There was a fantastic performance from Pauline Wright at the Reykjavik Marathon on Saturday 23rd August. Overcoming injury, on a tough course, in windy conditions, to produce a brilliant PB of 3:43:19! And great running too from Stewart Penny at the Dunoon Ultra to finish 10th overall in 4:32:41 covering 30.2 miles with 981m of ascent. Saturday also saw the latest running of the Tom Robb Memorial Trail Race, our final Off-Road Championship race this season. 7 miles through the picturesque Carron Valley Forest. A great showing with Alan Moss (47:38), Rebecca Croney (58:41, 2nd FSnr), Victoria Curley (58:45), Brian McQuade (1:03:16), Alice Howe (1:07:05), Sue Campbell Senior (1:09:35), Roz Wilson (1:09:44), Megan Parkinson (1:10:49), Fiona Birrell (1:11:02), Lynn Stuart (1:14:02), Rhoda Yarmahmoudi (1:16:14, 3rd FV60). In Glasgow FrontRunners OUTrun 5 Mile Race at Kelvingrove Park on Saturday, we had Benjamin Nurse (29:42, 3rd), Jamie Wieland (32:24, PB), Cathy Wood (35:10, 3rd FSnr) & Stef Boyle (42:21). On Sunday 24th, Poppy Bowie, tackled the 21.1k Surefoot Trail Race at Mt Coot-Tha, west of Brisbane. 1,112m of elevation to contend with, but a brilliant run to finish 3rd lady in 2:18:03. Great training for that Deaflympics marathon, which will hopefully be a wee bit flatter! Closer to home, Cathy Wood ran the Forth Bridge 10k in 43:13, taking 3rd FSnr.
WEEKEND WONDERS
Sunday 17th August was a busy Club Championship race day on the east and west coasts. First off was the Scottish Half Marathon on a warm morning! Very well done to our magnificent seven of Tony Connelly (1:11:22, 10th), Callum Dickson (1:22:20, PB), Lyle Robertson (1:24:40), Andy Hallam-Whitehill (1:43:58), Flora Henry (1:49:05), Claire Galloway (2:15:12) & Camilla Dyer (2:50:17). Tony was only a second outside of his PB, and only a minute from the 14 year old club record. There was a big PB from Callum too! In the west, it was another biggie at the Paisley 10k. The heat was building for this one, with a record 3,500 field participating. A brilliant 47 Bellas ran in these testing conditions so well done everyone! Our amazing top threes were (M) Oscar Coetzee (33:27, 3rd MV40), Grant Murphy (33:30), Bryan Kerr (34:34) (F) Deborah Gray (40:14, 1st FV40), Rhona Fraser (41:52), Lauren Rice (43:05). A great PB of 38:34 for Liam McNally too!
Cat MacDonald continued with her excellent run of form competing for Scotland’s hill runners, on thi soccasion at the Home Countries Senior Home International in Cumbria on Sunday 17th August 2025. A very tough 14k (up and down) at Whinlatter Forest, with 750m of climbing, on a warm day in the north west of England. Scotland women were 2nd placed team, with Cat being the first Scots lady home! Well done Cat! You can read the Scottish Athletics race report at the link below. Scotland men win SHI hill golds – amid strong individual performances
A fantastic 19 Bellas ran at the first ‘public’ Bill Elder 10k in Greenock on Sunday 10th August 2025. It was an excellent new event put on by Greenock Glenpark Harriers (GGH), with great organisation and they even supplied lovely weather! The event had an almost sold out 300 limit, with 231 starting on the day. There was ample parking space around the area, with a smooth registration process at the boat club, with toilet and changing facilities here too. It was a flat, out/in course from the boat club, east along the esplanade/quayside and back. It was a wee bit warm at 17 degrees with only a light westerly breeze, so pretty decent conditions. Most of us regularly run the Renfrewshire AAA 5 Miler in Greenock each February in the cold and wet, so this was a nice change! The start was on the esplanade just east of the boat club, with the starting gun going off at 1100hrs sharp. There was some congestion moving off, as with most sizeable events, but things eased out very quickly, while avoiding the benches and bins on the right side. It’s a flat one mile stretch right down the esplanade before some right, left turns around some of the quayside buildings, before hitting the quayside proper again past Customs House Quay, East India Quay and Virginia Quay, before a 180 degree turn just past Garvel Point. Then it was back in the opposite direction. On the return, the race winner, John Bell of Inverclyde AC, was opening a sizeable lead of almost 2 minutes from our Tony Connelly, with Josh Evans and Kenny Osborne (on home turf) following closely behind. Also showing strong were the vastly improved Jamie Wieland, with Rhona Fraser pushing on in the second half, and Cathy Wood, continuing her injury recovery, closely behind. It was again a full stretch of the esplanade to finish, into the breeze with only that very gentle incline towards the finish. Overall, we had great running from our contingent including: Tony Connelly – 32:15, 2nd Josh Evans – 33:51, 7th Kenny Osborne – 34:37, 8th, 1st MV40 Jamie Wieland – 39:01, PB Rhona Fraser – 42:25, 3rd Lady, 1st FV40 Cathy Wood – 44:05, 3rd FSnr Brian McQuade – 47:21, PB Shirley Wieland – 50:27, 2nd FV60 Brilliant efforts from our podium crew, and carrying on their fantastic recent form, big well done’s to Jamie and Brian with excellent PBs. We had 4 ladies (Rhona, Cathy, Katie Blackett & Louise Ross) in the top 10, and 3 gents (Tony, Josh & Kenny) likewise top ten finishers! GGH put on a great after race BBQ on the beach at the boat club too! A great new event and one to put in the diary for 2026. With thanks to GGH, the marshals, volunteers, officials and Protay Timing. See you all next year! Full Results: https://protay.co.uk/billelder10k2025/results.php
