Perth Road Runners

The main event of course was the London Marathon and there is no doubt about the outstanding performance. All the months of hard training, pounding the roads of Perthshire, with lap after lap of the North Inch, paid off in a big way for Mike Carroll, as he powered his way to a superb 20th place finish in Sunday’s big race The very strong field include previous winners of the race, Martin Lel, Felix limo and Hendrick Ramaala, plus Paul Tergat, the fastest ever marathon runner, Olympic Champion Stefano Baldini, and current World Champion, Gharib from Morocco and the great Haille Gebreselassie, probably the finest distance runner the world has ever seen. Add in a sprinkling of Internationals, and winners of other major races, and you begin to appreciate just how good Mike’s performance was.

His time of 2 hours 25 minutes and 19 seconds was a new personal best, and club record, narrowly beating the time he achieved in last year’s Amsterdam Marathon. In fact, Mike had been hoping for an even faster time, but his hopes were undone by the heat of an unseasonably sunny spring day.

He wasn’t the only one. On a day when even the world’s best runners struggled to cope with the conditions, Dave Knight was probably a shade disappointed in not getting under the 2 hour 40 minutes mark. On his previous London run 2 years ago, Dave finished in an excellent time of 2 hours 35. Sunday’s time of 2.40.46 was some 5 minutes down on that.

The conditions were also responsible for preventing first time marathon runner Greg Simpson from breaking the elusive 3 hour mark. Frustratingly, he finished just 33 seconds outside. However, he will have learned from his experience, and future runs should see him significantly improve his time.

Debbie Jackson, running in her first London Marathon was delighted to complete the course. Although her time of 4.56.49 was some 13 minutes slower than she ran at Loch Ness last year, she was well pleased with her performance. She described the heat as simply awful, and on such a day it didn’t help when the first 2 water stations she arrived at had run out of water.

Finishing times of all the other club runners were adversely affected by the high temperatures and were appreciably slower than they may have hoped for:
Hugh Daly 4.11.35, Stuart Wyllie 4.44.26, Pauline Mann 5.36.02, Jackie Daly 6.00.14

Meanwhile at the Lochaber Marathon, Bill Lawson was another club member making his debut at the full marathon distance. Congratulations to Bill for a strong performance to finish in a good time of 4.47.14

However, Joan Wilson was in action, competing in the Jim Dingwall “Round the houses” race in Grangemouth. This race had been selected as the East of Scotland 10k championship, and was also the 2nd event in the Scottish Grand Prix series, so competition was fierce. In warm, sunny conditions, the ladies’ race was won by British International Hayley Haining in a time of 32.59, putting her in 11th place overall, and well clear of her nearest pursuer. In such company, Joan put together a very respectable run indeed, finishing in a time of 47.08.

Catching up on some earlier news, Robin Wombill made the long trip to the South of England to take part in his very first 20 mile race. The Worthing 20, on the Sussex coast took place in cool, dry conditions, which would have been ideal for running, had it not been for the rather nasty North East wind. Nevertheless, Robin was delighted with his run, finishing in a time of 3 hours and 5 minutes, despite suffering from a heavy cold.

This coming weekend promises to be a very eventful one, as a number of PRR members are due to take part in the hotly contested Lochaber marathon. The months of hard training will be coming to an end, as the athletes wind down in their final preparations. I believe there is a similar event taking place in London as well. Best wishes to all those taking part, and to those whose plans have been blighted by injury or illness, there’s always next year to look forward to.

Beginning just to the north of Perth Airport, the competitors were initially faced with a steady series of climbs past the manicured greens of Murrayshall golf course, where the field quickly became stretched out. Past the three mile marker, and the race began to pan out in earnest, as the tailwind helped the athletes up the long, stiff climb.

As the leaders reached the 5 mile marker, a group of 4 runners had broken clear at the head of the field; this included the home club’s Mike Carroll and Greg Simpson, as well as Jez Bragg (Raidlight) and John Kennedy (Clydesdale). Mark Cooper, looking to confirm his recent good form, was also having a strong run. By now, the field had become well and truly stretched out with some of the later runners looking decidedly weary, as they took on water. At this point, there was a wee bit of drama, as a tractor, pulling an enormous load, appeared from a side road and completely blocked the course for some 200 yards before turning off into a field. Fortunately, the only runner to be impeded, was already walking by this time.

