Sunday 18th August saw the latest running of the OneRen Paisley 10k. There was a field of almost 2,400 starters and, as always, it’s a popular race for our Bellas, with an impressive 59 of our members participating! The route starts in the centre of Paisley, extending west towards Linwood before returning to the town centre via the cycle path. The weather was good, although a bit blustery, with some brilliant performances throughout the field. A huge well done to our fantastic top 3 ladies, Deborah Gray (39:27), Emer Campbell (39:53) & Christie Lamb (41:20) who took 3rd place ladies team! Deborah also took 1st FV50, retaining her title from last year. Our top men were Johnny McBeth (31:36), Ross Horgan (33:30), Oscar Coetzee (33:46, 2nd MV40) & Kenny Osborne (33:46 (PB), 3rd MV40). There were some great PBs too including for Bryan Kerr (34:15) & Gerry McDonnell (42:02). Another great day out, and another club championship race completed. Well done everyone! On the same day, it was the GSi Events Scottish Half Marathon on the east coast. The race started at Meadowmill, before extending east out towards Craigielaw then turning back west along the coast past Port Seton, Cockenzie, Prestonpans to finish at Mussleburgh. There were some challenging conditions with a brisk wind, so well done to our very own ‘magnificent seven’ of Tony Connelly (1:14:42, 13th, 3rd M35), Bruce Carmichael (1:19:53, 1st M45), Jay Cowan (1:28:45), Rhona Fraser (1:32:06, 3rd F45), Alan Chalmers (1:34:26), Flora Henry (1:44:21) & Rory Young (1:48:58). A great showing and, again, another club championship race in the bag! It’s a ‘short’ championship race next, at ‘the best wee race in Scotland’ namely 3k on the Green, Glasgow Green, 1230hrs Friday 30th August 2024. See you there! https://www.entrycentral.com/jimmyirvinebella10k
BELLA BUDDIES AND A MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Saturday 10th August saw the 108th running of Elder park parkrun, in the heart of Govan. It also saw the latest Bellahouston Road Runners Club Championship ‘short’ race over the 5k distance covering four laps of the park. Elder Park itself is very important and special to the people of Govan, and has been since it was established in 1885 by Isabella Elder, as a memorial to her husband, the shipbuilding magnate, John Elder. The park was built on the site of Fairfield Farm and Mrs Elder later donated monies towards the building of the beautiful Elder Park Library that was opened in 1903 by no less that Scots-American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (the library has recently reopened after refurbishment). Mrs Elder was a remarkable woman who through her philanthropic efforts fought for education for women and girls and secured access to medical training for women in what was to later become part of Glasgow University. It was a bright, blustery morning for the event itself which had 168 runners, including a fantastic 37 Bellas. 1st, 2nd & 3rd men and overall finishers were Ross Horgan (16:25), Grant Murphy (16:37) & Dave Jarrett (17:25). The first three Bella ladies (and women finishers) were Rhona Moran (19:55), Jen Conway (20:21) & Poppy Bowie (20:47). The best male age-grade in the event fell to our parkrun machine Al MacLachlan (20:21) representing 82.39% on his 578th parkrun. There was also another fantastic 5k PB of 23:55 for Shirley Wieland who PB’d on the previous Club Championship parkrun event at Linwood! We had numerous Elder Park parkrun PB’s too, so well done everyone, including our excellent Bella volunteers, Kevin Queenan, Roz Wilson & Hugh Brown. Special thanks of course to out wonderful hosts at Elder Park parkrun that continues to go from strength to strength. It’s a very friendly, compact, flat and well organised event. Thank you for having us, and hopefully see you all again next year! #monthebellas #elderparkparkrun https://www.entrycentral.com/jimmyirvinebella10k