It was the Scurry Around Devilla Forest 10k Trail Race on Sunday 10th August, our penultimate Off Road Championship event this year. Devilla is a lovely woodland at the north side of Kincardine, with the start \ finish within the grounds of the Scottish Police College. The weather was fine and dry, so a great day for it! We had three Bellas competing with outstanding efforts from our trail trio with Jordan Davidson 1st in 38:01, Simon Wells 3rd in 40:02, and Rebecca Croney 1st lady in 47:53! Absolutely fantastic results, well done folks! That means only the Tom Robb Trail 10k on 23rd August remaining in the current Off Road competition.
We had some fantastic news recently for our very own Poppy Bowie, who has been selected to represent Team GB in the Marathon, at the Deaflympics in Tokyo in November this year! The Deaflympics will take place between 15th – 26th November 2025, its 100th anniversary. It is the second oldest multi-sport and cultural festival in the world, celebrating deaf athletes. Since the games began in 1924, only three British women have competed in the marathon, so Poppy will be the fourth; the first from Scotland; and the only GB marathoner in the 2025 games! Running is a huge part of Poppy’s life, and being selected for this event is an amazing achievement, breaking new ground for deaf athletes from Scotland. Poppy explained “In 2019, I started doing parkruns with my first parkrun taking 29 minutes. I couldn’t run 5k without stopping, but over time my 5k performance steadily improved as I built healthier habits and rediscovered my love of running. In 2023, I joined Bellahouston Road Runners, which helped me take things to the next level. I took ten minutes off my 5k time and began racing longer distances. I fell in love with long-distance running and started exploring trails in the Scottish countryside, including some Munros. Long runs became the highlight of my week, and I’m grateful to have the stamina to enjoy them. I ran my first marathon at Strathearn in June 2024, placing 7th female. A year later, I finished 2nd female at the Windermere Marathon. That result secured my qualification for the Tokyo Deaflympics. I find women, especially mothers, who take on ultra trail challenges deeply inspiring. Stephanie Case, who breastfed her six-month-old at feed stations during an ultra, really stands out. She displays endurance, strength, and consistency in the best way possible. I hope to be like her one day!“ Unlike the Olympics / Paralympics, Deaflympics athletes receive no funding and need to raise money to train, travel and compete. Poppy has begun a ‘Go Fund Me’ page which can be found at https://gofund.me/79d4daef Poppy was until recently a primary school teacher in the southside of Glasgow, but had planned a career break this year to visit Australia. Congratulations Poppy, we are delighted and proud of you! Have a good training journey and good luck in Tokyo!
It was the Girvan Half Marathon on Sunday 13th July, one of our ‘long’ Club Championship events. It was 28°C with plenty of hills, but this didn’t deter Grant Murphy, who won the race in 1:16:13! A fantastic effort by Grant, bettering last year’s third place and continuing his return to fitness of late.
It was ‘Run the Blades’ (RtB) this weekend, the events 10th anniversary. There were the usual 3 races: RtB 10k, Friday – a warm sunny evening with great performances by Jordan Davidson (36:18, 2nd), Simon Wells (38:59, 1st MV40), Andy Hallam-Whitehill (44:16), Jamie Wieland (44:38), Gerry McDonnell (45:30), Ruth McKelvie (45:46, 3rd FSnr), Rebecca Croney (47:05), Claire Wharton (47:47, 2nd FV50), Gianluigi Re (49:51), Kenny Mcdonald (51:16), Laura Loddo (52:49), Claire Galloway (57:43). RtB Ultra, Saturday – another warm, humid day and a remarkable turn around for Jordan Davidson, 3:41:15, 4th, 3rd MSnr. Brilliant running too from Tom Thorne, 6:01:40. RtB Half Marathon, Sunday – the final race of the weekend and still very warm. Cue Jordan Davidson (1:22:58) WINNER of the HM. 3 races, 3 days, 3 medals! Brilliant performances too from, Simon Wells (1:31:35, 3rd MV40), Colin Hughes (1:34:23, 1st MV60), Michael Daniel Rice (1:44:38), Jamie Wieland (1:48:08), Lynn Stuart (2:19:51), Della Lansley (2:23:36, 3rd FV60). So what a weekend of running by Jordan, but no surprise given his committed training regime. But hopefully a few days off now!!
