Tinto yields prizes

Nov 19 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

THE athletes from Law and District Amateur Athletics Club were busy last weekend.

On Saturday four athletes competed in the Tinto Hill Race, a truly testing event which stretches fitness and resolve on the uphill section, and nerves and aching muscles on the breakneck downhill section.

All returned with prizes, although some also had bruises.

Luke Foss won the youngest age group race by a wide margin.

Julie Dobbin won the under-14 girls race and Nicola Lindsay won the under-16 girls race.

Pat Kelly finished in 156 place in the senior race and took second place in the over-60 age group.

On Sunday Pat, Julie and Nicola joined the rest of the cross-country runners at Kilmarnock to compete over what is one of the toughest cross country courses in Scotland and were part of another good showing from the club.

In the under-11 girls race Pamela McNicol was fifth, young sister Emily was seventh, Claire Cartledge 12th, Reagan Birren 14th and Kirsten Cowe 21st.

Kayleigh Marshall after running with one shoe since halfway, withdrew just yards from the finish.

In the under-11 boys race Evan Jones was sixth, Stephen Kelman 14th, Keiran Cubis 16th, Ross Wilson 17th, Darren Devine 21st and Mark Bradshaw 22nd.

In the under-13 girls race Sherelle Graham was 10th and Margaret Newell 33rd.

In the under-13 boys race Rory McLaughlin was seventh, Calum Lindsay 19th, Ryan Fernon 33rd, Stephen Murphy 36th and Steven Bryce 37th.

In the under-15 girls race Julie Dobbin was eighth, which was a really good performance after performing at the Tinto race the previous day.

Emma Bhatti was 13th and Samantha Stevenson 19th.

Ross Hill was fourth in the under 15 boys’ race followed by Daniel Graham in seventh.

Nicola Lindsay, although still feeling the effects of the Tinto race 24 hours previously, pulled clear of the field to win the under-17 women's race.

In the under-17 men's race Jonathan Velu was sixth, Dougie Frame 10th, Bobby Hill 13th, Thomas Lafferty 15th and Alan Robb 17th.

In the senior men's race Gary Grieve was sixth, Pat Kelly 26th and first over 60 man, John Thomson, 30th.

There were many good runs from the Law athletes, but special mention must be given to the under-11s and under-13s who had teams that finished in the medal positions.

The coaches Selina Bradshaw and Leslie McNicol can be proud of their young athletes.