The ‘Off Road’ Club Championship is rapidly coming to a conclusion with only a handful of events remaining this season. To complete this particular challenge, members need to complete any 3 from a dozen trail / hill races between April and September. The latest events were scheduled in close proximity in the calendar. First off, it was down to Ayrshire, on a lovely summers evening, for the Kilmaurs Gala 5k on Wednesday 31st July. Nine Bellas put in great performances with Paul McNairn finishing 8th in 16:56 and claiming first placed MV40 in the process. Claire Wharton also finished third FV50 in 21:36. In addition we had James McGreevy (20:03), Marty Campbell (20:58), Gavin McGowan (21:36), Anne Campbell (22:15), Joni Lindsay (22:54), Laura Wilkinson (23:33) & Caroline Munro (25:05, in her Giffnock North vest). Well done everyone! On Sunday 4th August, it was just north of the Forth to Kincardine for the latest Scurry event, this time around the lovely Devilla Forest. Seven Bellas mustered in the impressive grounds of the Scottish Police College before tackling the 10k run through the woods. A huge well done to Simon Wells who finished in second place, with Rhona Fraser finishing first lady. The next race in the challenge is the ‘Tom Robb Memorial 7 Mile Trail Race’ in the Carron Valley on 24th August. Good luck everyone! Put you in the mood for a race? Remember that the Bella Jimmy Irvine 10k takes place in Bellahouston Park on Sunday 10th November 2024. Places are available at Entry Central https://www.entrycentral.com/jimmyirvinebella10k
It was an island theme this week for racing, with some warmer weather contributing to some tough conditions on the west coast. Firstly, it was the beautiful Isle of Mull on Saturday 27th July, for the annual Mull Runners hosted Half Marathon, It was a tough undulating route, with the sun shining, and the course extending from Craignure to Salen, with great views over the Sound of Mull to Morvern. Very well done to Stuart Laurence (1:29:36, 10th), Gerry McDonnell (1:38:25) & Catherine Laurence (2:04:42) on finishing and completing another Club Championship ‘long’ qualifying race. The following day, Sunday 28th July, it was south to the Firth of Clyde for the Kenny Phillips 10 Mile Race around the Isle of Cumbrae. It was baking hot for the field of over 400 hardy runners. This too was a Club Championship ‘long’ qualifying race. Our Bellas stuck to it to register some great performances, viz Alan Moss (1:03:03, 15th), Ruairi Barfoot (1:03:17, 16th), Johnnie Felton (1:05:38, 23rd), Simon Wells (1:05:47, 24th), Grainne McGrath (1:08:18, 4th lady, 3rd FSnr), Christie Ford (1:10:57, 9th lady), Al MacLachlan (1:11:49, 1st MV60), Victoria Curley (1:14:11), Andy Tomlinson (1:16:05), Harris Millar (1:19:51), Hayley Drysdale (1:31:39) & Jamie Wieland (1:33:35). Really hot conditions, so well done all, especially our medallists, Grainne and Al.
There’s been a bit of an international theme over the past week, all the way from Wales to Africa! Congratulations to Cat MacDonald who represented Scotland at the 49th Snowdon International Hill Race on Saturday 20st July 2024. The race extended over 15km with almost 1,000m of elevation on a wet, cool day. Cat ran a strong race, finishing 8th lady in 1:26:58 to help the Scotland ladies team take third place. Well done to Oscar Coetzee, who ran a 1:13:43 Half Marathon in a cold and very rainy Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 20th July, placing 6th overall and 2nd Male Vet. Oscar also won Elite Male Vet of the year for 2023 at his home club in South Africa, Brimstone Itheko AC. Fantastic performances from Oscar this year, both home and away! And lastly, our good friend in Kenya, Isaiah Kosgei, ran an incredible 1:09:34 at the Uasin Gishu Half Marathon in Eldoret Town (Kenya) on Sunday 21st July. Isaiah was proudly sporting his Bella vest, and he continues to raise funds for, and do great work with, the Kosgei Walpole Foundation to support childrens education in his local area. Another inspiring outing for Isaiah, an incredible athlete and a former Loch Ness Marathon champion.
