Sunday 10th May saw the start of this year’s Babcock 10k 3 Race Series, with the Shettleston 10k, doubling as the Lindsays Scottish Athletics 10k Championship. A lovely morning for the 500 strong field at Glasgow Green where we had 21 Bellas running. Some great results, notably Oscar Coetzee 33:02 1st MV40 & Bruce Carmichael 35:07 3rd MV50. On Thursday 21st May, it was the second race in the series at Dumbarton. 460 starters on a rainy but decent night. Brilliant performances from our 25 Bellas, notably Oscar Coetzee 33:10 2nd, Paul McNairn 34:38 6th, 1st MV40, Bryan Mulgrew 35:01 10th, all 2nd place Mens Team. Ann Robin 40:10 2nd FV40, Ruth McKelvie 45:31, Claire Wharton 45:28, all 3rd place Ladies Team. Al MacLachlan 42:04 2nd MV60. On Thursday 28th May, the third and concluding race took place at the Helensburgh 10k. It was a tough one on a warm night for our 19 Bellas participating. Of note, Oscar Coetzee 33:19 2nd MV40, Paul McNairn 33:52 3rd MV40, Bryan Mulgrew 34:07, Al MacLachlan 41:37 2nd MV60, Pauline Wright 48:21 2nd FV50, Pauline Bradley 56:04 3rd FV60. Brilliant again by Oscar, Paul & Bryan, this time winning the Mens Team prize.
10k
It was Ayrshire for the Troon Tortoises 39th Troon 10k on Wednesday 13th May 2026. 1,151 starters with a fantastic 28 Bellas running! There was an outstanding PB of 33:32 from Paul McNairn, to finish 3rd overall, 1st MV40. Very well done everyone else, with David Jarrett 36:57, Jamie Wieland 38:12 PB, Lewis Milligan 38:26 PB, Chic Forsyth 39:21, Jonny Moran 41:38, Kenny Crawford 41:52, Jen Conway-Evans 42:56, Michael Walsh 44:33, Gavin McGowan 44:37, Lyndsay Kennedy 45:42 PB, Caroline Munro 46:59, Jim Robinson 47:46, Gillian Gallagher 48:36, Lynne Hamilton 48:40, Robert Boag 49:00, Alice Howe 49:28, Lynn Rennie 50:28, Babs Wilson 50:50, Wallace Gray 51:11, Fiona Birrell 51:39, David Boag 52:24, Louise Gray 53:59, Guy Schmidt 55:09, Louise Nimmo 58:13, Nicola Barrington 1:12:18.
The weekend past was a great one for Grant Murphy, Ross Gale and Ruiari Barfoot! First off, Grant Murphy finished in 3rd place (35:52) at the Neilston pad race on Saturday 2nd May. Saturday was also the Blast Running Fife Pilgrim Way Ultra from North Queensferry to St Andrews Cathedral. 56 miles with 1,200m of elevation. A fantastic effort by Ross Gale, who finished in 4th place in 8:26:33. Then, on the same day, over at the most westerly point of the Inner Hebrides, there was a great performance by Ruairi Barfoot (36:20) in the Tiree 10k, to claim 2nd place. Well done gents, great running all round…literally!
On Sunday 8th March, it was the Springburn Harriers Jack Crawford 10k. It was a lovely morning for it on the route from Bishopbriggs, along the Forth & Clyde Canal. A great flat race for testing the winter training pace! We had great efforts by David Jarrett (34:52 PB ), Bruce Carmichael (35:06, 1st MV50), Cathy Wood (40:42 PB), Al MacLachlan (41:45, 2nd MV60), Dave Ferguson (42:01), Veronica Fusaro (42:53, 1st FV40, PB), Murdoch Rodgers (58:38, 1st MV70), Carla Telfer (1:08:01). A great event as always, so thankyou Springburn Harriers!
Eight of our members travelled to Stirlingshire, to the lovely wee village of Buchlyvie on Saturday 24th January 2026, for the annual 10k race. This is another Club Championship ‘medium’ event for us. This is a very friendly event, with a 300 place limit. The course is out and back and begins behind the Primary School, turning left onto Station Road for just over half a mile, then right onto the old railway track (predominantly firetrack and flat). The halfway turning point is at Barbadoes Cottage (situated on the old railway track). On the return, the course finishes at the school. Well done everyone with Ben Law (5th, 2nd MSnr 37:49 PB), Kevin Queenan (46:12), Tomoyo Fujiwara (47:16), Lyndsay Kennedy (47:50), Alice Howe (49:15), Wallace Gray (51:13 2nd MV60), Henry Merriweather (53:43), Louise Gray (58:36). Thankyou to the organisers, officials, volunteers and people of Buchlyvie for another great event! See you in 2027.
