THIS year's edition of Maryhill Harriers' prestigious Nigel Barge
Memorial Trophy race, run on Saturday for the fiftieth year and won with
some style by David Ross, was a shadow of its former glories.
This is no reflection on the club, victims of a date and route
alterations enforced by police, and punitive coning costs (some #800)
proposed by Strathclyde Region. The date was switched, at police
insistence, from the traditional New Year Saturday, because of a
conflict with an Old Firm football match -- and bewilderingly
rescheduled for the day of another such fixture.
The change meant an end to the longest running of a Scottish race over
the same course, reducing the entry to barely a quarter of the past
three years.
Police presence ensured the smoothest running ever, but seven
officers, including two bikes and at least two cars, seemed something of
a safety overkill for 75 competitors who ran half of the race on
pavement and private grounds.
But more distressing to competitors is the new 4.85-mile course, which
means an end to annual comparison with the performances of the greats of
the past, and the perpetuation of Nat Muir's record, set 10 years ago at
21min. 46sec.
The Glasgow University Road Race is the victim of similar pressures,
and one is forced to ask if such intrusive police action is really
necessary. Clubs are generally happy to provide their own marshalling,
particularly in races such as these which involve no crossing of major
junctions.
Saturday's quality was sadly short of the Barge's golden age of the
late 60s and early 70s, when the field would include both Commonwealth
and Olympian athletes.
The class of '93 was sadly lacking in class, with Racing Club
unchallenged in capturing the first three places and the team award
ahead of Springburn. Ross won by a second in 25.55. from veteran Brian
Kirkwood, running his nineteenth race in 20 weeks.
Bernie O'Neill a ScottishPower engineer from Giffnock North, put her
name in lights with her first race win after three years in the sport.
Details:
1, D Ross 25-55; 2, B Kirkwood (veteran) 25-56; 3, P Fleming (all
Racing Club Edinburgh) 26-05; 4, A Callan (Springburn) 26-10; 5, F
McGowan (RCE) 26-12; 6 C Thompson (Cambuslang) 26-15. Team: 1, Racing
Club; 2, Springburn. Women: 1, B O'Neill (Giffnock North) 33-18; 2, J
Thomson (City of Glasgow) 34-02; 3, J Byng (Irvine Cable) 34-32.
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