Congratulations to our very own Poppy Bowie who ran the Marathon at the Tokyo Deaflympics on Tuesday 25th November 2025. This was the centenary games for this wonderful event that takes place every four years. Poppy was selected after a great 2nd place finish at the Windemere Marathon earlier this year and is the first Scottish woman to represent Team GB in the marathon in games history. Unlike the Olympics and Paralympics, Deaflympics GB athletes need to fund themselves and in Poppy’s case, arrange for their own training and coaching regime. Thanks to some wonderful generosity, Poppy managed to raise the £4,000 required to participate! She will be eternally grateful to everyone who supported this fundraising effort including her BRR club members, Family, friends and the wider public in the UK and Australia where she has been based since the summer. So after training in a very warm Australian climate, it was a grey and wet Tokyo that greeted Poppy on the day itself. The course consisted of an 8.5km circuit to be completed five times, a mentally tough challenge for anyone notwithstanding the marathon distance itself. Poppy was also the sole GB representative, male or female, in the race. However, Poppy ran a fantastic PB time of 3:06:52 in what was only her third competitive marathon. This meant that she also broke the GB ladies record for the event! So, what a two weeks in Japan, from Opening Ceremony to tea at the British Embassy with her team mates at the conclusion of the event. You can watch the highlights of Poppy’s marathon at the link below. Congratulations again Poppy, we are a very proud club. https://deaflympicsgb2025.co.uk/daily-highlights/tokyo25-deaflympics-day-11?wvideo=vrksxok47a
Racing
On Saturday 15th November, Claire Wharton made her debut for Scotland at the 36th British & Irish Masters International Cross Country at Roundhay Park, Leeds. Claire qualified (FV55) via the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club trials at Tollcross Park in early October 2025. The Roundhay course is a long standing Cross Country venue, and is a tough test for anyone. Claire (Bib 55314) ran a brilliant 29:37 over the 6k course and her Scotland V55 team finished just outside the medals in that category, finishing in 4th place. Claire is a long standing, and highly respected member of Bellahouston Road Runners and it is fantastic to see her efforts being rewarded with a Scotland vest. Well done Claire!
Sunday 9th November 2025 saw the latest running of our annual 10k race at Bellahouston Park, the Jimmy Irvine Bella 10K! We had some significant changes this year with a new flatter course and our race HQ being located at Bellahouston Sport Centre. We have had to tweak our course in recent years due to works within the park and we will of course take on feedback regarding this latest version, as we will about our new HQ location. It was pretty wet in the days leading up to the race, and that rain continued on the day, right up to the start of the race (at midday). Thankfully, it eased off for the most part of the race! This year, we had over 800 runners sign up to participate and there were around 640 finishers on the day. We did of course put on our usual post-race buffet which was more accessible this year being house at the nearby sport centre. We also teamed-up with ‘Rerun It’ to collect used sports gear that the charity will ship over to Malawi for use by local athletes. And, as always, we were delighted to partner with The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice to raise funds for the hospice. The race itself saw a new course record set by the winner, Jamie Crowe of Central AC in an amazing 12:41! There was also a fantastic run from Jill Cherry of Victoria Park City of Glasgow with 34:53, only 30s away from a new female record. Bellahouston Road Runners gents and Bellahouston Harriers ladies took the respective team prizes! Some other records fell too with Tony Connelly (31:37) being a new Bellahouston Road Runners course record; FV70 Margo Turner 56:29; Johnny Mair 47:46. Well done folks! The full list of winners reads: 1st female – Jill Cherry (Victoria Park City of Glasgow): 34.53 2nd female – Rosa Ryan (Perth Road Runners): 38.57 3rd female – Kristina Glynn (Bellahouston Harriers): 39.19 1st male – Jamie Crowe (Central Athletics Club): 29.41 2nd male – Lewis Hannigan (Kilbarchan AAC): 30.25 3rd male – John Bell (Inverclyde Athletics Club): 31.09 V40 female – Sarah McSharry (Bellahouston Road Runners): 43.20 V50 female – Allie Chong (Giffnock North AAC): 41.10 V60 female – Shelia Lewis (Giffnock North AAC): 45.22 V70 female – Margo Turner: 56.29 V40 male – Oscar Coetzee (Bellahouston Road Runners): 33.07 V50 male – Brent Brodie (Bellahouston Harriers): 35.29 V60 male – Gareth Walker (Clwb Run Wales): 40.04 V70 male – Johnny Mair: 47.46 1st female team: Bellahouston Harriers (Kristina Glynn, Joanne Frith, Julie Lynch) 1st male team: Bellahouston Road Runners (Tony Connelly, Ross Horgan, Steven Lamb) 1st female member of Bellahouston Road Runners – Cathy Wood: 41.35 1st male member of Bellahouston Road Runners – Tony Connelly: 31.37 Full results at: http://results.perfecttimingscotland.co.uk/Results.aspx?CId=20065&RId=1257 We are very grateful to Migo Sports for generously sponsoring the race again this year and providing the prizes. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the event, the volunteers, marshals, medics, timing […]
The latest Abbott World Major Marathon took place on Sunday 2nd November 2025 in New York City. Four Bellas travelled stateside to tackle this fantastic race that enjoyed great autumn weather. First home was Rhona Fraser, an age category qualifier, in an impressive 3:27:46, followed by Alex Sutherland in a PB of 3:46:47. Alex’ husband, David, also ran and finished in a brilliant 3:23:01! Next home was club legend, and former club president, Robert McEwan who ran with his son, Robert junior, both finishing in 4:31. Last, but by no means least, one of the nicest members of BRR, Robert Boag, completed the race, to be inducted into the Abbott Six Star Hall of Fame! What an achievement for Robert, who has completed Berlin (2018), London (2019), Boston (2022), Chicago (2024), Tokyo (2025), NYC (2025). A heroic effort by Robert, who dedicated his feat to his own hero, his late father. Well done everyone!
