East Sutherland runners claim bronze at North Cross Country Championships at Gordonstoun
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EAST Sutherland Athletics Club celebrated winning team bronze at the North District Cross Country Championships at Gordonstoun.
The senior men’s team were in great form to take team bronze.
Eoghann Gollan was the top performing ESAC athlete as he finished in third place overall in the senior men’s race.
Other team members also produced excellent performances with Ruairidh Gollan in ninth, Alasdair Coupar in 12th, Finlay Murray 15th, Blair Mackay 19th and Ross Bannerman 28th.
ESAC coach John Davies says it was a terrific effort from the team.
She said: “This performance was even more notable, as four members of the team, had started their running careers, many years ago, with the ESAC junior section.”
In the under-15 race, John-Michael Diracles finished in fifth with Boris Pavlenko coming home in 10th.
One young ESAC runner who was desperate to compete at Gordonstoun was Reuben Urquhart, but he is still an under-11, and not eligible to race in the district championships.
However, Uruqhart has had more than his fair share of success in the past 12 months, winning numerous track races at Inverness, followed by gold in the Ross-shire Primary Schools’ Cross Country Champs, and gold in the first two Under 11 races of the North Cross Country League at Nairn and Evanton.
Reuben has been joined in the ESAC Under-11 team by his brother Logan, Euan Cameron, and Hamish Bannerman, and these young runners are currently top team in the league, with two races to go.
James Yuill set up the Silver Rock Foundation some time ago, in order to support young talent in Sutherland, and help them achieve their full potential.
Urquhart qualified for an award, and presented him with a cheque, to cover the cost of shoes and spikes.
