Gala Harriers AGM and presentation night took place on Saturday November 11 at the British Legion in Galashiels.
Club Chair Charlotte Hendry reflected on a few highlights of the year with both the men and women securing East District League Team wins, gold and bronze team medals at the recent National XC Relays and silver and bronze medals at the National Relays.
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There were too many individual successes to mention them all but Harriers Athletes representing Borders, East District, Scotland and even GB this year at both senior and junior levels.
Head Coach Neil Renton presented the most improved Junior Athlete Award jointly to Kirsty Rankine and Ava Richardson.
Each of them attaining East District and International selections over the last year. Amongst other achievements - Kirsty running for Scotland at the Junior Hill Running International and winning the Scottish Hill running league and Ava part of the gold medal winning relay team at the British Schools International and winning this year’s U17 Hill Running Champs.
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Neither athlete was present to accept the award as both had made the trip to Cardiff to run in the British Cross Challenge where Ava was 19th and Kirsty 28th in a hugely competitive field of UK athletes.
Junior Athlete of the year went to Isla Paterson. Isla’s Hill running achievements were recognised with her representing Scotland in the European Mountain Cup, winning the senior Black Hill and Eildon Hill Races, finishing 4th and 1st Scot in the Junior Hill Running International in her first year as an under 20.
More recently, and away from the hills, Isla securing a silver at Scottish School Road races, silver at Short Course XC and a 2nd place at the first East District League Race. Isla also winning a Scottish Athletics Award for Junior Hill Runner of the Year 2023.
Club together Officer Gerry Moss recognised the young athletes who took part in the Junior Club Championships this year, the contribution Gala Harriers made to Team Borders placing 2nd in the Forth Valley League and congratulated the junior team that made the final of the National Super Teams.
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The Club Champions were U9s Emily Cranston and Mason Riddell, U 11 Beth Dennison and Magnus Church, under 13 Lara Abdrabbo and Oliver McGraw, Under 15 Iris Dennison and Max Powell, Under 17 Erin Gray.
Senior Athlete of the Year went to Sara Green who has achieved at an exceptionally high level across numerous distances both on and off road. Highlight was representing GB and winning the European Masters ½ Marathon Championships in Italy.
Sara also represented Scotland at the Antrim Half Marathon where her time ranks her 2nd in her age group in the UK.
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She was 1st V40 at both the Scottish 10km and 5km Champs and completed the London Marathon in 2:44:41 ranking her as 23rd masters in the world. Sara was not present to pick up her award as she was up in Glasgow running at the British and Irish Masters XC International Championships where she was 2nd V40 and 3rd overall, club mate Darrell also finishing 3rd overall and 1st V40.
Most improved senior athlete went to Julia Johnstone. Julia has come back from illness a couple of years ago to perform at a consistently high level in her age group. She won gold at the Scottish Athletics Masters 5km track event, was third in the Scottish 5km Champs and narrowly missed out on Scottish Selection for the British and Irish Masters.
Julie was also not present to get her award as she was also celebrating up in Glasgow after running for the Harriers in the British and Irish International XC.
The last award is the Endeavour Cup which was awarded to Katie Rourke. Katie joined the club when she was 12 and was a high performer winning the Scottish Schools XC in 2018.
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Since then she has worked her way through various personal challenges and has returned to both train at and support the club recently qualifying as a Coach and proving an inspiration to the Group D Development Squad.
Katie has also returned to racing wining the Salomon Skyline this year and coming 10th overall in Falkirk’s East District League Race.
Jog Scotland Coaches Charlotte Hendry and Anne Purves awarded the most improved Jogger to Karen Shiel who completed her 10 week C to 5Km programme sometime ago but continues to train regularly with the Joggers Group.
As well as the XC Championships the club organises a number of Club races throughout the year including the Kaeside 5 Km, Ladhope Handicap, Henderson Handicap and the Holly Bush handicap .
This years winners were: Kaeside 5 km – male Marcus D’Agrossa , female Pamela Baillie
Henderson handicap – Ross Dalgliesh - Ladhope handicap – James Dennison (senior) Archie Dalglish (junior) and Hollybush 10km handicap – Donald Francis
The evening was rounded off with a summary of the numerous individual achievements of club members in local, national and international races, from the track to marathons and multi-day ultras.
There was a big thanks to everyone on the Committee, all the coaches/parent helpers and people behind the scenes who put so much time and effort into making the Club so successful.
Next club race is the Ladhope XC handicap on December 9 a fantastic event for both Juniors and Seniors.
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