The weekend of Friday 19th – Sunday 21st July 2024, saw the annual ‘Run the Blades’ (RTB) races at Whitelee Windfarm. It’s a tough, undulating, exposed, but eerily beautiful place to run, with frequent unseasonable weather changes. The events are always really well organised by Breaking Strain. Begining with the 10k on a pleasant Friday evening, we had brilliant running from Claire Wharton who was 3rd lady home (47:03). Our men finished, Jethro Browell (39:00, 4th), Jordan Davidson (39:10, 5th), Simon Wells (40:43, 11th), Gerry McDonnell (46:00) & Andy Tomlinson (49:05). Great performances, especially given the challenging climbs towards the finish line. It was the big one for our on Saturday with the 50k Ultra Marathon on a cloudy, humid, then rainy day. Amazing running all round from Stephen McQuade (9th, 4:07:47), Jordan Davidson (11th, 4:13:36), Siobhann Dunn (18th, 5th lady, 4:27:27), Brendan McGuiness (4:44:23), Jamie Robinson (5:18:16), Jimmy McGreevy (5:18:18), Alan Digweed (5:51:17) & Cormack Smith (7:58:18). Great commitment and resilience to tackle this discipline, so a huge well done to all. To finish, it was the Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Again, a tough undulating course, starting off in chilly conditions, although not the stormy weather of 2023! It was an absolutely outstanding run from Ross Horgan in 1:15:15 to win and break the course record, while Fraser Kelly finished in a brilliant 3rd place with 1:23:34. Following on were Jordan Davidson (1:32:09, 13th), Alan Chalmers (1:32:40, 14th), David Vallance (1:49:55) & Gavin Elliott (2:02:45). Another great morning of running. And the recurring name in the three races was Jordan Davidson, running 10k, 50k and 21k RTB races in a single weekend. An epic starring role!
Linwood parkrun was the venue for the latest Bellahouston Road Runners Club Championship race. This was a ‘short course’ event and coincided with Linwood’s 8th parkrun birthday!! Almost 40 Bellas made the trip on a lovely summers morning, with some fantastic running across the board. Kenny Osborne, Jordan Davidson & Stuart Laurence finished 2nd, 3rd & 4th, with Paul McNairn also making it into the top ten. Grainne McGrath finished just outside the top ten claiming 2nd placed lady. Shirley Wieland kept up her recent run of form with another great 5k PB in 24:13! As always, we are thankful to the organisers, volunteers and fellow runners for making us welcome and it was great to be there to help celebrate eight fantastic years of parkrun at Linwood. Happy birthday!!
The Scottish Veteran Harriers Club 5k ran in Clydebank on Wednesday 26th June on a cloudy but warm evening. Whilst not the most scenic of courses, it’s a great well-organised event on a flat and fast loop. There was some great running from our Bellas as always with, in finishing order; Oscar Coetzee (15:50, 2nd place), Calum Borthwick (16:09, 5th place), Paul McNairn (16:51), Alan Moss (17:59), Kelly Taylor (18:03, 2nd lady), Al MacLachlan (20:06), Calum Sinclair (20:51), Andy Tomlinson (22:18), Joni Lindsay (24:13), Robert Macleod (27:20). This was another short course Club Championship race completed. Congratulations to Oscar on his second place finish, and Kelly on second female placing! Great return performances too from Joni and Andy who were both recovering from injury and illness. Well done everyone! The latest Off-Road Championship race followed on Friday 28th June with the Calderglen Harriers 10k. Calderglen Country Park provides a tough challenge, with the course undulating through the woods and with having to bat away the midgies! Seven hardy Bellas ran with, in finish order: Simon Wells (46:41), Rhona Fraser (47:49, 4th lady), Anne Campbell (55:32), Stevie McIntyre (56:37), Charlotte Parkinson (58:01), Henry Merriweather (59:10) & Laura Wilkinson (60:20). Congratulations to Rhona, Anne & Charlotte who made up the third place ladies team. If this puts you in the mood for a great 10k run later this year then check out our very own at https://www.entrycentral.com/jimmyirvinebella10k
There’s no stopping Catriona ‘Cat’ Macdonald who has been in brilliant form on all fronts of late. On Sunday 9th June, Cat (representing Morpeth Harriers) ran in the 5.8 mile ‘Blaydon Race’ in Newcastle. This is a large annual road race with around 4,500 competitors. Cat finished 3rd female senior (6th placed female overall). On Friday 21st June, Cat raced the ‘Black Rock 5’ a unique road and beach race that takes place annually in Kinghorn, Fife. Over 1,100 runners took part over the 7km long route that is timed to coincide with a sufficiently low tide to enable runners to pass behind the Black Rock, about 1km offshore from Burntisland. Cat finished 2nd place female. Then, the following day, Saturday 22nd June, the summer solstice, and it was onto Melrose for the ‘Eildon Three Hills Race’ which covers 7.2km with 510m of ascent, traversing the iconic three Eildon hills. Cat was 1st female, capping off quite a weekend!
