Maryhill Harriers Christmas Handicap Race (Maryhill Park route) – Saturday 10th December 2022
The eagerly anticipated Christmas Handicap race, which was moved to Maryhill Park due to the weather, was won by Andrew Stevenson. Ten Harriers gathered at the play park on a frosty Saturday morning to do battle in the hotly contested race. Thanks to Craig Perrie who had delved into the runners’ recent 5k times to compile the starting order. First to head out for the first of five laps of the park was Margaret, followed by Daria, Chris, Cat, Craig White, Dan, Derek, Amy and Andrew, and then Andy. The conditions, albeit with the thermometer hovering around freezing, were perfect for cross-country running: frozen, forgiving ground and no mud. The only disruption was a man’s overly-friendly dog which harassed Cat on her first lap. I had a perfect vantage point of the action at the top of the park near the trig point where I was able to keep a keen eye on the progress (and if anyone wasn’t running on the grass!). There appeared to be a few battles ongoing with some of the runners in the post-race autopsy saying it was good to have targets running close by to push them on. By the last lap some of the runners were coming together on the top section of the park. Andrew, who was out in front, looked like he might be challenged by either Dan or Andy but he held on and was the eventual winner to the delight of the assembled mini-crowd of fellow Harriers and their partners.
1st Harrier – Andrew Stevenson 31:54 (Race time: 24:19)
2nd Harrier – Dan 32.17 (Race time: 25:57)
3rd Harrier – Andy 32:18 (Race time 23:48)
1st female Harrier – Daria 32:26 (Race time: 30:56)
