Perth Road Runners

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26.06.09 - PA Report
The “saved” Dundee Half marathon took place last weekend. The race was cancelled last month for financial reasons, leaving hundreds of runners in limbo. But thanks to the efforts of Eventfull Management, the 13.1-mile race was saved.
Competitors started at Camperdown Country Park and finished in Broughty Ferry. The route took the runners along the north side of the city predominantly using Dundee’s Green Circular Cycle Route.
8 Perth Road Runners lined up on the start line on a hot sunny morning. Neil Muir was first home in 1:24:26 finishing 8th overall and 3rd male vet. In David Hunter’s first half marathon, he finished in an impressive 1:29:52. Bob Brown was next in 1:34:03 and was 5th male supervet. Bob Thornton finished in 1:50:08.
Tania Greenhorn was first Perth lady over the line running a new personal best of 1:56:33. Next up for the ladies was Nicola Lessells who also ran a personal best in 1:57:30. Debbie Jackson finished in 1:58:28 and Jake Carter in 1:59:21.
Robin Livingstone completed the Benbecula Half Marathon recently. Robin who is a fan of the western isle races came 8th in a time of 1:28:26.
Focus now turns to the summer series with the Brig Bash next Wednesday at 7.30. Entries are taken on the night and a good turnout is expected for this fun 5 miler. The Roadrunners have a reputation to keep at this race. So once again club members are asked to swap their trainers for aprons and produce some tasty treats for that infamous post-race feast.
 
19.06.09 - PA Report
It has been a fairly quiet week on the racing front for the roadrunners. After the furore of the race calendar over the last few months a weekend off was a welcome relief for most.
Not so for Robert MacDonald who was in action at Pitreavie Stadium for the Scottish Athletic National Masters Championship. He competed in the 100m and 200m in the male over 55 category. His time for the 100m was 15:20 and 30.98 for the 200m. This was an excellent piece of track running from Robert and he was within a second of the merit standard for both distances.
Alan Burns and Robin Livingstone ran the scenic Skye Half Marathon over the weekend. It is a very undulating 13.1 mile loop on the quiet back roads starting and finishing in Portree. Alan finished in 1:24:59, 4th male vet and 9th overall. Robin crossed the line in 1:32:18 and was 3rd super vet.
The second 5km time trial around the North Inch takes place this Thursday. This is a great opportunity to sharpen up for the shorter races. Next up is the 4.5 mile Milnathort Dash on Thursday. This is the third race of the summer series and will no doubt be well represented by the green vests of Perth.
An update on the results of the Edinburgh Relay results confirmed the Perth Men’s team of Tony Jackson, Mark Cooper, Mike Caroll and Linton Scarborough as second team overall.
The Perth Ladies team have been promoted to first in the Female Team Challenge since the winning team was disqualified for fielding a male runner. The team consisted of Keri Weatherhogg, Meike Cooper, Erni Hamilton and Claire Douglas.
The Perth Male Vets came third in the Running Club Challenge and 7th overall. Steve Ferguson, Neil Muir, Derek Phillips and Derek MacIntosh were the members of this team.
 
