Our Poppy Bowie will run in the marathon for Team GB at the Deaflympics in Tokyo in late November 2025! Poppy relocated to Brisbane, Australia, earlier this year and we have been keeping an eye on her training and progress as she builds towards Tokyo. The first bit of good news is that Poppy reached her funding goal in late September with the help of some of her new Australian friends and colleagues. This was fantastic news and means she can hopefully have a fantastic experience in Japan without financial worries. Many thanks on behalf of Poppy to everyone who has contributed towards her funding, it is greatly appreciated. As the temperatures rise in eastern Australia at this time of year, so has the intensity of Poppy’s training. She continues to build upon her regular interval training, mirroring the Bellahouston Road Runners programme, together with long base and mixed pace runs. Poppy has been networking with the Brisbane running community, including with Caine Batten, who is an Australian Deaflympian! Poppy and Caine recently competed in the Brisbane Road Runners Club (BRRC) 20k Road Race. Poppy was 3rd overall, and first lady, while Caine won the race! So with only 5 weeks or so before the big race on 25th November, Poppy has finalised her travel plans. She travels to Japan on 14th November for the Deaflympics opening ceremony and will return to Brisbane on 27th November, following the closing ceremony. We are very proud of Poppy and will be watching Poppy’s progress as the race draws closer!
Monthly archives: October 2025
On Sunday 19th October, it was the latest Amsterdam Marathon. There was a great turn out of Bellas and some fantastic performances too! Very well done to Ruairi Barfoot (2:42:05), Stuart Laurence (2:54:49), Oscar Wainwright (4:08:52), Gayle McKay (4:25:31), Mandy Morgan (4:35:51), Katherine Wainwright (4:43:57) and Pauline Bradley (4:58:39). On the same day, it was Yorkshire Marathon. A start and finish at the University of York and outstanding performances by Grant Murphy 15th place in 2:35:49, David Jarrett PB 2:49:46 and Sue Campbell Senior PB 4:21:17. Well done folks! It was also a great performance at the Yorkshire 10 Miler by Veronica Fusaro in 1:13:40.
We had two Bellas running at the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra on Saturday 11th October. 57 miles from the Riverside Museum in Glasgow to the Edinburgh Athletics Track with the route largely follows the central belt’s canal network. Laurence Prior had an outstanding race to claim 10th place in an amazing 8hrs 25min! Lucy MacKay also had a great day, finishing on 12hrs 38min. The effort put into training for such events cant be underestimated, so congratulations to both!
What an event for Bellahouston Road Runners at this year’s very scenic Loch Rannoch Marathon! A beautiful day on Sunday 12th October for the event, with three Bellas participating. And it was success for all three! Jordan Davidson, carrying on his excellent form this year, finished in a PB of 2:44:29 to finish second in the race, first Male Senior! Then there was Tomoyo Fujiwara, in 3:34:52 to finish 3rd placed lady, first FV50! Lastly, Ian Watt ran 3:38:20 to claim first MV55! A brilliant treble of prizes for our brilliant Bellas!
It was the Great Scottish Run 10k & Half Marathon on Sunday 5th October. The stormy weather gave way to blue skies and a bit of a breeze for a great event. Excellent support and a new start at the top of St Vincent Street for a record field this year. We had around 100 Bellas running and marshalling! It was an early 10k start, but great running from our 6.2 milers, with our first 3’s being: Ross Horgan (32:35, 15th), Grant Murphy (33:10 PB, 20th), Ross Wood (44:44) – Lauren Rice (43:04), Rachel Fraser (44:41 PB), Alex Shaw (49:39). Then, it was the Half Marathon, where we had around 72 Bellas running. Some amazing PBs achieved and too many great runs to mention. Our top 3s were: Ruairi Barfoot (1:14:52 PB), Ross Gale (1:15:38), Jordan Davidson (1:16:05 PB) – Rebekah Russell (1:25:49, 3rd F35-39), Rhona Fraser (1:30:48, 1st F45-49), Cara Thom (1:31:56 PB). In addition, Al MacLachlan (1:33:56) was 1st M65-69. Elsewhere, Claire Wharton qualified for the British & Irish Masters Cross Country after trials at Tollcross Park! Lynn Stuart ran a brilliant PB at the Chester Marathon, Flora Henry was second lady at the Barry Buddon 10 Miler in Carnoustie, and Poppy Bowie was first lady at the Brisbane Road Runners 20k! Very well done ladies!!