There was a brilliant turnout of 22 Bellas at the Maryhill Harriers Nigel Barge 10k, on Sunday 19th January 2026. The weather conditions were perfect, fairly mild with a light breeze and even some sunshine! There were some challenging underfoot sections on the tough undulating course for the 329 starters, but as always, it was a well organised and enjoyable event. This was also our latest ‘medium’ club championship event for 2025/2026. Our amazing Tony Connelly was 3rd in a PB 31:13, which was also a CLUB 10K RECORD. This was an outstanding effort by Tony given the course profile, to beat the club record that has stood since 2010. Tony now holds all of our men’s records, bar Half Marathon. Close on Tony’s heels was Ross Horgan who also ran a brilliant PB of 31:49, with congratulations too, to Oscar Coetzee who was 1st MV40 in 33:33! Jordan Davidson (35:04) completed our first four men, who took second placed mens team. Our ladies had a great day too with Sarah McSharry (43:34), Leanne McIntosh (45:47) and Anne Campbell (47:16) taking our first three spots for Club Championship points. Thanks to Maryhill Harriers for another great event and of course, to the volunteers and officials.
Fourteen Bellas headed to Tillicoultry on Sunday 28th December to race the PH Racing Clubs annual Tilli 10k. A great route from Tillicoultry to Dollar and back on the Devon Way, in the shadow of the amazing Ochil Hills. This race always sells out its 800 places very quickly, and is a great finisher to the year, and a great way to shake off that festive overindulgence. Its also one of our ‘medium’distance Club Championship events! It was a great day for it, slightly chilly, but dry and calm. Our star of the day was Stuart Laurence who ran a fantastic 37:05, with the amazing Cathy Wood rounding off a brilliant year with a PB of 41:20! No sooner had 2025 ended, when 2026 arrived with the first 10k of the year at the Beith Harriers annual New Year 10k on Friday 2nd January! Another great event, with a smaller field of 300, on a tough but scenic route around Beith. Kenny Osborne ran a great race to finish in 6th place, 1st MV40 in 34:15, with Cathy Wood 42:48 and Tom Thorne 45:37. So, another year of racing stretches out in 2026, and we can’t wait!
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 […]
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.
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!!
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.
What a start to September! Such a busy race calendar across various terrains, distances and geography! The Ben Nevis Hill Race took place on Saturday 6th September, with our own Team MacDonald in attendance. Up and down Britain’s highest peak at 4,413ft! Cat was impressive as normal, finishing 4th lady, 3rd FSnr in 2:06:25, while Ally ran a brilliant 2:33:24. The Great North Run on Sunday 7th, saw a great run by Angus Gray in 1:18:43, even with a dodgy tummy and nice going too by Tommy Burridge and Lynn Cumming. At the Kilmacolm Half Marathon, undulating through Renfrewshire were Bruce Carse 1:21:40, Jamie Wieland 1:33:25 PB, Dave Ferguson 1:37:23, Katie Mathieson 1:39:58, Anna Whall 1:47:17 3rd FSnr, Alex Sutherland 1:47:32, Lynne Goldie 2:05:44. It was also the 24th Stirling 10k. A great Central Athletics race as usual brilliant running by Tony Connelly 32:00 (15th), Oscar Coetzee 32:38, 2nd MV40, Grant Murphy 33:49, Bryan Kerr 34:04, David Jarrett 35:29 PB, Sean Coyle 36:25, Jay Cowan 37:57, Sam Thompson 38:31, Alan Digweed 39:57, John McKenzie 40:41, Veronica Fusaro 45:45. Down in a not so sunny Saltcoats, it was the NAAC10k. Wet and blustery, but great going by Jordan Davidson 35:05, 3rd, Sarah McSharry 42:47 PB 1st lady, Marty Campbell 43:02, 3rd MV50, Kevin Queenan 45:07, Anne Campbell 47:24, 2nd FV40, Wallace Gray 49:19. A not too shabby start to the month then!!
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.
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!
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