Thursday 9th May, 2019 saw Harmeny AC Club to Schools Officer Gordon Robertson and Club Development Officer Graeme Stewart head out to Kirkliston Primary School for their second hosting of a XC event for P6/7 and P1/2 (also known as, ‘The Charge of the Weenies’). The course is just over a mile for the older kids, and a shorter, but still hilly course was laid out the same as last year on the parkland at the rear of the school for the wee ones. The school cluster is one those that the Club now supports and delivers Active Schools athletics sessions in, and the number of sessions we run for them will expand again next year. A huge number of kids got to run, including Coach Stewart who led both the boys and girls, ‘Charge of the Weenies’ after Club Secretary Craig Stewart started the tradition last year, leading the P1’s and 2’s round their a slightly shorter but still tough course. There was some epic racing across the age groups but a very special congratulations goes to Harmeny AC athlete, Ella McGowan who won the girls race. She’s the first athlete to make the transition from Active Schools Session at South Queensferry to full club membership and has already represented the club at a number of events including meets at the Emirates. After the first hill on the outward leg, she was sitting in sixth place, clearly pacing herself for the tough outward leg and unforgiving uphill finish. Her patience paid of as she worked her way through the field on the narrow, twisting and undulating outer loop, where the previous days rain had left conditions pretty slippy. As she came over the brow of the hill and into the finishing straight she had a clear lead that wasn’t in danger as she headed for the line. A great, well judged race, and a well earned win, not to mention a stonking trophy. Congratulations from all the coaches and HAC. Onwards and upwards, Ella !!(Pics attached).
