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| 28.12.07
- PA Report |
The Perth Road Runners festive
activities started up when twenty one runners turned
out for the annual evening Yahoo 10 mile road run,
a brilliant turnout as the temperature was well
below zero. It was a handicap run over a tough course,
with slowest off first to ensure an interesting
finish and everybody ended up warmer than when they
started – except the timekeepers! The large
Yahoo trophy was this year taken home by Grant Wooler
with Bill Lawson second and Lynton Scarborough third.
On Boxing Day Bob Thornton, Robin and Anne Wombill
made their annual trip to Forfar for the 4.5k Plum
Pudding Plod around Forfar Loch. This year Robin
and Anne took their sons Andrew, 6, and Richard
,13. Bob was first PRR home in a race where Andrew’s
pace dictated the 33 minute Wombill family finish
time.
The final event on the festive calendar will be
the Blairgowrie Fun Run on New Years Day. It starts
from the Town Hall at 1pm. |
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| 21.12.07
- PA Report |
| Despite the closeness
to the Christmas holiday and the winter weather
it was still an action packed weekend for Perth
Road Runners. Many members have run past the tiny
church at Aberdalgie on their training runs but
on Saturday some of them actually ventured inside
for the wedding of Susan Lennon and Bernt Cederstrom.
The club sends all good wishes to the happy couple.
Meanwhile others travelled to the historic small
town of Falkland for the annual trail race over
a scenic undulating forest course, with the first
100 runners to enter getting a santa suit to wear
during the race. The suit didn’t slow down
Dave Norrie who finished in 44:45 with Bob Thornton
48:10, Colin Campbell second over 65 in 48:27 and
Debbie Jackson returning from injury to record 60:19.
Sunday saw Mark Cooper in action at the Lossiemouth
Turkey Trot 10 mile road race coming 14th in a terrific
60:15, a new personal best. At the other end of
the competitive spectrum 8 runners in a variety
of festive clothing ran the 13 miles from Dunkeld
up a stiff 500 foot climb to Loch Ordie where they
were greeted with snow flurries, around the loch
and back to Dunkeld to hot drinks and mince pies,
leaving not a few very bemused walkers in their
wake. |
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| 14.12.07
- PA Report |
A small group of hardy Perth Road
Runners made their way to Stirling last Saturday
for the East District Cross Country Championship.
The women contested 2 laps of a 3.2 km course with
the men running 3 laps. The weather was miserable,
although the threatened snow didn’t materialise,
but it was a raw wet day where the wind chill made
it colder than it was. The route was over reasonable
ground, mostly grassland, with a short woodland
path section which quickly became churned up and
would suck off any loose shoes. In the women’s
race Erni Hamilton gritted her teeth to be the first
Road Runner home with Angela Park and Joan Wilson
not too far behind and fighting it out at the end
with Angela just winning the tussle. In the men’s
race David Knight was first Road Runner home with
Stephen Fergusson running at a frantic pace (in
an effort to stay warm) leading the rest of the
team home. There were no sprint finishes between
the club mates in this event where Simon Grieshaber
enjoyed his first foray into cross country despite
the near frostbite of the ears.
Results were:
Women, Erni Hamilton 29:27, Angela Park 31:13, Joan
Wilson 31:13
Men, David Knight 34:44, Stephen Ferguson 39:13,
Derek Phillips 39:56, David Angus 41:01, Simon Grieshaber
46:02, David Norrie 46:20, Colin Campbell 49:04
The club Christmas run will take place this Sunday
(16th). Meet at the top car park of Bells Sports
Centre at 08:45. The run itself will start at the
Sawmill car park at Dunkeld, approx 09.30 and go
to Loch Ordie and back (or as far as we can get
in the time). Mince pies and drinks on return to
Dunkeld. Wear something festive. |
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| 7.12.07
- PA Report |
Perth Road Runners popular Peter
Ritchie (46) from Rattray will shortly complete
his 200th race. He’s finished every race he’s
started and has covered between 10 and 12,000 miles
in his running career. He’ll tackle any distance
on or off road and has an impressive portfolio of
races to his credit which have been rewarded with
the clubs ‘most improved runner of the year’
trophy twice – in 2003 and 2005 and a third
place in the very competitive club championship
in 2005. Peter just keeps running and so far he’s
clocked up 17 marathons, 63 half marathons, 12 ten
mile races, 7 eight mile races, 47 ten kilometer
races, 20 five mile races and 32 other assorted
races. With a marathon personal best of 3:28:30
set at the age of 44 and all his other distances
run at a sub 7 minute mile pace he’s not an
easy man to catch.
