Senior/U20 Event Report 18th November 2025

The temperature has definitely started to take a dip, long format XC has started and the indoor season is on the horizon for our senior/U20 athletes – there is a lot going on, and as ever there is a lot of good news to report on!

We start this week’s report in Strathaven on Sunday the 2nd of November, where 4 hardy Harriers took on some very blustery and undulating conditions to run in the Strathaven Striders Run With the Wind 10k.  First across the line in 4th overall and 1st U20 was Matthew Monachello (35:20).  Matthew has been having a really good season and it’s great to see him lifting prizes!  Next back was Natalie Sharp (52:02), Jackie Duncan (53:57) and Sal Monachello (1:04:57) – great running from all on a tricky course.

The weekend of the 8th and the 9th was a busy one for racing, and we had Harriers representing at a number of events across the country. 

Saturday the 8th saw the return of the Newton Road Runners 10k in Cambuslang, where Jordan Phillips was 4th overall (34:22) and dad Jim Phillips was 24th overall and 2nd V50 in 38:28 – well done both!

Also on the 8th, a small team travelled to Lanark for the Lindsays Scottish Short Course XC champs.  In the ladies race, first home (and our only U20 representative) was Eve Starritt who finished 101st overall and 36th U20 in 16:19.  Next back was Jennifer Beattie in 142nd (13th V40) in 17:17 and rounding up the results for the ladies was Amanda Bryden in 212th (33rd V40) in 18:58.  For the men, Jonathon Downey was an excellent 31st overall in 12:05.  John Speirs was next back in 221st overall (9th V50) in 14:48, and Greig Glendinning was 246th (13th V50) in 15:13 – great running from all at this top level event.

On Sunday the 9th, it was an early start for some of our team as they took to the start line at Prestwick Airport for Run the Runway.  Unfortunately this is not a timed event so no formal results to report but Sal Monachello, Molly Hunter, Hannah Connell and Amanda Bryden all took part, raising vital funds for local charities – well done all!  We also had a couple of Harriers at Strathclyde Park for the Up and Running race series.  Natalie Sharp was our sole representative in the Half Marathon where she ran a big PB of 1:52:30 to finish 133rd (20th lady and 16th SW).  In the 10k, Richard Beattie was 177th overall and 1st V70 in 53:44.  Apologies for anyone I’ve missed, Up and Running do not list clubs on their results so I’ve had to rely on what I’ve seen on socials… Also on the 9th, we had 3 Harriers at the Bellahouston Road Runners Jimmy Irvine Bella 10k.  Calum Haswell was first back in 44:01, followed by Gillian Wishart who ran a great PB of 49:56, and Mandy Nimbley who completed the course in 1:05:47 – well done all!

Saturday the 15th saw the first of the long format XC events, with the Ayrshire XC champs taking place at Saltcoats over a new course which proved deceptively challenging between the mud and icy cold wind!  However, this did not stop our team from dominating the senior events.  In the men’s race, Jonathon Downey retained his title with a cracking 30:30 run.  This was ably backed up by first year U20 Jamie Work (who is really making his mark in the senior events already) taking second in 31:00 (1st U20).  Owen Walpole (5th in 32:14), John Speirs (8th in 33:46 and 1st V50), Mark Alexander (10th in 33:56) and Greig Glendinning (11th in 35:29) were the next 4 finishers to complete the 6 to score, ensuring that the team prize came back to Kilmarnock this year.  There were also strong runs from Callum Rennie (15th in 36:18), Rory Morris (17th in 36:35), David Anderson (18th in 36:51), Mark Saez (19th in 36:59), Gary Martin (21st in 37:10), Nick Carter (23rd in 37:36), Paul Black (31st in 40:53), Alasdair Murray (32nd in 42:25) and Ian Gebbie (35th in 45:20). In the ladies race it was another 1-2 for the club, with Lorna Baird taking the title in 35:01 and Sasha I’Anson second in 35:25.  Lynsey O’Connor (5th in 37:54) made up the top 3 ladies to bring home the team prize.  Kirsty Girvan was next back in a really strong XC debut (6th in 38:11), followed by Eve Starritt (7th in 38:30), Morgan McBurnie (8th in 39:14), Jennifer Beattie (9th in 39:40), Amanda Bryden (13th in 43:46), Cara Baillie (15th in 45:07) and Sophie Hepburn (also making her XC debut in 16th place, 45:09).  This is the second year in a row that our senior squads have won both relay titles, both long course team prizes and both long course champions – long may this continue!

Whilst the majority of the squad were slogging it round Saltcoats, Susan Boyd was representing team Scotland at the British and Irish Masters XC in Leeds in the V75 category in conditions that looked really challenging!  Susan was 4th in her age category and second counter for Scotland who took the silver medal on the day – well done Susan!

Sunday the 16th was another Up and Running event, this time at Bellahouston Park.  Apologies if I have missed your result on this one – please let me know and I’ll add it to the next report!  The results I do have however are a pleasure to report – Alison Mair was 1st V60 in a time of 52:51, and teammate Victoria Martin completed in 1:07:34 – great running ladies!

From a league perspective, things are starting to get interesting with 5 races completed.  In the U20 category we still only have Eve Starritt for the ladies (42 points) and Jamie Work for the men (27 points) – hopefully we will see some more U20 athletes competing soon, but these two athletes have had some excellent performances and will take some beating!  In the men’s league, Jonathon Downey holds the lead on a maximum score at this stage of 49 points.  He is closely followed by Greig Glendinning on 43, and John Speirs on 36.  In the ladies league, Jennifer Beattie currently holds the top spot with 44, but Lorna Baird is in hot pursuit with 34 and Amanda Bryden just behind her with 32 – definitely all still to play for! See the full tables here – winter 25.6 tables

The next race in the league is West Districts in Erskine on the 6th of December, followed by Cyclists v Harriers on the 14th of December (entries open now) and the Christmas Handicap on the 18th of December.