The runners had little time to appreciate the breathtaking views along the Tay valley towards Dundee, and across the river to the Kingdom of Fife as they reached the top of the climb towards Pitroddie, even though they now encountered the easiest part of the course as they made the long descent to the second water station at about 7 miles, followed by a fairly short flat section. The easy part of the race was about to come to an end.

A left hand turn at Kilspindie, and the runners started to climb….. and climb … and…well you get the idea. The higher they climbed up Pole Hill, the stronger the wind became; the combination of the hill & the headwind sapping the strength of many of the competitors. Surely conditions would be easier once the top had been reached. Wrong!!

Over the top of the hill, and past the final water station at 10 miles, the headwind became stronger. The athletes had to fight their way into the teeth of the wind, yard by hard fought yard, as they struggled to make their way down the hill. By now, Mike Carroll had pulled out a substantial lead over his closest rival, Jez Bragg, and looked to have the race under control.

Entering the final couple of miles, the strong crosswinds buffeted the runners as, head down, they struggled towards the finish, their relief at finishing matched by their immense satisfaction at having completed Scotland’s toughest half marathon road race.
Mike Carroll was a clear winner of the men’s race finishing some 3 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Following his recent fine run at Alloa, Greg Simpson ran well to claim 4th place, with Mark Cooper in 5th spot. In the women’s race, Erni Hamilton took the veteran’s prize, finishing 2nd overall.

Results:
Men: 1 Mike Carroll (PRR) 1.19.10, 2 Jez Bragg (Raidlight) 1.22.04, 3 John Kennedy (Clydesdale) 1.22.30 (also 1st over 40), 7 Roger Greenaway (Central AC) 1st over 50, 1.28.00. Team Winners: PRR ( Mike Carroll, Greg Simpson, Mark Cooper)

Women: 1 Jenny Urquhart (Dundee RR) 1.38.10, 2 Erni Hamilton (PRR) 1.40.32 (also 1st over 35), 3 Carole Fortune (Gala) 1.42.06, 4 Judith Dobson (Kinross RR) 1st over 45, 1.48.32. Team Winners: PRR (Erni Hamilton, Susan Lennon, Gemma Russell)

Other PRR times: Greg Simpson 1.24.02, Mark Cooper 1.26.25, Steve Ferguson 1.32.45, Bill Lawson 1.50.05, Phil Turner 1.52.24, Susan Lennon 1.52.52,Bernt Cederstrom 1.52.52, Pete Ritchie 1.53.12, Gemma Russell 2.11.47.

Sunday saw the 2nd running of the Edinburgh Forthside Half Marathon. After the criticism which followed last year’s inaugural event, the organisers seem to have learned from their mistakes as this year’s race went off smoothly. The use of timing chips helped to overcome the sort of problems experienced by runners at the end of last year’s race. Three members of the road runners took part. Martin Ryan showing a slight improvement from his effort at Alloa, was the 1st over 55 in a time of 1.23.42 Fiona Manson produced a fine performance in the stiff, breezy conditions to record1.43.12, while Anne Maclehose returned a very respectable time of 1.57.32

This coming Sunday, April 8th, is the date for Perth Road Runners’ own Heaven & Hell Half Marathon. Starting just north of Perth Airport, the challenging, hilly course runs through the Sidlaws, via Pitroddie and Kilspindie, finishing at Balbeggie. If you feel up to taking on the toughest half marathon road race in Scotland, it’s still not too late to enter. The race starts at 11 o’clock, and entries will be taken on the morning of the race. Registration and changing facilities will be available at Perth Airport.

The course took in the banks of the silvery Tay, and from Port Allen, rose up to Errol Park Estate, finishing in front of the Big House, by kind permission of the Heriot Maitland family.