******
It was a raw cold but dry Saturday morning as the
66 runners lined up at Balerno, outside Edinburgh,
for the handicap start of the Water of Leith half
marathon. Setting off at intervals (slowest first)
the runners ran the 13.5 miles (yes, it was an intentionally
long half marathon) following the Water of Leith
pathway to finish by a pub at Leith docks. Susan
Lennon, Bernt Cederstrom and Robin Wombill were
flying the flag for Perth Roadrunners. It was a
very scenic run almost totally offroad and whilst
being firm the recent rain ensured that washing
powders will need to be bionic rather than biological
to get the socks white again. Richard Dennis of
Portobello running club was first past the post
in 1:32:29 with Beverley Christy first lady home
in 1:39:26. For Perth with the handicap start Susan
was 31st in 1:48:13, Bernt 39th in 1:35:10 and Robin
45th in 1:51:30.
This Saturday will see the club providing male and
female teams to contest the East District Cross
Country Championships to be held at Stirling University. |
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| 30.11.07
- PA Report |
The cross country season continued
this weekend, with the second East District League
race at Kirkcaldy. Enjoying good conditions on the
day, the ladies completed 6.4 km while the men ran
8.6 km.
Angela Park, in her first full cross country race
for the club, completed the course in 33:25, close
on the heels of Erni Hamilton (30:04), Fiona Angus
(31.37) and Joan Wilson (32:29). The men’s
results were: Derek Phillips (37:39), Steve Ferguson
(37:44), Neil Muir (38:31), Mark Cooper (38:38),
Colin Wilson (41:44), Bill Lawson (42:09) and Dave
Norrie (43:23). The performance of the day was Colin
Campbell (46:20) who excelled to beat Kenneth Stewart
(47:06).
The final race in the East District League series
will be held in January at Livingston. |
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| 23.11.07
- PA Report |
This weekend Perth Road Runners
took part in a number of races around the country.
Pete Ritchie headed to the wilds of Stirlingshire
for the Buchlyvie half marathon. The recent bad
weather had created a wet and muddy terrain, turning
the track into almost cross-country condition and
slowing all of the runners considerably. Despite
this, Pete managed to finish in 1:49:50, a few minutes
slower than his time last week at Glen Clova.
On Saturday, four Perth runners took part in the
Gauldry Gallops cross country race in Fife. Their
results were: David Angus (31:42), Dave Norrie (36:23),
Simon Grieshaber (36:49) and Colin Campbell (38:49)
Not content with one race on the weekend, Dave Norrie
turned out the following day as part of the Perth
team at the Hartley Relay in Abroath. Each team
consisted of six runners, each doing two laps of
a 1.4 km course. The Perth men’s team came
a valiant second behind Wee County Harriers in a
total time of 1:04:38. Individual best lap times
were: Hugh Daly (6min 03 seconds), Dave Norrie (5:49),
Grant Wooler (5:32), Derek Philips (5:15), Greg
Simpson (4:50), Dave Knight (4:34). This impressive
time from Dave Knight earned him the prize for the
fastest lap overall.
Meanwhile, Robin Wombill made the long trip south
to Brighton to contest the annual 10k road race.
This has been Robin’s best season yet, setting
new PBs for 10 km, 10 mile, off-road half marathon,
20 mile and marathon. Consequently, he was undaunted
by the awful weather and strong headwinds for half
the race and his fitness and training paid dividends
to enable him to set yet another PB of 46:40, taking
65 seconds off his previous best, set only recently
at the Forth Bridge race in August.
Tuesday night saw a large number of Perth Road Runners
gathering on Kinnoull Hill for the first of this
season’s “Lark in the Dark” races.
