Senior/U20 Event Report 15th October 2025

Autumn has definitely arrived, we are back training under the lights and XC season is now underway!  Since our last report there has been a LOT going on – from the final outdoor track and field meets to the roads and the start of XC relays, our athletes have certainly been busy…

We start this week on the track at Grangemouth for the final Falkirk Victoria OG of the year on the 17th of September.  Our sole U20 athlete Matthew Monachello rounded off his track season in style with a heat win and fastest time of the meeting in the 800m with 1:59:07.  

Saturday the 27th of September saw Richard Beattie take part in the Kelpies Half Marathon where he finished 276th overall and 2nd V70 in 1:51:48 – great running Richard!

On the 28th of September, Mandy Nimbley was in Inverness for the River Ness 10k where she completed the course in 1:02:22 – well done Mandy!  Also on the 28th, Mark Alexander was competing in the Linlithgow 10k where he finished 21st overall and 2nd V40 in 37:05.  

The big one for a lot of our athletes however came around on the 5th of October, when the blue and white vests were out in force for the Great Scottish 10k and Half Marathon.  In the 10k, first back in 26th place overall in a cracking new PB of 33:38 was Jamie Work.  He was followed home by Greig Glendinning (39:36) then first Killie lady home Izzy Caufield in a fine PB of 41:48.  Stephen Emerson was next (45:28), followed by Amanda Bryden (45:40), Steven Vass (50:21), Hannah O’Shea (50:46), Viv Lambert (50:51), Ian Power (51:07), Natalie Sharp (51:10 PB), Rhona O’Neill (52:00), Alison Mair (52:31), Susan McGurn (53:38), Cameron McClymont (54:29), Alison Wales (58:54), Ken Wales (1:01:51), Victoria Martin (1:08:25), Catriona McCrindle (1:09:32), Hannah Connell (1:12:15), Catherine Hamilton (1:15:37) and finally Morgan McBurnie who was pacing a friend round in 1:25:52.

In the half marathon, Jonathon Downey made his debut at this distance a cracker – finishing in 1:11:58 in 21st place overall and 1st U20 athlete – huge congratulations Jonathon!  However this was far from the only fantastic Kilmarnock performance, with David McLure next home in 1:17:18, followed by Scott Masterton (1:18:50), Ross Granger (1:22:27) and Owen Walpole (1:22:55).  Another athlete making his HM debut was David Anderson who was next Harrier across the line in 1:29:19, closely followed by Nick Carter (1:29:44).  Shaun Dunbar (on 1:30 pacing duties) was next in 1:29:52 – excellent pacing!  Kirsty Girvan was first lady back in 1:33:05, followed by Sophie Granger (1:38:16).  Ryan Good was next Harrier home (1:42:16), followed by John Tougher (1:43:06), Jade Davis (1:46:24), Lauren Carter (1:54:37), Alastair Craig (1:54:37), Callum Rennie (1:59:58), and Thomas Samson (2:02:40).  Ian Power was back out on the course straight from the 10k, also running 2:02:40.  Robin Bourne was next finisher (2:03:33), followed by Amy Mitchell (2:10:10), Brian Keachie (2:12:15), Deborah Clark (2:23:27), Fiona Thomson (2:27:13) and Catriona Hastings (2:32:47) – huge congratulations to all our athletes who took part!

Moving on to the weekend just gone, the focus moved from road to XC, where we had 5 senior teams competing at the West District Relays at Kilmarnock.  Our ladies A team of Eve Starritt (15:47), Lorna Baird (14:39) and Morgan McBurnie (16:39) finished 17th out of 63 teams, with the B team of Katie Vallance (16:52), Jennifer Beattie (16:18) and Amanda Bryden (17:28) were 29th. In the men’s race the A team of Jonathon Downey (11:26, 8th fastest time of the day), David McLure (13:18), Owen Walpole (13:02) and Graeme Quinn (13:46) were 17th overall.  The masters men’s team of Nick Carter (15:09), John Speirs (14:09), David Anderson (14:59) and Greig Glendinning (14:27) were 43rd overall and 7th Masters team.  Finally our B team of Rory Morris (14:45), Paul Black (16:03), Gordon Sandler (16:06) and Murray McDonald (17:32) were 57th out of 80 teams.  Great running from all and a great warmup for Ayrshire Champs this weekend coming.

Finally, some hot off the press news coming from sunny Madeira where Laura Haggarty and Robert McHarg are competing in the EMACS European Masters Outdoors Championships.  In an extremely competitive and fast 1500m on Sunday evening, Laura delivered a fine PB of 4:41.01 to claim the European W40 silver medal – huge congratulations Laura!  The M60 final was a busy one with 14 athletes on the start line, but Rob kept out of trouble in another competitive race to deliver another silver medal in 4:37.83 – great running Rob, and fabulous to see 2 Kilmarnock athletes medalling at such a high level!

The next event on the calendar is the Ayrshire XC relays this Saturday at Rozelle – entries close on Wednesday so if you wish to compete please let Jennifer know ASAP, remember you do not have to be an SA member for this one so it’s a great opportunity to come and have a go!  Entries have been put forward for the National XC relays but we may still have a couple of spots – watch out on club socials.  Entries are currently open for National Short Course XC at Lanark through the Scottish Athletics events page – this is a self-funded event so if you want to do this one you need to do your own entry, don’t get caught out!  Entries for this one close Thursday the 23rd of October.

From a summer league perspective, it is not too late to submit your best Parkrun, HM and marathon times (Parkrun and HM 1/4/25 – 5/10/25 and marathon 1/4/25 up until 31/10/25) for points – please message Jennifer or email jenniferb_36@hotmail.com.

Winter league tables will be available after the completion of relays at the very latest!