On Friday 5th June, it was the 50k Ayrshire Sunset Ultra, starting and finishing at Irvine beach, south past Ayr and back, and designed to run from sunset to sunrise. We had the amazing Murphy brothers running, with Grant finishing 2nd in 3:50:31 and Iain just behind in 4th with 4:06:45. Outstanding by both.
On Saturday 6th, Angela Eadie took on her first ultra at The Priory 100k. A trail race along the Northumberland coast, from Bamburgh Castle to Tynemouth Priory. An amazing achievement by Angela, finishing in 17:19:27.
It was the Killearn 10k on Saturday, and we had a great turnout for this very popular race, with 38 members running. Some great results too, including Bryan Mulgrew 36:11 2nd overall, 1st MSnr, Amelia Matthews 40:17 1st lady, Colin Hughes 42:45 1st MV60, Sarah McSharry 44:50 3rd FV40, Rebecca Croney 46:33 2nd FSnr, Emma Peters 3rd FSnr, Marty Campbell 47:27 2nd MV50, Tomoyo Fujiwara 48:32 1st FV50, Caroline Munro 49:08 2nd FV50 (in her Giffnock vest), Pauline Wright 50:10 3rd FV50.
On Sunday 7th, it was the Kilmarnock Roon the Toon 10k, where we had 8 members running. First home for us was Jamie Wieland in 38:55. Well done to Jordan Davidson, who was 1st place at the latest ‘Up & Running’ Queen’s Park 10k on Sunday. And to Ben Nurse who was 3rd at the Milngavie Trail race.
“Twas on the ninth of Joon”..Tuesday night in a very wet Newcastle was the annual Blaydon Race. Just under 6 miles from ‘the Toon’ to Blaydon with a field of 4,600. We had six soggy Bellas running with Alan Moss 34:62, Jim Robinson 45:17, Henry Merriweather 48:04 & Roz Wilson 49:12, and in their Morpeth vests, Cat MacDonald 35:40 & Ant Jannetta 36:56.
On Wednesday 10th, it was our annual President’s Cup 5k Race at Bellahouston Park. Eighty six Bellas ran with sixteen more helping-out and lots of supporters too, all making it such a great event. Well done everyone, especially our winners, Murdoch Rodgers & Laura Henderson.
On Thursday 11th, it was the Kirkintilloch 10k with Oscar Coetzee 32:09 second & first MV40 and Cathy Wood 40:03 PB third FSnr. Then on Friday night, it was the latest Acorn Trails event at Linn Park with the Toota-Linn 8k. Well done to Terry Nimmo who was first FV60.
And it was the very scenic Strathearn Marathon in Perthshire on Sunday 14th. A lovely, but hilly route (500m+ of ascent) starting and finishing at Comrie. Very well done to Jamie Howie 4:20:23 & Lucy MacKay 4:53:49.
On Friday 19th June, it was one of our favourite races of the year, the Brian Goodwin 10k at Pollok Park. We had 49 Bellas running with our top threes being: Ross Horgan 32:47, Calum Borthwick 33:40, David Jarrett 34:37 / Amelia Matthews 38:13, Ann Robin 39:43, Sarah Field 41:38. On the podiums were Colin Hughes 39:04 1st MV60, Ann Robin 39:43 1st FV45, Claire Wharton 44:33 1st FV55, Tomoyo Fujiwara 47:28 1st FV50, Bruce Carmichael 35:28 2nd MV50, Colleen Lennox 50:28 2nd FV55, Veronica Fusaro 41:49 PB 3rd FV40, Roz Wilson 53:44 3rd FV55, Lucy MacKay 58:16 3rd FV60.
Starting at 0100hrs on Saturday 20th, it was the 14,760ft of ascent, 95 mile, West Highland Way Race. It’s hard to imagine the effort required to complete this event, running from Milngavie to Fort William, but Bryan Mulgrew rose to the challenge again and finished in 36th place with a time of 22hrs 20mins.
An injured Jordan Davidson ran an outstanding 2:59:54 to finish 33rd from a 1,500 strong field, at the Midnight Sun Tromsø Marathon in Norway on Sunday 21st.
It was roasting hot in Clydebank on Wednesday 24th, for the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club 5k, but our Bellas were in red hot form with scorching performances from: Oscar Coetzee 15:25 2nd(1st MV40), Paul McNairn 15:56 2nd MV40, Ben Law 17:35, Jamie Robinson 17:43, Cathy Wood 19:04 2nd lady PB, Sarah Field 19:53 PB, Al MacLachlan 19:55 3rd MV65, Claire Wharton 21:20 2nd FV55, Murdoch Rodgers 27:36 3rd MV75.
On a thundery and wet Friday 25th, it was the Calderglen Harriers 10k Trail Race. Well done to the soggy Bellas who made it to this off-road event viz. Simon Wells 42:25 3rd, Sam Ramsay 45:55 2nd MV45, Calum Brown 46:41 3rd MSnr, Claire Wharton 52:41 2nd FV55, Tomoyo Fujiwara 57:37 3rd FV50. Simon, Sam & Calum were also 2nd male team.
Way out west in the Outer Hebrides on Saturday 26th, a fab four Bellas ran the Barrathon Half Marathon, with Wallace Gray 2:05:48, Louise Gray 2:17:22, Terri Nimmo 2:25:40, Alison Brown 2:35:27.
On Sunday 27th, it was slightly closer to the mainland on the Isle of Arran. Our brilliant Cathy Wood ran the hilly Arran HM in a great time of 1:35:37 to finish 1st lady. An excellent performance in tough, windy conditions around Shiskine Valley. And also on Sunday, the amazing Lucy MacKay ran the very windy Solway Coast Marathon, finishing 3rd FV60 in 4:56:07.