Running by torchlight and without watches, the competitors
completed two loops around Deuchary Hill and the
winners were those who came closest to their predicted
times. The prize went to Mark Cooper, with Keri
Weatherhog and Dave Norrie in second and third places
respectively. The next two “Lark in the Dark”
races will be held in the New Year. |
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| 16.11.07
- PA Report |
On Saturday, Glen Clova was the
setting for one of the year’s most scenic
races. The half marathon course heads down one side
of the glen, then turns around and heads back up
the other, following the path of the river. The
day started with heavy rain, but as the runners
took to the start line, this eased off to a light
drizzle and eventually stopped altogether. By the
time the runners were heading back up the glen,
the mist had lifted to reveal spectacular views
of the surrounding mountains for those who weren’t
looking at their feet. Once back at the finish,
the runners were treated to hot soup and stovies
at the Glen Clova Hotel, a splendid way to conclude
what, for many, is the last race of the 2007 season.
The tough hilly course did not stop the Perth runners
from achieving some impressive results, including
a remarkable PB for Bill Lawson in 1:32:17. First
home for Perth was Neil Muir (1:22:49), followed
by Stephen Ferguson (1:23:01) who placed as second
Supervet. Other results were: Dave Norrie (1:35:48),
Bob Brown (1:38:34), Simon Grieshaber (1:38:44),
Pete Ritchie (1:42:43), Fiona Manson (1:47:41),
Mike Dales (1:55:12), and Phil Turner (1:56:38). |
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| 9.11.07
- PA Report |
| The last race in the Club Championship
2007 took place at Templeton Woods, Dundee on Sunday.
Fine November conditions eased the challenge of
this reputedly tough and hilly course. Placing second
overall, with a time of 57:42, was Dave Knight.
Greg Simpson was the next Perth runner home with
a time of 1:00:25 in 10th place overall. Third was
Stephen Ferguson (1:04:52). The women were once
again led home by Fiona Angus (1:13:28), Susan Lennon
(1:16:14) and Fiona Manson (1:22:56), a familiar
pattern throughout this year’s championship.
Other results were: David Angus (1:09:07), Bill
Lawson (1:11:30), Dave Norrie (1:12:04), Bernt Cederstrom
(1:13:42), Kenneth Stewart (1:13:56), Bob Brown
(1:14:25), Robin Wombill (1:19:26), Linda O’Neill
(1:33:04) and Fiona Morrison (1:46:49). Meanwhile,
Pete Ritchie headed west to Fort William for Eddie’s
Half Marathon, run by Lochaber Athletics Club. Pete
finished in an impressive 1:41:51. |
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| 2.11.07
- PA Report |
Perth Road Runners were out and
about at various venues over the weekend. Pete Ritchie
headed to the borders for the Jedburgh Half Marathon,
where he stormed home in 1:43:01.
Over in Ireland, Stuart Wyllie and Elaine Hutcheson
took on the challenge of the Dublin Marathon. Nearly
11,000 runners turned out on the day to take part
in the race, which had 52 countries represented.
Stuart ran in at 4:19:19, while Elaine achieved
a fine 5:09:04.
At the National Cross Country Relays on Saturday,
Perth RR was represented by one female team and
two male teams. The hilly, zig-zagging course proved
a tough challenge, but the fine conditions and large
crowds was enough to spur the runners on. The Perth
Ladies finished in 40th place out of 52 teams, posting
individual times of: Fiona Manson (20:39), Angela
Park (20:12) and Andrea Cameron (19:27). The two
men’s teams placed 47th and 84th out of 94
teams. Dave Knight had the fastest Perth time of
the day, completing the course in 14:14, followed
by the rest of his team: Neil Muir (16:55), Stephen
Ferguson (16:33) and Derek Phillips (16:44). The
second men’s team consisted of Derek McIntosh
(17:18), Colin Campbell (20:40), David Angus (16:37)
and Dave Norrie (18:47). Who’d have thought
it could be so much fun running up and down a muddy
field?
The final race in the Club Championship 2007 will
be run on Sunday at Templeton Woods, Dundee. |
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