It was the Scottish National Trail Championship at the Creiff 10k on Sunday 13th July. And it was another great run in warm conditions by Cat MacDonald (39:57) to finish 3rd lady. The following week, on Saturday 19th July, it was the 48th Snowdon International Hill Race (Ras Yr Wydffa). 15.35k with 994m of elevation, in warm conditions. Another great performance from Cat to finish 9th lady (from 87) in 1:27:28. What a fantastic season Cat is enjoying on the trails and hills!
Linwood Parkrun on Saturday 12th July was the venue for our latest Club Championship ‘short’ event. A total of 45 Bellas ran on Linwood’s 9th anniversary. It was also Lynne Goldie’s 500th, and Gerry Scullion’s 200th parkruns respectively. Fantastic achievements. Bryan Mulgrew finished second and Stuart Macdougall was third. Deborah Gray was first lady, with Sarah McSharry second. A great morning out for BRR! Well done everyone, and many thanks to Linwood parkrun for having us again!
Congratulations to Flora Henry, who finished 4th lady, 2nd FSnr in 1:43:36, at the Isle of Harris HM on Saturday 5th July. A hilly course in wet and windy conditions. This meant that Flora completed the ‘Heb3 Race Series’ (3 from 5 minimum island HMs required) having previously raced the Stornoway & Skye HMs this year and fingers crossed, it looks like Flora was the ladies champ for this years Heb3! Well done too, to Oscar Coetzee, who ran 51:07 at the Eersteriver 15k in South Africa on the same day, to finish 7th overall, 2nd MV40. On Sunday 6th July, David Jarrett ran a brilliant Stonehaven HM in 1:24:40 to finish 4th overall, 1st MV40. A great results on a tough, hilly course.
It was very warm on Sunday 29th June 2025, for three of our members at events far and wide. At the Arran Half Marathon, Tomoyo Fujiwara ran 1:47:27 to take 1st FV50. Down at the Solway Coast Marathon, Lucy ‘Marathon’ MacKay done it again with a time of 4:54:45 in pretty challenging conditions to finish 2nd FV60. Lastly, Ruairi Barfoot completed the Larig Ghru 43k Hill Race in a fantastic 14th place with 3:46:55!. This one stretches from the police stations in Braemar and Aviemore, a Cat ‘C’ Hill Race with a high point of 835m! Well done to our top trio of hardy Bellas!
The Calderglen Harriers 10k Trail Race 2025 ran on Friday 27th June at Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride, It was a fine evening, great conditions for this favourite in the local trail running calendar. Our fantastic four Bella fellas taking part enjoyed great results with Paul McNairn (42:09, 1st MV40), Simon Wells (44:56, 2nd MV40), Jim Robinson (50:33, 1st MV65), Hugh Brown (55:13, 3rd MV60). A great first trail run for Paul who was 6th overall! Our men also finished second placed team too!
A great night was had at Rouken Glen Park on Monday 23rd June, for this year’s President’s Cup 5k race. This is a ‘handicap’ event meaning starting times are staggered based on recent performances in 3k, 5k or 10k races. This usually results in a closely packed finishing area which was again the case this year. After a baking hot weekend, it was cooler…much cooler ,with a strong wind howling around the park. Nonetheless, a fantastic 72 members participated, notwithstanding around 30 others helping get the event on and providing great support around the course. And it was congratulations to Angus Cochrane & Mandy Morgan who claimed victory with the chasing pack close behind! Many thanks to everyone who helped on the night and during the build-up.
It was the West Highland Way Race on Saturday 21st June 2025. A summer solstice challenge to test the hardiest of souls. Milngavie to Fort William, 95 miles, over 14,000ft of ascent and warm conditions, even at the 0100hrs start! Step up Bryan Mulgrew. His second time in the race and looking to better his previous attempt which was a very impressive 22.5 hours Bryan set off from Milngavie with 250 others heading north to Drymen, up the east side of Loch Lomond, past Crainlarich, Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy, before heading through Glen Coe and up to the finish in Fort William. An absolutely incredible feat by Bryan, who powered his way through those miles to finish 7th overall, with a massive PB of 19:11:44, ‘shaving’ a mere 3 hours from his previous attempt! And all aided by a fantastic Bella support crew. Take a bow sir!