NDCC - Round the Castles Series (1) - Banchory - December 2007

The first of the Round the Castles cross country series was held recently at Crathes Castle near Banchory. This series of three events in the Aberdeen area proved very popular with the athletes last year in preparing them for competition at national level. With national standard courses and quality athletes competing, the experience is invaluable race preparation.

Eight athletes from Caithness Amateur Athletic Club attended this meeting which was hosted by Banchory Athletic Club. The course runs through the Crathes Estate and is predominantly run along tree lined paths within the Castle grounds with a steep incline to be ascended by all age groups.

Emma Dunnett, following on from her success in winning the overall series last year, placed 3rd (11.31min) in this first fixture, one place better than last year. The race winner Kate Murdoch is the current Scottish 800m Champion which demonstrates the level of competition available at this cross country series.

Jade Currie also improved on last year's performance by placing 4th (12.04min) after a tussle with fellow north athlete Bethany Wilson from Moray Road Runners. The outcome of the two mile race between these athletes saw Jade coming home 1 second ahead of Bethany in 5th place. Oonagh Dunnett took the Caithness Under 13 girl's team home with her 7th place (12.16min) giving CAAC 2nd team place, 1 point behind Aberdeen AAC.

With 21 girls and 35 boys starting in the combined Under 13 races, the athletes need to learn to get away fast at the start to clear the field of athletes before the course turns sharp left up a steep hill some 150m into the course. A newcomer to this event, Rob Murdoch finished 8th (11.58min) which was very encouraging. In order for athletes like Rob to grow their potential, they need to compete against stronger athletes from different districts allowing for them to develop pace judgement and the skill of listening to their own bodies.

Another newcomer was Duncan Patterson who has grown in potential since the beginning of the season and continued with his success by taking home the second bronze medal of the day with a third place (19.51min) in a field of 21 athletes. In doing so he demonstrated a great deal of race maturity and confidence in his ability over the three mile course.

Also going off in the same race start were the Senior Women and Veteran Women including one solitary Caithness vest worn by endurance coach Sophie Dunnett. With Sophie's determination not to be lapped by Duncan over this 3 lap course, it provided the spur to push her into 8th place (24.45min) out of 41 athletes in the Veteran Women's event.

Graeme Taylor in the U17 Men was joined by Alistair Black and in a combined race which included 16 under 17 Men, 36 Men and 65 Veteran Men, the start as with most of the races was crucial to the final placings. Graeme who has a proven record of taking on races from the front, went out with the front runners and stamped his mark on the race. His final placing of 4th (23.12min) over the 4 mile course was pleasing at this time of the year as the challenge for athletes is not to peak too early in the season with the national level competitions taking place in January and February.

Alistair in his first competition outside of the north district, proved his potential in this standard of competition by placing 9th (28.24min) and found the experience to be a positive one on which he can build as he settles into this series.

The second cross country competition in this series is held in January with the final race taking place in March.

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