12.06.09 - PA Report
There was a sea of green in Aucterarder last week as 32 Perth Roadrunners lined up at the start of the Lang Toon 10k race. It was a lovely evening to run this scenic and challenging route on the back roads around Auchterarder.
This race is the second race from seven that comprise this year’s summer series. Competition was fierce as ever amongst the roadrunners with Tony Jackson coming out top of the Perth men and achieving a personal best in a time of 34:04.
Mark Cooper had another good race finishing second behind Tony in 35:41 with Linton Scarborough third in 37:06. Derek MacIntosh was first in the vet category in 38:01.
Young David Hunter, who has recently turned 18, showed what he is capable of finishing in 38:02 and setting a personal best over this distance. Andrew Millington also ran a personal best in 41:36.
Erni Hamilton was first Perth lady over the line in 41:36 with Claire Douglas and Susie Lockett continuing their recent good form in 47:20 and 48:52 respectively.
Angela Park and sister Vicki were the first and second local ladies in their respective times of 46:46 and 51:30.
Elsewhere Marianne Crichton completed the Grantown 10k Anagach Forest Trail Race in 51:12. Marianne now deserves a welcome rest after competing in six races over the last 3 weeks.
Bob Brown and Pete Ritchie ran in the Arbroath 10k with Bob recording a time of 43:50 and Pete 44:07.
Joan Wilson was also in action last weekend competing in the gruelling Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon in Kintail. It is a two-day mountain orienteering competition with an overnight camp. The aim is to visit each of the checkpoints on the course and the times for both days are aggregated to find a winner. Joan and her partner completed it in 13:32:43.
After the hectic race diary of the last few months it was time for the roadrunners to let their hair down and ditch the trainers for a night. Perth’s Roca Blue was the venue for the summer social evening. A good turnout and drinks a plenty made for a very enjoyable evening.
 
05.06.09 - PA Report
Perth Roadrunners had a successful day out at the Edinburgh Marathon last Sunday. One could be forgiven for thinking that they were in a Mediterranean city rather than the Scottish capital as temperature soared into the high 20’s. Despite the heat there were some great individual and team relay performances.
12000 individuals were competing over the full 26.2 miles and 5000 were part of the Hairy Haggis Relay Challenge. The route started in the city centre on Regent Road before heading through Holyrood Park then down through Leith onto the promenade at Portobello passing Musselburgh Race Course and continuing along the coast before looping back to finish at the race course. It is a flat course and has a reputation for being fast, it certainly lived up to expectation.
In the relays, Perth’s top men’s team consisting of Tony Jackson, Mark Cooper, Mike Carroll and Linton Scarborough finished second overall in a superb time of 2:29:20.
The male vet team were an impressive 7th overall in a time of 2:41:46. Steve Ferguson, Neil Muir, Derek Phillips and Derek McIntosh were the fast four making up this team.
The ladies stormed home in 16th overall taking 2nd prize in the female team challenge. Keri Weatherhogg, Meike Cooper, Erni Hamilton and Claire Douglas made up this foursome.
Three other Perth teams put in solid performances and all enjoyed cheering their fellow club mates over the finishing line. Nine roadrunners completed the full marathon, some having to endure periods with no water as stocks ran out, allegedly due to a theft of water and Lucozde energy gels earlier that morning.
Fiona Angus was first home from Perth producing a personal best of 3:28:41, beating her previous London marathon time by 2 minutes – a super performance in the hot conditions.
Bob Brown continued his good form finishing in 3:29:12 and was first male over 65, adding to his many titles in this category.
Amy Greig made a good start to marathon running, completing her first race at this distance in a very respectable 3:55:32.
Gutsy performances also came from Fiona Manson 3:28:41, Claire Frulloni 3:57:01, Kenneth Stewart 3:59:47, Fiona Hair 4:09:11, Debbie Jackson 4:34:41, Maureen Summers 4:35:23 and Susan Smith 4:42:53.
The Knock Hill Race took place on a pleasant summer evening last week. This is an 8km hill race on the outskirts of Crieff. Derek McIntosh was first Perth runner in 35:42. Next was Claire Douglas in 44:54, Robert Thornton was close behind in 45:28 with Angela Park hot on his heels in 45:42.
 
