Senior Men 6th at West District Relays

This year the west district cross country relays where held at Hamilton race course. This is a historic venue having hosted the first ever Scottish championships in 1889 and the first ever “World Championships” in 1903. The last race held there was in 1968 so it’s fair to say everyone was looking forward to testing themselves over such a course. The relay requires teams of 4 men to run 4 kilometres each.

Being held on a horse race course the conditions under foot were as you would expect: good to firm in places. The conditions on the day held up well with a minimal breeze and outbreaks of sunshine.

With everything in place, the senior men set out to break last year’s performance of 7th, and that they did.

On the first leg there was Vincent Hastings (13:47) and Jack Kirwan (13:51) racing not only the field but each other in a terrific performance by the youngsters who were recently promoted to the senior squad. Not fazed by the well-established competition around them, they gave solid performances that set the A and B teams on their way. Also running the first leg was Graeme Haddow who ran a 16:11.

The second legs were taken up by Alessandro Tronconi (12:40) and Niall Walker (13:59). Alessandro running one of the fastest times on the day to take the A team from 16th to 9th. Niall also running solid to take the B team from 23rd down to 18th.

By the time the third leg runners were called upon the race was strung out meaning that the 3rd leg men had to stick in and be mentally tough, John Fergusson (13:06) and David Gorman (14:40) done just that. John digging deep to take the A team from 9th to 8th after battling most of the course with a rival athlete.

The fourth legs were taken up by Grant Baillie (13:20) and Derek Letich (15:45). Grant battled his way around the 4th leg running well to take the team from 8th to 6th position overall. Derek also ran well to ensure that the B team finished in a respectable 28th position.

Next up for the EKAC senior men team is the Lanarkshire Road Relay where they will be looking to better last year’s position of 3rd.

Mike Skinner runs for EKAC in MacAndrew Road Relay

Great Britain & Northern Ireland athlete Mike Skinner traveled up to Glasgow to compete in the 74th MacAndrew Road Relays around Scotstoun. The international athlete, who has represented GB & NI in five World Cross Country Championships and eight European Cross Country Championships to date, donned the East Kilbride AC vest to compete in the annual event.

Conditions where near perfect, a surprisingly warm day with relatively little wind; uncommon for an October afternoon in Scotland! East Kilbride AC had two teams out on force on the day, and all were in high spirits to be running alongside a GB international.

The MacAndrew Road Relay requires a team of 4 men to run 5K each. The A team consisted of Niall Walker (19:09), Mike Skinner (16:13), Jack Kirwan (19:21) and Vincent Hastings (18:34). The B team consisted of Alessandro Tronconi (17:34), David Thomson (20:11), David Gorman (20:18) and Graeme Haddow (21:39).

With the B team's first leg runner crossing the line ahead of the A team by 1 minute and 35 seconds, some pre-race decisions appeared to have diminished the A team’s chances. However with a GB & NI international on the 2nd leg, the team went from 40th to 5th with Mike Skinner running the 5th fastest time on the day. Jack Kirwan also finished with the 6th fastest juvenile mens time and with Vincent Hastings running the 4th fastest juvenile mens time on the day, the team finished in a very respectable 6th place. The B team, with the added advantage of having Alessandro running such a fast time, also finished high up in the overall standings: a solid 13th out of the 32 men’s teams competing.

Next week will see the EKAC senior team competing at the West district cross country relays where they will be looking to improve on their finish of 7th in the 2012/2013 season.

Annual Club Ceilidh & Awards 2013

On Saturday 16th November, EKAC's annual club ceilidh and award ceremony will take place at the Murray Owen Centre.

In the past, the night has proven a huge success and a lot of fun featuring annual awards, ceilidh band, bar, buffet and the long-awaited Club Champ results!

Tickets are on sale now!

FAMILY TICKET (including athletes under 18) - £20
OVER 18s - £10

UNDER 18s MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

George Cumming Relays

EKAC's senior men were out in force on Saturday for the first winter race of the season, the George Cumming relays. For the past two years there has been a great turnout and the weather has been kind to us; and this year was no different.

The relay requires teams of four athletes to run 2.7 mile each.

The A-team of Jack Kirwan, Aidan Gilbride, Vincent Hastings and Niall Walker finished in a very impressive 13th. With the average age of the A-team at a new record low (good thing) at 18 years old!

The B-team which consisted of David Thomson, Derek Leitch, Graeme Haddow and David Gorman ran well to finish 32nd.


With four of the stronger senior runners missing things are looking very good for the future!

Confirmed times as follows:

A-team (13th)
JK 14:50
AG 14:43
VH 15:20
NW 15:22

B-team (32nd)
DT 16:22
DL 16:55
GH 17:35
DG 17:09


Next weekend will see the senior teams competing at the MacAndrew road relay.

Lanarkshire Schools’ 6K Road Race

On Sunday more than 2400 teenagers and staff from 39 North and South Lanarkshire Secondary Schools turned up to participate in the Annual Lanarkshire Schools’ 6K Road Race and Fun Run at Strathclyde Park.

And East Kilbride AC’s very own Aidan Gibride was there representing his school, St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School. The youngster came home in second place, crossing the line at 20.07. 

The money raised from the charity event will go towards supporting staff, patients and their families at St Andrew’s Hospice in East Kilbride. 

Well Done Aidan!

Pitlochry Highland Games

East Kilbride AC defended their youth relay title in style at Pitlochry Highland Games on Saturday, September 14.

Chloe Mason, Greg Kelly, Nicole Sharp and Aiden Gilbride won their heat before going on to triumph in the final from Clydesdale 'A' and Innerleithen.

Each athlete ran a half lap of the 320m grass track in girl, boy, girl, boy order. East Kilbride AC have now competed in the relay four times, winning each time.

Aiden and Chloe also took part in the individual youth races, which are handicapped according to age and ability.

Aiden ran two barnstorming races as backmarker in both the boys' 400m and mixed 800m, trying to give away big starts and finishing third in both races. Chloe finished second in her heat of the youths' 90m with winners only progressing to the final. Better was to come in the girls' 400m when, from the back mark, she sprinted through the field and had enough left in the tank to hold on for victory.

EKAC Club Champs

A big thank you to everyone that came down and helped out today at the Club Champs! It was a great success, on and off the track and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of all the volunteers and parent helpers.

Unfortunately the results are being kept under wraps until the club ceilidh, so make sure you all attend on November 16th!