Well done to everyone who ran at our Jimmy Irvine Bella 10k at Bellahouston Park today (Sunday 8th November). This was the 16th running of the race that was set off by the man himself, Jimmy Irvine. We were blessed with perfect weather conditions and were delighted to have a record field, with over 660 finishers! Amongst that number were 85 Bellahouston Road Runners, notwithstanding around 70 members who volunteered on the day with marshalling, course management and buffet organisation. And of course, the wonderful Bryan Burnett provided his usual professional and insightful commentary. We were delighted to welcome our fundraiser friends from the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and will have an update on the total amount raised in the near future. Thankyou if you were able to donate. And thankyou if you donated your pre-loved sports gear to Make Do & Grow. Thankyou to our sponsors Migo Sports, and to the first aid staff, sport centre staff, the local community and Perfect Timing Scotland. The results of the race are available here and you will find a list of prizewinners below. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027! 1st female – Hannah Nisbet (Giffnock North AC): 38:18 2nd female – Catriona MacDonald (Bellahouston Road Runners): 38:26 3rd female – Kelly Taylor (Bellahouston Road Runners): 38:41 1st male – Callum Hawkings (Kilbarchan AAC): 30:04 2nd male – Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers): 31:16 3rd male – Oscar Coetzee (Bellahouston Road Runners): 32:34 V40 female – Karen Allen (Newton Road Runners): 42:41 V50 female – Marianne Myklebust: 40:06 V60 female – Jacquelyn Sheldon (Black Pear Joggers): 49:09 V70 female – Morag Campbell (Bellahouston Harriers): 49:09 (New Age Category Course Record) V40 male – Neil Renault (Lothian Running Club): 33:44 V50 male – Mark King (Cambuslang Harriers): 34:29 (New Age Category Course Record) V60 male – Craig Clarke (Troon Tortoises): 41:36 V70 male – Gordon Hay: 52:08 1st female team: Bellahouston Road Runners (Catriona MacDonald, Kelly Taylor, Cathy Wood) 1st male team: Bellahouston Road Runners (Oscar Coetzee, Ross Horgan, Ross Gale) 1st female member of Bellahouston Road Runners – Catriona MacDonald (Equals Fastest BRR Female Record) 1st male member of Bellahouston Road Runners – Oscar Coetzee
News
On Saturday 8th November, it was the National Short Course Cross Country Championship in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Well done to our magnificent seven Bellas who ran the 2.5 mile course with Oscar Coetzee 12:41, Paul McNairn 13:17, Josh Evans 13:33, Jordan Davidson 13:57, Alan Moss 14:17, Ben Law 14:42, Mark Young 15:24.
Well done to Tomoyo Fujiwara who recently completed the Loch Rannoch Marathon in 3:28:33 to finish fourth lady, first FV50! That’s now 44 marathons/ultras in the bag for Tomoyo. Meanwhile, the formidable Bruce Carmichael ran an outstanding 2:40:52 at the Frankfurt Marathon to finish fourth MV50. It was also the 30th fastest MV50 marathon by a Brit this year! Two outstanding performances from two of the most consistent Bellas around!
Congratulations to Esther Douglas, who finished first lady at the Blast Running Dalmeny Estate Halloween Trail Half Marathon on Saturday 31st October 2026, with a fantastic time of 1:34:14! A tough event through wooded trails, river paths and farm tracks. Well done Esther!
Saturday 31st October saw the first of this season’s West League Cross Country events in Paisley. A lovely afternoon for this event, hosted by Kilbarchan AC. Well done to our super six who tackled the hilly, 6k course viz. Oscar Coetzee (c.21:40) 2nd, 1st MV40, Sam Ramsay (c.24:30), Mark Young (c.26:41), Jen Conway-Evans (c.27:56), Cathy Wood (c.28:10) & Kirsty MacFarlane (c.32:16). Next up will be Calderglen park on 9th January 2027, before the series finale at Strathaven on 13th February 2027.
Sunday 1st November, saw the return of the Antonine 10k Trail Race that has been resurrected from the old ATRX by Kirkintilloch Olympians, with a new route starting and finishing in Twechar. It was a stunning fresh morning for the event, with registration at the new Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre beside the Forth & Clyde Canal. The start was only a short walk away at Colliery Green. The race started promptly at 0930hrs, with an initial short flat section out onto the Main Street, before crossing the road to go straight into the long climb up towards Barhill Fort on a rough farm track. Then it was off left, up and over the fields before hitting another farm track down to Smithstone Road, and a manned crossing. And it was back ascending up Croy Hill, with some steep sections throughout before there was a good, technical downhill section, over large boulders and rough path. Thankfully it was dry, so not quite so tricky to negotiate. A sharp right to the water station, then along a rough path, back over Smithstone Road, before a long climb up the farm track towards Twechar. Finally it was down the track, and a sharp right onto the Main Street and back to Colliery Green to finish. Around 860ft of climbing on the route, so a challenging race, even in perfect conditions. The event was very well organised by the Olympians, with good safety measures at the road crossings (don’t listen to the marshal, then you’re disqualified). A very friendly and welcoming event, with a nice wooden coaster as a memento. As always, there was some fantastic Bella running with Grant Murphy 41:07 2nd, Jordan Davidson 42:11 3rd, Iain Murphy 42:48 5th, Tom Ferris 54:20, Joni Lindsay 1:05:44 and Alison Brown 1:10:05 2nd FV60.