29.05.09 - PA Report
Another busy week of racing has produced some great performances from the Perth Road Runners.
Firstly the Kinnoull Hill Race took place from Branklyn Gardens last Wednesday evening. It is a 4-mile dash over a one-lap course, which offers Perth’s and one of Scotland’s most scenic views. Mark Cooper had a great race and finished 6th overall in 28:31 claiming the first male vet prize. Derek Phillips was next Perth man over the line in 29:19 and first male super vet. Derek McIntosh won a close fought race over team mate Alan Burns with times of 30:19 and 30:22 respectively. In the ladies race Meike Cooper continued her impressive form finishing in 34:11 and 6th female overall. Joan Wilson was 6th in the female vet category in 37:26 and Claire Douglas was third Perth lady home in 40:29.
The Black Rock 5 is a popular event in the running community as the finish line is at a pub. Competitors start in Kinghorn and follow the route to the beach. Once on the sand they make their way around the Black Rock then retrace their steps back along the beach towards the start. However, the finish line is at the Ship Tavern - meaning a final uphill dash to complete the race. Linton Scarborough was in top form and was the first Perth Roadrunner in 26:48. Brian Cooper followed in 30:05 then Grant Wooler in 30:07. Amy Greig had a good outing to the beach finishing in 33:31 with Angela Park just behind in 35:41 and Marianne Crichton in 37:23.
In the Dunblane Hydro Hotel 7.5 mile race, Marianne Crichton and Debbie Jackson were representing the Roadrunners. Marianne's legs were feeling heavy after the Kinnoull Hill Race on Wednesday and the Black Rock on Friday, finishing just outside her time from last year 1:01:24. Debbie Jackson finished in 1:06:39.
Meanwhile 4 roadrunners - Keri Weatherhogg, Fiona Manson, Linda O’Neill and Bob Brown travelled north to the most north-westerly tip of Scotland for the Cape Wrath challenge. The Challenge covers 6 days which include 5 days of runs of varying lengths and different degrees of endurance set against a backdrop of spectacular scenery.
It starts with a half–marathon around the shores of Loch Eriboll, then a 5mile hill race, a 9mile multi-terrain race, and a 3 mile beach fun run and culminates in one of the UK’s toughest marathons.
Keri Weatherhogg won the half marathon in a time of 1:32:03 and came 9th overall. Bob Brown won the over 65 category in the marathon with an excellent time of 3:46:30. Team-mate Pete Ritchie ran with Bob and recorded the same time.
Mike Dales, Fiona Manson and Keri Weatherhogg teamed up for the marathon relay and came second in the 3-person team category in a time of 3:30:58. Robin Wombill was part of a 2-person relay team completing his 15-mile leg in 2:12:23.
This weekend sees a record number of Perth Road Runners compete in both the individual and relay events of the Edinburgh Marathon.
 