It was fantastic to see so many Bellahouston Road Runner volunteers helping out with marshalling at the recent GSi Events Ltd, Mens and Womens 10k races in Glasgow on Sunday 16th June 2024. The Club has regularly turned out at these particular events over the last number of years and it’s always a great day out. We had members at the start and throughout the course to help ensure things ran safely and smoothly, to pardon the pun! Seeing so many people being cheered on and enjoying themselves on a great city course was wonderful. Our members also regularly volunteer at other great events including the Bellahouston Harriers Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k, the Great Scottish Run each autumn, cross country league and of course parkrun. It’s a great way to spend a few hours and get to know fellow club members a bit more. It’s also a great way to stay involved if you are between races or are injured, or if you just fancy cheering the runners on! So well done everyone, and “…thanks marshall!!”
It was a busy race weekend in the midst of 10k season with over 60 Road Runners competing around the country. Firstly, it was the excellent Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k on Friday 7th June, hosted by our Bellahouston Harrier friends. Although there was some sunshine, it was a cold blustery evening around Pollok Park. Some 25 Road Runners tackled the course with an incredibly strong field, headed by local Olympian, Callum Hawkins, who won the race in 29:45. Tony Connelly (32:26, 10th), Calum Borthwick (33:25) & Kenny Osborne (34:39) led our gents home. Katie Blackett (44:23), Kirsty MacFarlane (44:42, PB ) & Charlotte Parkinson (47:48) were our top three ladies. A great run by Lucy Mackay (54:43) saw her take 1st V55. There were numerous PBs for our members too who celebrated with the traditional Goodwin burger and beer. On Sunday 9th June, the 10k racing moved to a sunny Kilmarnock for the increasingly popular ‘Roon the Toon‘ event. Over 1,800 started the race with 22 Bellas among them. Our top 3 gents were Paul McNairn (35:59, 3rd V40), Craig Ross (36:30) & Mark Young (36:38). For the ladies it was Deborah Gray (39:16, 1st V50), Emer Campbell (39:22, 3rd V40, PB) & Anne Campbell (46:03). This meant that our gents and ladies both took silver in the team competition! Connoisseurs of the longer events were out in force too with the ever impressive Colin Hughes putting in another great performance to win V60 (1:27:37) at the Isle of Skye Half Marathon on Saturday 8th June, finishing 17th overall and beating all of the V50s in the process! At the Strathearn Marathon on Sunday, Poppy Bowie, making her marathon debut, had an outstanding performance on a challenging course, to finish 7th lady in 3:35:43. And finally, with all this 10k racing on the go, remember that our own Jimmy Irvine 10k will run at Bellahouston Park on Sunday 10th November. Entries are now open at https://www.entrycentral.com/jimmyirvinebella10k
Saturday saw the annual BRR pilgrimage to the Killearn 10k Trail Race (including the beer festival cool down!). It was a beautiful warm first day of summer for this tough, multi-terrain route from Killearn village out to the Dumgoyne foothills and back. Brilliant running by our 22 Bellas who made up 12% of the field, with our amazing top 3 ladies being Rhona Fraser 42:50 (1st lady), Deborah Gray 44:54 (2nd lady) & Claire Wharton 46:22 (7th lady, 1st FV50). A fantastic run too by Shirley Wieland in 53:05. For the gents it was Craig Ross 40:26 (6th), Alan Chalmers 42:02 (10th) & Colin Hughes 44:13 (15th). Colin and Shirley would normally have won their respective V60 categories, but Killearn was structured slightly differently this year. Nevertheless, brilliant runs and a great event as always. Well done everyone!