At the Bridge of Orchy 10k on Sunday 1st November, there were brilliant runs by James & Hannah Berry. James finished second overall (42:24) while Hannah was first lady (46:33). This was after a Leverngrove parkrun warm-up the day previous, when James and Hannah finished first and first lady respectively! Not too shabby a weekend! Meanwhile, Stuart Macdougall finished a great second MV40 in 38:59 at the 20th Strathaven Striders ‘Run with the Wind’ 10k on Sunday too.
There’s not long to go until our Jimmy Irvine 10k at Bellahouston Park on Sunday 8th November! The finishers T-shirts have arrived; our bakers are dusting off their recipe books; and our volunteers are being pencilled into their roles. Entrants will receive an email detailing Race Day Information, but for ease of reference, you can find the details here https://www.bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk/events/bella-10k/ We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone on the day. And of course, good luck! PLEASE BE AWARE OF SIGNIFICANT ROAD CLOSURES ON THE MORNING OF THE RACE AFFECTING THE M8 MOTORWAY THAT WILL BE CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BETWEEN JUNCTION 19 & 24. THERE ARE ALSO ROADWORKS AFFECTING DUMBRECK ROAD AT THE EAST SIDE OF BELLAHOUSTON PARK.
On Sunday 25th October, three Bellas were in action at the Valencia Half Marathon. Valencia forms part of the ‘Super Half’ series of Half Marathons. It’s easy to see why, with a flat course is such a beautiful city. On the day, it was sunny and warm, so very well done to Robert Smith (1:42:01), Sue Campbell Senior (2:04:49) & Michele Smith (2:24:49).
On Saturday 24th October, we celebrated our wonderful members achievements at our Annual Awards Night at Sloans in Glasgow City Centre. Eighty members attended on the night and enjoyed a great three course meal, a celebratory drink before cheering on their fellow club runners as they were announced over the various award categories. We had forty members awarded a total of fifty four gongs on the night. And they were so well deserved, right throughout our wonderful membership and age categories. We also drew our London Marathon ballot and announced our Club Championship mementos for the seventy seven members who successfully completed their seven races throughout the season. All-in-all, it was another fantastic night! Well done everyone.
Starting on Saturday 17th October, in beautiful Chiavenna, in the Alps north of Bergamo, Italy it was well done to Cat MacDonald, who finished 13th lady with 47:58 at the Kilometro Verticale Lagùnc, and to Alistair MacDonald who ran 58:00 in the mens edition. A3.3k course, with 1k of ascent! Then on Sunday 18th, Cat ran the Val Bregaglia 25k Mountain Trail Race finishing 2nd lady in 2:15:40. Up & Running had a couple of events on Saturday too. Well done to Iain Murphy who was 2nd in 1:26:28 at the Chaterherault Trails 20k, while Gianluigi Re was 3rd at the Alexandra Park 5k with a 20:00 PB. On Sunday 18th October, it was the TCS Amsterdam Marathon. A bit of rain in this one, but outstanding work by the dynamic duo of Chic Forsyth 3:08:42 PB & Gavin McGowan 3:29:36. Well done guys! It was also the Altra Yorkshire Marathon on a sunny Sunday, on a tough, hilly course. A brilliant top 100 run by David Jarrett with a PB 2:47:52, while James Berry had an amazing marathon debut in 2:58:41. And it was a great run by Veronica Fusaro on the back of a disrupted training block, with a PB 3:50:15. In the north east of England on Sunday, there was a brilliant run by Dave Ferguson with 1:29:42 2nd MV45, at the Run Nation Northumberland Castles Half Marathon. An 11 year HM best performance by Dave!
On Saturday 10th October, it was the start of the Scottish Athletics Cross Country season with the Lindsay’s West District XC Relays at Kilmarnock. The weather was kind on the day at the excellent Ayrshire venue in the fields adjacent to the Athletics Arena. We had a great turnout of 28 Bellas, with results as follow: (M) Oscar Coetzee 11:54, Paul McNairn 12:36, Josh Evans 12:54, Jordan Davidson 13:12, Bryan Mulgrew 13:13, Iain Murphy 13:22, Sam Ramsay 13:29, David Jarrett 13:38, Alan Moss 13:47, Jamie Robinson 13:57, David Pattison 15:42, Alan Digweed 15:45, Kalonde Kasengele 17:31, Frank Thielen 18:02. Congratulations to Oscar, Paul, Jamie & David were first place Mens Masters Team! (F) Cathy Wood 14:22, Abby McGlone 15:20, Kirsty MacFarlane 17:15, Lynne Hamilton 17:39, Alice Howe 17:56, Angela Eadie 18:33, Roz Wilson 19:03, Claire Galloway 19:26, Chi My Ta 20:19, Sue Campbell Senior 20:37, Alison Brown 21:14, Louise Gray 21:35, Louise Nimmo 21:38, Terry Nimmo 22:48. And well done too, to Ross Horgan 12:37, Ben Nurse 13:29 & Debi Gallagher 16:32 with Garscube Harriers, Glasgow Frontrunners & Giffnock North respectively.
