lanarkshire Provost Russell Clearie fired the gun to begin the main race.

The number of entrants for the Junior 1k race was a disappointing nine but there were some quality performances from the youngsters, in particular the girls.

The winner was well-known Hamilton athlete Mhairi Hendry, with Hannah Ferguson second and Jill Cherry in third.

First boy home was Nathan Merchant and he was followed by Jack Cathcart and Cameron Brown.

The senior race took runners through the tunnel under the M74 and over the bridge into Strathclyde Park.

Unfortunately the torrential rain had flooded the underpass to a depth of more than six inches – with many competitors joking that the event had turned into a steeplechase!

The men’s race was won by local athlete Gary Grieve in 16mins 28secs, a remarkable time considering the conditions.

Runner-up was Gary Mooney, with Grant Sheldon in third.

An honourable mention goes to Blantyre veteran Jim Breen, who finished fourth.

Not far behind the leading men was the winner of the women’s race, Lynne Murray from Laurieston, followed by Joanne Clark of Bothwell and Motherwell’s IIlona Clark.

Both Hamilton Harriers and Motherwell Athletic Club were well represented in the race, but the biggest “team” to enter were runners from First Response.

Despite the fact that the race took place on the day after Hallowe’en, there were few runners in fancy dress.

However, Silvertonhill man Crawford Gilliland, who has run dozens of marathons to raise money for charity in the last 20 years, turned up in his “Balloonatic” outfit.

Hamilton Sports Council chairman, Councillor Graeme Horne, said: “We couldn’t have picked a wetter day for the races but we were delighted at the number of runners who braved the weather and made all our organising efforts worthwhile.

“As is always the case with events like this, without the efforts and contributions of a huge number of people it would not have been possible. I’d like to thank them all. In particular our sponsors, South Lanarkshire Leisure, Botterills, Highland Spring, Athelite, GT4 and ACE Physiotherapy.

“In addition, we are grateful to Glasgow Hire Centre on Whistleberry Road and their manager Keith McIntyre, who lent us a Portakabin to use as our HQ for the races.

“Thanks also to Marion Wotherspoon at South Lanarkshire Leisure for her clerical assistance and to the senior pupils and staff from Uddingston Grammar School, who acted as marshals at the races.”

David Nugent from ACE Physiotherapy was the guest starter for the junior race.

The top 10 finishers in the 5k race were:

1 - Gary Grieve (Carluke) 16.28; 2 - Gary Mooney (Bothwell) 17.17; 3 - Grant Sheldon (West Craigs) 17.26; 4 - Andy McLinden (Bothwell) 18.07; 5 - Benjamin Hands (Lanark) 18.14; 6 - Alan Tate 18.22; 7 - Brian McLinden (Motherwell) 18.46; 8 - Nicholas Hughes (Uddingston) 18.51; 9 - David Murray (Laurieston) 18.55; 10 - David Sutherland (Hamilton) 19.39.

Top five finishers in the 1k junior race were:

1 - Mhairi Hendry (Hamilton) 4.01; 2 - Hannah Ferguson (Motherwell) 4.03; 3 - Nathan Merchant (Hamilton) 4.21; 4 - Jill Cherry (Motherwell) 4.23; 5 - Jack Cathcart, 4.23.