East District Cross Country League Race 2
Race Date: 17 January 2026
Thanks to Graeme Warren for the following race report: For the third and final East District League race of the season we headed to Bathgate where the sun came out to thaw the early morning ice and give plenty of mud to slide around in.
After the various junior races (with Strathearn juniors in all of them apart from the U17 boys) a strong contingent of 6 ladies (including U20 Wiktoria) took to the start line for 2 laps, with Hanna McInally first home, followed by Wiktoria, Jenny Dallas, Ali Cunningham, Gill Dowse and Monica Warren.
The men then lined up for the last race of the day - 3 laps of the same course, which was nicely bedded in by this point. With a handful of the usual runners injured / unwell or unable to attend, 4 toed the line. Nick Gough was first home, followed by Graeme W, Jon T and Mike Thomson (who looked the cheeriest on the way round, particularly as he achieved his aim of not being lapped!)
Our Women’s team finished 9th out of 28 - a fantastic result considering the size of the other clubs in the top ten, and a very impressive final placing after the three East District meets at Kirkcaldy, Dundee and Bathgate of 8th out of 22 teams.
Women’s individual results, out of 134 finishers, were:
21st Hanna McInally 23:38
49th Wiktoria Kret (J) 25:44
78th Jenny Dallas (V) 27:42
84th Ali Cunningham (V) 28:08
98th Gill Dowse (V) 29:38
105th Monica Warren (V) 30:20
Our Men’s team finished 17th out of 31, but more telling, were the 3rd best team with fewer than six runners, and a final placing after the three East District meets at Kirkcaldy, Dundee and Bathgate of 15th out of 28 teams.
This looks like being the largest senior turnout over the three races that Strathearn Harriers has seen, thanks in particular to our excellent turnout from the ladies.