Even though this race was classed as a fun run, there were some serious runners in attendance, including 5 from Perth Road runners who were supporting their local community.
Local man Gary Martin was the first PRR athlete to cross the line in a very creditable 8th place in a time of 20 minutes and 18 seconds. Dave Norrie finished in 22.12 with Joan Wilson in 22.44, and Andy Wilson in 27.31. Hugh Daly was accompanied by his son, and the pair of them jogged round the course together in a time of 32.18 .

The storm force winds, the sleet and the snow, made this a memorable race for all the wrong reasons. This was particularly so on the long, 4 mile plus section from Tillicoultry, through Alva and Menstrie, where competitors were almost stopped in their tracks by the powerful headwind.

Despite the conditions, there was another splendid run from Dave Knight. Following on from his 2nd place last week at Cupar, he again finished runner up; on this occasion, a minute behind Jethro Lennox (City of Glasgow), in a time of 1.12.43. When you take into consideration the fact that the majority of runners were several minutes slower than their normal time for this race, you begin to realise just how good Dave’s performance was. He takes an early lead in the club championship.

New member Greg Simpson also produced a very impressive run to be second home for the club On his PRR debut, he completed the course in a terrific time of 1.19.02, good enough to put him in 20th place overall. There were strong runs from Neil Muir and Steve Ferguson, while Dave Norrie was pleasantly surprised by his performance. Erni Hamilton and Fiona Angus were the first 2 PRR ladies to finish. Not content with just running a half marathon, Erni also took the opportunity to cycle back to Perth after the race.

Other times: Neil Muir 1.26.41, Martin Ryan 1.28.46, Steve Ferguson 1.28.50, Erni Hamilton 1.31.54, Dave Norrie 1.37.24, Bernt Cederstrom 1.40.09, Pete Ritchie1.40.29, Fiona Angus 1.40.46, Susan Lennon1.41.42, Bill Lawson 1.42.00, Clare Frulloni 1.42.27, Kenny Stewart 1.46.42, Fiona Manson 1.47.05, Lynne Warden 1.52.38, Robin Wombill 1.52.55, Ken Laidlaw 1.59.19, Julie King 1.59.19, Elaine MacLennan 2.00.15, Karen Walters 2.05.13, Debbie Jackson 2.23.57, Fiona Morrison 2.25.42.

Local runners will be alarmed to hear that Perth & Kinross Council’s sports development team will no longer be organising the annual 2 Inches 10k race, an event that has taken place in one guise or another for the some 20 years. However, all is not completely lost. A meeting has been scheduled for Monday 30 April at Bells, to consider alternative ways of organising the event.

On Sunday, several club members took the road North to Inverness to compete in the city’s half marathon. Following an outstanding run, the winner of the event was PRR’s Mike Carroll in a time of 1hr 8 minutes and fifteen seconds- a new club record. After making a steady start, Mike tracked the leading group of runners through the first mile. He gradually began to increase the pressure, and started to draw away from the chasing athletes, and was never put under serious pressure as he held on to win by 13 seconds from Ben Livesey (Forres), with former Edinburgh marathon winner Robert Gilroy a minute and a half back in 3rd place, and former Scottish marathon champion a similar distance back in 4th place.

After his good showing in the Malta marathon a fortnight earlier Pete Ritchie had a solid run to finish in 1.37.53, chased home by Hugh Daly, just 2 minutes behind. Supervet Phil Turner produced a very respectable time of
1.42.49, with Arabella Woodrow just managing to get inside the 2 hr mark in a time of 1.59.29.

Nearer to home, on Saturday, 17 PRR runners competed in the Cupar 5 mile race. The typically blustery conditions made the out and back course seem much longer than just 5 miles, but this did not seem to hamper Iain Donnan (Lothian),who won in a time of 24.59. At the halfway point, Perth’s Dave Knight was well in touch, but had no answer to the winner’s burst over the final two miles, eventually finishing second in 25.50.