22.05.09 - PA Report
Loch Leven Half Marathon – Personal Best Fest
39 Roadrunners turned out on Saturday for the third race of what is becoming the most hotly contested Club Championship for years – the increasingly popular Loch Leven Half (510 runners in total). Despite a blustery wind and a couple of heavy downpours several club members achieved personal best times. First home for the club with a PB was Linton Scarborough (79.55) in 12th place overall followed by Mark Cooper (80.41) in 13th place and also a PB. Next, in 25th place overall, was Steve Ferguson (83.30) who picked up the SuperVet’s prize. Keri Weatherhogg continued her impressive recent form coming in as second lady in 88.28 and winning the East District Championship in the process. Keri, Erni Hamilton and Meike Cooper combined to retain the Ladies Team trophy – with Meike setting a new PB (92.46). Further down the field Fiona Hair and Maureen Summers picked up 1st and 2nd places respectively in the Ladies SuperVet contest And Bob Brown came in 2nd “Over 60” with a superb time of 94.47. Others who turned in personal best performances included; Fiona Angus, Andrew Millington, Grant Key, Simon Greishaber, Grant Strachan and Claire Douglas. While Vicky Park and Andrea Findlay both set respectable benchmarks in their first ever half-marathons and Grant Wooler, running his first half for 15 years, finished in a very respectable 93.10 and then remembered why he hadn’t run one since 1994.
Meanwhile… somewhere in Highland Perthshire.
Saturday also saw the inaugural Highland Perthshire Bridge to Bridge Race – a 14k run from Aberfeldy to Kenmore. This started as normal for two of the Roadrunners; Derek Phillips and Neil Muir who set off at a good pace to take the lead. Two miles into the race and all was going smoothly until our runners heard a cry for help coming from the river. Both immediately diverted to the riverside to discover a woman up to her waist in the river and in some distress, instinctively Derek and Neil ran to her aid only to discover she had a dog in tow – the reason for her predicament. Between them they managed to get both woman and dog back to safety and, dedicated runners that they are, squelched back off to rejoin the race. The adrenalin must have kicked in at this stage as both managed to get back to the front to the field with Derek winning the race in 54.30 closely followed by Neil in second place in a time of 55.24. Meanwhile, enjoying a much less dramatic race, another Roadrunner, Bob Thornton finished in 5th place overall.
Strathallan 5 Mile Race
The following day some 29 Roadrunners (many of whom had run at Kinross the previous day) set off to contest the first race of the Club’s Summer Series – the Strathallan 5 Mile Race. Conditions for the field of 85 runners were much brighter and drier than at Kinross and the two lap course, mainly in the parkland setting of Strathallan School grounds, was largely sheltered from another strong wind.
First from the club to put points on the board was Tony Jackson in 3rd place overall with a time of 28.12, followed by Linton Scarborough who finished in 12th place with 31.31. Next home for the club was David Hunter who came in as 2nd Junior in an excellent 32.30. Grant Wooler and Andrew Millington, showing few ill effects from their efforts at Kinross, served up a spectacular sprint finish with Grant just shading it by a nose in a time of 34.22.
First lady home for the club was Claire Douglas in 39.01 (with no right to look so fresh after setting a PB at Loch Leven) pursued by new member Tracy Mansfield who completed her first race as a Roadrunner in a creditable 39.11. Angela Park, apparently fully recovered from her efforts at Loch Leven and shrugging off a foot injury finished in 39.48 quickly followed by Marianne Crichton who ran a convincing race, her first in club colours and a big step in the right direction to regaining full race fitness. Also in the ladies contest, Vicky Park and Debbie Jackson, both with yesterday’s half marathon still in their legs, battled for the points with a sprint right up to the line – this one was taken by Vicky in a time of 45.46.
This Friday, 22nd May, sees the Black Rock 5 Mile Race at Kinghorn in Fife – members are warned not to take their best racing shoes to this one as there is a good chance of running part of the race in the shallows around the rock depending on the state of the tide. Prospective runners should also note that this race is now closed for entries.
 
15.05.09 - PA Report
This week saw the roadrunners take the Cateran Trail Race by storm, with 5 teams and 3 individuals competing.
The Cateran Trail is a 64 mile fully way-marked circular route starting and ending in Blairgowrie. It follows old drove roads and passes through farmland and forests. The Caterans were marauding cattle thieves who flourished in the more lawless regions of the Highlands from the Middle Ages until the 17th century.
The race consists of the first 23 miles of the trail from Blairgowrie to the Spittal of Glenshee. It is divided into three sections with 2 runners from each team completing a section. There is also an individual race where athletes run the full 23 miles.
Conditions were extremely wet making the trail muddy and the numerous deer fence and ladder stile crossings treacherous.
This did not stop the Roadrunners scooping the silverware. The Perth team of Fiona Angus, Keri Weatherhogg, Steve Ferguson, Colin Wilson, Derek Phillips and Neil Muir won the mixed event coming a close second overall in a time of 3:08:34.
The Perth men came second in the male team event in a time of 3:23:42. Simon Greishaber, Grant Key, Mike Dales, Steve Ferguson, Scott Sharp and Andrew Millington made up the successful six.
The ladies team of Gemma Russell, Heather Yellowley, Fiona Manson, Fiona Angus, Susie Lockett and Linda O’Neill also came second in the female event in a time of 4:17:41.
Three hardy Perth runners completed the gruelling 23-mile individual race. Bob Brown was first home in 3:59:57 and first local male. Kenneth Stewart was next in 4:18:09 followed by Peter Ritchie in 4:23:19 and second local male.
Mark Cooper and Robert Thornton were also running in rural Perthshire at the weekend. Mark won the Glen Lednock Road Race in a time of 50:27 and Robert finished in 69:56.
With the weather clearing on Sunday, Brian Cooper had better conditions for the Dunfermline City Half Marathon. He crossed the line in a time of 1:31:43.
 