Saturday 11th October, kicked off with the GB Ultras Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra. A 0600hrs start for Alan Chalmers & Lucy MacKay to tackle the 58 miles from west to east along the central belt canals. Very well done to both, finishing in 10:58:02 & 13:14:29 respectively. It was an almost literal marathon Sunday 12th October, starting with the MBNA Chester Marathon. The fifth biggest marathon in the UK, and a brilliant run by the brilliant Calum Borthwick to finish in a PB 2:37:22, while there was another belting run by Lucy Warrington with a massive PB of 3:59:10. Und es war eine fantastische leistung von Mhairi Hill at the Munich Marathon. Our Bavarian Bella had a great 4:07:28 finish. And, in a warm Bank of America Chicago Marathon, there were no less than a magnificent seven Bellas running magnificent races with Mark Young 2:59:10, Chelsea Cruikshank 3:05:18, Colin Hughes & Marty Campbell 3:32:17, Anne Campbell 3:43:29, Lauren Rice 3:47:06, Pauline Wright 3:49:18.
The main story in town last week was the Great Scottish Run. Firstly, thankyou to our wonderful volunteers who helped out at the GSR Junior races on Saturday 3rd October at Glasgow Green. Sunday 4th October was of course the Great Scottish Run 10k & Half Marathon (HM) and the last day of our 2025/2026 Club Championship. We had 75 members involved in both races. Very well done everyone, including the 20 or so members who recorded Personal Best performances so, some highlights…. Ross Horgan set a new PB and **CLUB RECORD** in the HM with an outstanding time of 1:09:57, finishing in 19th position overall. This record has stood since 2011, and it’s a tribute to Ross’ ongoing dedication to training that he now holds it. Not far behind were Oscar Coetzee (1:22:00) & Paul McNairn (1:13:30 PB) to finish brilliantly as 2nd & 3rd MV40 respectively. Murdoch Rodgers also finished in an amazing 2:09:30 for 3rd place MV75. Our top three ladies were Amelia Matthews (1:23:41), Kelly Taylor (1:26:10) & Deborah Wright (PB 1:31:19). Outstanding performances again. We had four Wieland family members running in the HM with Jonathan (PB 1:23:33), Jamie (1:28:50), Shirley (1:55:23) & Emma, in her first HM (1:56:22).
Saturday 26th September was the Kelpies Half Marathon. Year 3 for this event which is becoming very popular with a good route from The Kelpies up and over the Clackmannanshire and Kincardine Bridges. Very well done in windy conditions to Martin McNulty 1:39:08, Lyndsay Kennedy 1:43:34 PB, Steff Boyle 1:53:14, Wallace Gray 1:58:43, Roz Wilson 2:00:02, Lynn Stuart 2:08:40, Louise Gray 2:22:06. Then, we had a couple of amazing Bellas down south tackling very tough events. Firstly, Ross Gale took on the GB Ultras ‘Cheshire Ring 100 Mile Ultra’. Actually 102 miles with a mix of trails knitting together the Bridgewater, Ashton, Rochdale, Peak Forest, Trent & Mersey and the Macclesfield Canals. What a performance by Ross clocking 16:54:37 for 3rd place. For context, roughly 4 back-to-back trail marathons averaging 4:14 each! It was also the 5 Valleys Ultra in the Lake District on Saturday. 58k with over 2,300m of ascent. A great performance from Luke Gall to finish in 10:02:05. On Sunday 27th, it was the ever popular Baxters Loch Ness Marathon. This was the 24th running of the event, with our Lucy MacKay having now run every edition among her now 83 marathons. What an achievement, and Lucy crossed the line (4:35:27) with Fiona Rennie, the only other person to have run all 24. Very well done too, to Ben Nurse 3:03:53 PB, Christophe Valtier 4:03:56, Isla Montgomery 4:44:25. Meanwhile, in Germany it was one of the World Marathon Majors in Berlin. A brilliant city for it, on a lovely morning. Fantastic performances by Bryan Kerr 2:41:00, Neil McSeveney 3:00:49 & Rhona Fraser 3:21:36. It was also the Linlithgow 10k on Sunday. Well done to Cathy Wood 40:02 who was 3rd lady.