What a performance from Ross Gale at the Glen Ogle 33 Ultra on Saturday 1st November 2025! 33 miles from the start in Killin to finish in Strathyre, over a beautiful course with 3,000ft of climbing. And it was wet in the run up to this one, and on race day itself. Ross however triumphed to win in a quite incredible time of 3.54.01!
Congratulations to Kenny Osborne after two great performances and age category wins in consecutive weeks. On Sunday 2nd November it was the Strathaven Striders “Run with the Wind” 10k where Kenny finished in third place and first MV40 in a fantastic time of 35.12! Then on Saturday 8th November, Kenny headed to the Newton Road Runners 10k and placed fifth, and again, first MV40 in an even better 34.34! A great week for Kenny who is recapturing his best form.
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!!
On Sunday 28th, it was the ever popular Baxters Loch Ness Marathon 2025. A spectacular point to point route from the banks of Loch Ness to the finish in Inverness. Great weather conditions this year, and a new course record of 2:15:46. Not too shabby from our Bellas either with Oscar Coetzee (2:32:21 6th, 1st MV40), Bryan Mulgrew (2:43:38, 20th), Debbi Scott (3:34:46), Lucy MacKay (4:33:20). Lucy completed her 80th marathon including every Loch Ness event to date! Oscar retained his MV40 title too taking 8 mins off last years time.
The Kelpies Half Marathon ran on Saturday 27th September. A start & finish at the Kelpies, with two crossings over the Forth at the Clackmannanshire Bridge and then back over the historic Kincardine Bridge. There were perfect conditions and plenty of Bella horsepower too, especially from the race winner, our Grant Murphy, in a PB and Course Record 1:12:15! Another outstanding effort following on from Grant winning the Girvan HM in July. Great running too by Gavin McGowan (1:39:14), Lauren Rice (1:41:53), Anne Campbell (1:44:13), Wallace Gray (1:49:14), Laura Henderson (1:49:52) & Louise Gray (2:08:19).
The 2025 Highland Fling Ultra took place on Saturday 20th September. A point-to-point trail ultramarathon along the southern 53 miles of the West Highland Way, from Milngavie to Tyndrum, with 2,300m of ascent. Congratulations to our fab four of Stewart Penny (9:12:34, 26th), Jordan Davidson (9:42:07), Ross McGeoch (11:50:23) & Della Lansley (DNF but a brilliant effort running for over 14 hours). Sunday 21st September was the BMW Berlin Marathon. One of the world major marathon events in this fantastic city which was tackled by Kenny Osborne (2:51:12), Paul McNairn (3:02:55) and Chic Forsyth (3:21:28). Great running on what was a very warm day.
It was The Kyles 10 Miles on Saturday 13th September in Tighnabruaich, another ‘long’ championship event for us. And it was the Kyles for smiles with Bryan Mulgrew (58:44) winning, while the ever improving Cara Thom (1:11:47) was the winning lady. We also had Leanne McIntosh (1:15:36) finish a great 1st FV40, and the amazing Shirley Wieland (1:23:44) 1st FV60! A brilliant haul of prizes! There was also one of our ‘short’ championship races at the ‘Flat n’ Fast 5k’ in a wet Linlithgow on Saturday. Great running from Ross Horgan 15:37, Josh Evans 15:50, Bryan Kerr 16:25 PB, Jethro Browell 16:54, Bruce Carse 17:27, Jay Cowan 17:34, Jamie Robinson 17:44 PB, Jamie Wieland 18:31, Lewis Milligan 19:36, Cathy Wood 19:55 and Flora Henry 21:10. Well done everyone, including the returning Ross, who was 19th overall! On Sunday we had runners at the Cumbernauld 10k, with Triss Gabert running a nice 39:25, while at the ‘Kenny Phillips Round Cumbrae 10 Miler’, we had Josh Evans (57:39, 8th), John McKenzie (1:06:22), Ronnie Hart (1:06:28), Jamie Wieland (1:06:48 PB) Katie Blackett (1:11:24, 6th lady) and Brian Young (1:26:32). Sunday also had some international events including the Vilnius Marathon, Lithuania, where Ben Law (3:34:16) & Mark Worton (5:02:57) completed their marathons debuts! And at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, one of the ‘Super Half’ events, Andrew McCulloch (1:35:34) was our pick of the bunch.
It was the last Friday in August this week, so time for ‘3k on the Green’ at Glasgow Green. This is an excellent monthly event billed as ‘The best wee race in Scotland’ and the £2 entry fee goes to charity! This event (29th August) also doubled as a ‘short’ Club Championship race with a healthy fourteen Bellas taking part. The weather was fine for our runners who produced great results: Grant Murphy (9:20, 1st & PB), Josh Evans (9:33, 3rd), Jordan Davidson (9:48), Stuart Macdougall (9:52), Bruce Carse (10:10), Jamie Wieland (10:49, PB), Dean Dempsey (11:01), Barry Edwards (11:14), John McKenzie (11:19), Rhona Fraser (11:55, 3rd lady), Al MacLachlan (12:05), Katie Blackett (12:23), Louise Ross (13:00), Lynne Hamilton (14:40). Many thanks to the 3kotG organisers and volunteers! Read the race report here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Avr7YrdFo/