The school run — of a different kind

Oct 3 2007 By Judith Tonner, Wishaw Press

PUPILS from Clyde Valley, Coltness and St Aidan’s High Schools were among more than a thousand big-hearted teenagers who took part in last Sunday’s inaugural St Andrew’s Hospice schools’ road race.

A total of 1153 teenagers from all over Wishaw and district joined counterparts representing 37 schools across Lanarkshire for the 6km race at Strathclyde Park, for which they were joined by 357 members of staff from the county’s primaries and secondaries.

St Aidan’s runner Connor McCann won the boys’ race and also claimed third spot in the overall rankings among the 1500-strong field — behind winning teacher David Gardiner, who teaches PE at Braidhurst High and is a member of Motherwell AC.

Dionne Rice from Brannock High was second in the girls’ race, while there was a South Lanarkshire clean sweep in the schools’ challenge cup, with Lesmahagow High winning ahead of John Ogilvie and Uddingston Grammar.

Hospice fundraising director Sam Lavery hailed the enthusiastic youngsters as the “best in Scotland” for their keen participation in the first schools’ race of its kind run by the Airdrie charity.

Senior pupils were previously invited to take part in the hospice’s annual 10km race, but the response from local schools was so overwhelming that the special 6km event was set up — and the field of 1510 plus the 800 who ran last week’s adult 10km race easily outstripped the previous record entry of 1323.

Mr Lavery said: “We were delighted by the race, the turnout and the fantastic atmosphere, and to me, this is yet another example of how the huge majority of teenagers in Lanarkshire, who are fun-loving and modern, are also gutsy, big-hearted, caring and generous.

“I told the youngsters that they are the best in Scotland and I am absolutely convinced that no other provincial charity, probably no national charity, could attract more than 1150 teenagers to turn out and run their hearts out in a Sunday morning 6km event.

“The hospice has to raise £39,000 each week and we simply couldn’t balance the books without the support of the adult public, the business community and the youngsters of Lanarkshire.

“Lanarkshire’s pupils and staff give us fantastic support by doing their best to raise sponsorship for patient care, and we extend our sincere thanks to them, their families and the staff members.”

A combination of serious runners and fun runners took part, with many wearing fancy dress; an impromptu awards ceremony after the race honoured the efforts of four pyjama girls, two angels and a nun.

Pre-race entertainment was provided by cheerleaders from Coatbridge and John Ogilvie High Schools and hip-hop dancers from the Monklands school, who earned warm applause from the thousand-strong crowd of spectators.

The full race results were —

Male pupils: 1, Connor McCann, St Aidan’s; 2, Stephen Reilly, St Andrew’s & St Bride’s; 3, James Zak Hunter, Holy Cross.

Female pupils: 1, Stephanie Wright, Duncanrig Secondary; 2, Dionne Rice, Brannock; 3, Natalie Andrew, Coatbridge High.

Male staff: 1, David Gardiner, Braidhurst; 2, Ross Anderson, Hamilton Grammar; 3, James Connelly, Rosehall.

Female staff: 1, Diane Cleland, St Andrew’s & St Bride’s; 2, Collette Coyle, St Maurice’s; 3, Edith Forrester, Our Lady’s, Cumbernauld.

Schools’ challenge cup: 1, Lesmahagow High; 2, John Ogilvie High, 3, Uddingston Grammar.

Captions —

(

(wp 309407 0310 schoolrun2) Best foot forward: Runners from Clyde Valley High were among the 1500-strong field. wp309407

(

(wp 309807 0310 schoolrun6) Team effort: Brannock High were among the dozens of Lanarkshire secondaries taking part in the event. wp309807