FIRST up at the weekend for Ron's Runners was a cross country competition at Kilmarnock where Ayrshire Harriers held their annual cross country relay championships and the following day saw members take part in the 13.8 mile Antonine trail race.
At Kilmarnock the club fielded two teams in each of the men’s and ladies races where all the teams and all those running should feel justly pleased with the finishing results. The men required 4 runners per team to the ladies three and all runners had to run 4000m in each leg.

The “A” team for the men contained some who had at least previous, though limited, experience of cross country running  but the “B” comprised not only untried cross country runners but had  two representing  the younger club members, being just out of their teens.
It was the same story for the ladies with only three having enjoyed country running before, the others harking back to their dreaded “schools experience” and despite assurance they would enjoy the challenge still approached the run with trepidation. With the competation underway however the fears evaporated and by the end all did agree it had been most enjoyable.
The A team of men finished with a combined time of 62 mins 39 secs with Andy Stewart 15:17, James McGill 16:30, Mathew Young 15:15 and Ian McIlwraith 15:37 while the “B” settled for 67:27 overall comprising Cameron Miller 16:23, James Chalmers 16:45 James Elliot 18:17 and Neil McMullen 16:02 With last minute call offs the hoped for 3rd. team was left with only one runner, David Ridout, who  recorded 20:41 over  the distance.
The 2 ladies teams consisted of members all of whom had experienced a successful summer’s road  running season but even the three with previous cross country running still being relatively in- experienced with this particular athletic discipline. Running cross country events demands a different approach from normal road running in having to judge the best track to run within the confines of the set route and deciding just where to push or relax the efforts made to achieve the best result. 
Sylvia Mulholland 17:24 ran first for the “A” ladies handing over to Fiona Wyper 17:53 with the last leg ran by Caitlin Johnstone 17:16 for a combined time of 52:33. Ladies “B” team timed 62:59 in total and comprised Hazel Anderson 20:15, Gail Stevens 19:23 and on leg three Carrol Finlay 23:21. 
Caitlin Johnstone with her time of 17:16 can perhaps be credited with the best run of the day especially after working through the night before but that might just take preference from Mathew Young’s 15:15 third leg efforts. Overall an enjoyable day’s competition and hopefully next year more can be convinced to take part.
Ten members entered the trail race in the Kelvin Valley area to join the start at Croy from which the course, described as undulating to hilly out and back, follows trails and paths through Barhill Forest, Croyhill and Dumbreck Marsh covering a distance of 13.8 as it follows the old Roman Wall before finishing back in Croy.
First back from the run and in an excellent time was the only male of the ten, Gary Kilpatrick, taking 1 hr, 46 minutes and 16 seonds to complete and finishing 19th over all followed by a satisfying 1:56:21 from Sylvia Mulholland, who  claimed

second spot in her category.  

Jennifer Shaw 2:15:50 and Fiona Wyper 2:15:51 both in their first trail running event, ran together, glad of the company and bolstering each other through the tougher sections, both girls found the hills especially hard more so Fiona still feeling the effects of the day before. Over the last months Jennifer has gradually  increased the distance she can run from her previous  6 mile mark. Strong running Angela Stroyan and Lynda Bryceland also helped each other  finishing with the same time of 2:21:10. Carol Finlay surprised all finishing with 2:47:27, and ahead, for the first time, of Liz Fairbairn 2:50:31, Ann Hay 2:57:14 and Margaret Craig 2:57:51.
Carrol who had also run the day before made her past trail running experience count over the other three, all making their first entry into what can be a most enjoyable form of running. Members should note that details of next year’s event, though scanty, are available on their web page.
Not only did Carrol enjoy two competitions over the week-end she, together with Sandra Hunter, also represented the club by officiating at the Kilmarnock relays prior to her event starting.
Still giving plenty of enjoyment the local park run this week attracted 10 members on a wet dismal day with Andy Stewart 20:10 leading the club home followed by young  James Chalmers setting yet another best with his time of 21:28 then came Neil McMullen 24:50. Rachel Wood had another good run leading the ladies back, timing 26:16, followed by Andy Davidson 26:38 then William Cameron 27:01 and Carol Rome 27:11. Ann Hay this week finished with 30:22 and her sister Mary Huggan clocked 31:51 before Rachel Cox and her daughter Caitlin completed the club's runner,  both posting 37:08
Club training starts from the bottom of the Mall on both Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. with the early winter routine change of Sunday venue to Eglinton Park for a 10 am start. All runners of any ability welcomed at all training sessions: simply come along and run with company for extra enjoyment and added safety during dark winter months. Runners should now don white or reflective clothing and run in brightly lit areas to assist safe running at night. Further details can be obtained from jogalong2010@hotmail.com.