8.05.09 - PA Report
The roadrunners have had a busy few weeks on the racing front. The club was well represented at the Kinross 10k - the second race of the Club Championship. 44 members were among the 200 plus runners on the start line in front of Kinross House. The race consists of 2 circuits within the picturesque grounds over flat terrain but with a few sharp bends thrown in.
Greg Simpson stole the limelight for Perth finishing in sixth overall in a time of 34:33 just ahead of team mate Tony Jackson 34:53. Derek Phillips was first Perth male vet in a time of 37:44.
Perth’s Keri Weatherhogg finished third female in 40:36 and Fiona Angus was third in the female vet category in 43:23.
The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run 10k attracted over 10 000 runners with club runners Stephen Ferguson, Kenneth Stewart, Robin Wombill and Dorothy Bates helping with the marshalling duties.
Running in the event were Pete Ritchie 44:33, Robert MacDonald 47:13, Karen Walters 58:53 and Sandy MacFarlane 59:43. This was not a race for a PB with the new route coming under fire with bottlenecks at Princes Street Gardens and the Mound causing runners to slow down.
Meike Cooper has had a successful time recently and is returning to peak form. She ran the inaugural half marathon at Monikie and finished first lady in a time of 1.35.04. Continuing her form into hill racing, she was first local lass home in the gruelling Stuc a’ Chroin Hill Race in a time of 3:18:06.
This race starts easily enough with straightforward forest track running then it’s a steep and long heathery slog taking you up and onto the start of the fantastic undulating ridge out to Stuc a`Chroin and back.
Bruce Milne was first Perth man to finish in 3:02:16, closely followed by Mark Cooper 3:04:03 and Colin Wilson 3:07:35. Andrew Millington who is new to this terrain finished in 3:46:54, Joan Wilson 3:48:44 and Dave Norrie 4:05:48.
Debbie Jackson was in action at the Keswick Half Marathon. Set amidst stunning scenery around Derwentwater, she finished this hilly route in 2:00:33.
 
1.05.09 - PA Report
Among the 35,000 plus people to tackle the Flora London Marathon on Sunday were some of the Fair City’s hardy runners. Sunny skies attracted record crowds to the streets to provide the runners with a carnival atmosphere.
In conditions far from ideal for distance running Perth Road Runners had a number of impressive performers. Top spot went to Tony Jackson leading home the club’s runners in a time of 2:37:37 despite suffering leg cramps in the latter stages. Both Linton Scarborough and Keri Weatherhogg ran personal bests with times of 2:54:45 and 3:06:25 respectively, securing them a place on next year’s start line. Steve Bonthrone also ran strongly crossing the line in 3:33:16. The searing heat did not stop Hugh Daly 4:20:07, Jake Carter 4:50:37, Heather Yellowley 4:59:09 and Jean Wainwright 5:22:48 from putting in great performances. Jean was 5th in her category – a remarkable achievement given this size of field.
Closer to home Pete Ritchie had a busy weekend running in two races. His first was the Run Balmoral 10km event set over an undulating course in stunning Royal Deeside. Pete finished in a time of 45:55.
He then lined up with six other Perth Roadrunners in the Balfron 10km race on Sunday. Overcast conditions were ideal for the runners in this out and back race in West Stirlingshire.
Bob Brown was first local man over the line in a time of 43:44, closely followed by Pete Ritchie 45:12 then Robert Macdonald 48:57 and Sandy McFarlane 58:54. Angela Park led the girls home in 47:25 with sister Vicky next in 53:17 and Andrea Finlay in 53:21. Vicky, Andrea and Sandy all ran personal bests.
 

 

 

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July:
29th: Target Zero

August:
1st: Helensburgh Half
5th: Club Duathlon
12th: Balmullo Trail Race - CC
17th: Ceres 8M - SS
21st: Club Run Weekend
29th: Perth 10K - CC
31st: Graham Clark Memorial 3.9M - SS