2024 was the 6th running of the 3 race babcock 10k Series, formerly the Polaroid Series. 12th May saw the first race at the Shettleston 10k, Glasgow Green. Over 20 Bellas ran on a lovely warm morning on a fast, flat course. Our first three gents were Tony Connelly 33:01 (6th), Oscar Coetzee 33:36 (10th, 1st V40) & Kenny Osborne 34:58 (11th) with the gents also taking a fantastic mens team gold! For our ladies it was the top trio of Rebekah Russell 37:23 (3rd FSnr), Grainne McGrath 40:20 (11th FSen) & Cathy Wood 43:41 (19th FSen). A great morning of running for all of our Bellas. Next up was Dumbarton on Thursday 23rd May, in entirely different conditions with heavy rain on a more undulating suburban route. 22 hardy Bellas raced, with the top three gents being Oscar Coetzee 32:58 (8th, 1st MV40), Calum Borthwick 33:05 (10th) & Bryan Kerr 34:34 (20th). So two straight MV40 wins for Oscar to help the gents team take bronze! Our ladies first three were Rebekah Russell 36:32 (4th FSen), Poppy Bowie 42:05 (14th FSen) & Alice Howe 51:02 (33rd FSen). So it was onto Helensburgh on Thursday 30th May for the final race of the series. What a contrast in weather from Dumbarton, with lovely Spring sunshine although a brisk headwind for the first half. 23 Bellas ran with our top three gents being Oscar Coetzee 33:15 (8th, 1st MV40), Ross Horgan 33:24 (9th) & Kenny Osborne 34:29 (14th). A clean sweep of MV40 golds for Oscar and team bronze for the gents! Our top three ladies were the formidable Rebekah Russell 36:48 (3rd FSen), Kelly Taylor 39:13 (7th FSen) & Cara Thom 45:11 (22nd FSen). Brilliant running from our ladies to also take team bronze! Helensburgh also served as the Scottish Athletics West District 10k Championship with the team competition rising to four members. With Bryan Mulgrew 35:23 (22nd) our gents were West District team runners-up. Lyndsay Kennedy 48:39 (30th FSnr) was our number four lady meaning West District ladies team 3rd. Congratulations to the outstanding Oscar Coetzee, the overall series and West District MV40 winner, 3rd placed gent overall and 3 team awards. The amazing Rebekah Russell had a fantastic series too, finishing ladies runner-up with two 3rd place FSen finishes as well as Helensburgh team bronze and corresponding West District awards! 11 members completed the full 3 race series with fantastic performances throughout from all of our Bellas. A real purple patch in another great babcock series. Well done everyone! https://babcock10kseries.co.uk/ Images courtesy of Daren Borzynsky
Endurance was the name of the game this week with lots of testing events. Cat MacDonald was first lady at the Goatfell Hill Race on Arran on Sunday 19th May. On Thursday 23rd, 22 hardy Bellas raced the second of the Babcock 10k race series at Dumbarton in monsoon conditions. Our gents top three of Oscar Coetzee 32:58 (8th, 1st MV40), Calum Borthwick 33:05 (10th, PB) & Bryan Kerr 34:34 (20th, PB) took the mens team bronze. Great running too from Al MacLachlan 41:44 (2nd MV60) with Rebekah Russell 36:32 (4th FSen) first Bella lady home. There were outstanding efforts by Jordan Davidson & Graeme McNay on Saturday. Jordan completed the West Highland Way Ultra (25:53:19), all 96.5 miles with over 22,500ft of ascent. Graeme meanwhile ran the Cateran Trail Ultra in Perthshire, at 56 miles with 7,500ft of climbing. Very well done to Craig Ross (1:29:26, 4th MV40 ) & Louise Ross (1:41:52, 2nd lady, 1st FV40) at a hot and hilly Kirkcudbright Half Marathon on Saturday. The rain returned for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on Sunday 26th. In the Half we saw great runs by Ruairi Barfoot (1:19:32), Tom Thorne (1:37:29), Anton Soderqvist (1:50:18), Emily Jackson (2:01:49) & Lucy Mackay (2:06:51). The Marathon followed with great running from finishers Chic Forsyth (3:16:16), Harris Millar (3:23:02), Cathy Wood (3:42:51), Sam Dickson (3:54:38), Conor Cross (3:56:08), Hayley Drysdale (4:17:58), Gerry Hanlon (4:28:03) & Lynn Stuart (4:56:38). A great week, well done everdone!
You may have noticed Bellahouston Road Runner, Andy Tomlinson in the media of late following his gaining entry to the Abbott World Marathon hall of fame after gaining his 6th ‘star’ upon completion of the London Marathon in April 2024. A few weeks down the line, Andy has been reflecting upon his achievement which for most of us is beyond comprehension, never mind doing it while managing Cerebral Palsy. Starting his journey in Berlin 2021, Andy completed New York, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo and London by 2024. 6 world Majors in 24hrs 47min 25sec, averaging 4hrs 7min 54sec, with a PB of 3hrs 45min 53sec in Boston. Quite incredible and a credit to himself. We at BRR are very proud of our fellow member. Andy may well be a record breaker after his efforts and his achievements were recognised globally in the media. Our own Siobhan Dunn penned a fantastic BBC piece on Andy which is available here