There was a fine debut performance from Mark Cooper who finished in exactly 30 minutes. Equally impressive was Erni Hamilton, who cycled to the race from Perth, duly picked up the Ladies veteran’s prize, and then cycled back to Perth-all good training for her forthcoming Ironman Triathlon at Lanzarote. Extra interest was added to the final sector when a loose horse briefly joined the race, before trotting away calmly into an adjoining field.

Other PRR results: Derek Phillips 30.59, Derek McIntosh 31.04, Martin Ryan 31.19, Bill Lawson 34.52, Dave Norrie 34.55, Susan Lennon 36.21, Grant Wooler 36.28, Elaine MacLennan 39.27, Kenny Stewart 40.17, Debbie Jackson 41.43, Karen Walters 43.00, Christine Chatila 43.10, Fiona Morrison 48.27, Dorothy Bates 50.03.

On Sunday, Dave Norrie and Martin Ryan were again in action, this time taking part in the Gartmorn 6. Organised by the Wee County Harriers, the race is mostly off road , mainly on trails around the loch in Gartmorn country park, just outside Alloa. There was a strong presence from Central A.C. who filled the first three places. Martin finished 26th in a time of 41.42, while Dave was 37th in 44.14.

This coming Sunday heralds the start of the Club Championship, with the Alloa half marathon, which kicks off at 10 o’clock. Once again, there should be a really good turn out from the Road runners

Despite a chilly breeze from the North sea which got progressively colder as the race wore on, conditions for running were generally good. The race was won by Jill Morrow (Portobello) in a time of 64.45. Leading the Perth runners home, was Susan Lennon in 74.42, closely followed by birthday girl Fiona Angus (75.58). Clare Frulloni was next , in 75.58. In spite of wearing the Number One vest, there was a good run from Karen Walters, while it was nice to see Veronica Muir returning to the fray with a solid performance. Other times were:
Fiona Morrison 80.15, Elaine McLennan 85.02, Julie King 87.35, Karen Walters 90.37, Christine Chatilla 92.48, Katherine Stenhouse 95.53, Fiona Morrison 102.12, Sheena McIntyre 102.12, Anne Wombill 102.31, Elaine Hutchison 104.49, Veronica Muir 114.49.

PRR’s representation at the masters’cross country was not so encouraging. Only Colin Campbell and Martin Ryan took part, with Colin gaining a creditable second place in his age group in a time of 49.43.

As a footnote to the Inter – counties cross country at Nottingham, the excellent runs of Mike Carroll and Dave Knight helped East of Scotland to 5th place overall- the highest ever placing by a Scottish district in this event. Once again, congratulations to Mike and Dave.

Bill Lawson headed north to the Moray Firth on Sunday to compete in the Nairn 10k, a race which resulted in a narrow victory for Paul Acari over Simon Pryde. Following a very respectable performance, Bill finished in a time of 44.56

Finally, the coming Saturday sees the start of the club’s Summer series, with the first event being the Cupar 5 mile race

Nearly 300 runners took part in the event, and Mike Carroll’s time of 42 minutes and 57 seconds was good enough to put him in the top 60, with Dave Knight finishing in 44.39. Congratulations to both on their selection, and for their achievement against the top cross country runners in the UK.

Moving in a flash from Nottingham to the Mediterranean, it’s nice to be able to report on a notable performance in the Malta Marathon. Winner of the Ladies event, repeating her success of the previous year was the Maltese runner Hili Carmen. But in second place following an excellent run, was PRR’s Erni Hamilton, in a time of 3.17.01. Her performance was good enough to put her in 35th place overall, which, considering the presence of Kenyan and Moroccan International runners, was very good indeed.

A solid performance from Pete Ritchie, saw him complete the course in 3.29.58, while Clare Frulloni finished in a very creditable 3.48.35. Bob Brown, competing in the Half Marathon finished in a time of 1.52.42, a shade disappointing by his very high standards.

Finally, back to the realm of cross country running, and well done to Susan Lennon for her performance in the Loch Fitty race. Winner of the Ladies’event was Forgandenny athlete Fabienne Thompson (Carnegie Harriers), with Susan finishing in an excellent 4th place.