Coming off the tough cross-country season and on to the roads really strengthens an athlete and last weekend in Edinburgh men's club captain Graeme Murdoch was no exception to this rule as he stormed round the 13.1 mile course against a strong headwind in a personal best time of 1 hour 18 minutes and 29 seconds, cutting a massive 1min 15 off his previous best.

Gregor McAneny came in strongly in 1.29.04, a solid run after a period of injury, with Iain Bell not far behind him in 1.30.16; Derek Fraser, 1.35.59, and Malky Gowans in 1.37.29 completed the male contingent.

In the ladies section Fiona Shepherd shaved a spectacular four minutes off her previous best time with a massive personal best of 1.43.42. Dawn Grant, who should have been in her bed nursing a fever, ran a gutsy race in 1.49.13, with Sheila MacNab breathing down her neck in 1.50.17.

Running a half-marathon for the first time was Louise Johnston who finished strongly in a very respectable time of 2.04.52 in the tough windy conditions.

On Easter Sunday in Alloa the hoped-for spring sunshine was very much missing as four brave Harriers battled against the bitter wind with some nevertheless very respectable times.

First home was Derek Brydon in 1.27.13, just pipping Martin Clarke to the finishing line in 1.27.35. Kate Jenkins kept up her relentless season in 1.27 with Rachel Fagan grabbing third place in the senior women's race in 1.30.05, a grand preparation for her upcoming elite marathon race in London in April.

This weekend promises to be an exciting one for young harriers as the World Cross Country comes to Edinburgh's Holyrood Park. In a Scottish Athletics' initiative, Gala Harriers has been selected to support the USA team, with Lucy Morris carrying their flag and Charlotte Brown meeting the country's athletes.