New course record set at Mey 10k
A FRESHENING Caithness wind greeted the 387 10K runners and 94 Mey Mile participants at the Castle of Mey for the annual road races around the castle and surrounding countryside on Sunday.
Race organisers, North Highland Harriers (NHH), were delighted to be hosting the North District 10K championships which added to the atmosphere, with the support of the large crowd much appreciated by the runners.
With the course taking the 10K runners to the coastline as they made their way through Scarfskerry, they were always going to be exposed to the elements at some point. The tough section this year was from Scarfskerry up the main road; from 5 to 7K. The runners then benefited from a tail wind on the home straight as they turned at the gates into the castle. With excellent feedback from the radio system, the crowds at the castle were kept up to date with the positions of the lead runners.
Jack Trevelyan (NHH), last year’s winner, had a fight on his hands with some of the leading north district athletes, and this year had to settle for third, recording a faster time (35.32 minutes) than he did last year when he set the course record. In outstanding form this year in winning the event was Gordon Lennox, of Forres Harriers, who set a new course record of 34.03, finishing well ahead of second placed team-mate Stan Mackenzie, in 35.27.
In the men’s master’s, last year’s winner Kevin Cormack, again recording a faster time than last year (37.47) had to settle for second spot behind Paul Miller, from Inverness Harriers, who came home in 36.40. Third went to Andrew Sutherland, from Maryhill Harriers, in 39.18.
The district championship results mirrored the Mey results with the men’s team title retained by NHH through the efforts of Trevelyan, Cormack, David Spencer and Andrew Tait.
Victory in the women’s race went to Emma Dunnett, who had won the event in 2010. She completed the course in 41.13, five seconds outside the course record set by her twin sister last year. Oonagh Dunnett, on this occasion, had to settle for second place, in 42.35, with Lorna Stanger taking third, in 43.00 to make it a clean sweep for NHH. Along with Roxane Andersen, they claimed back the team title.
In the women’s masters competition, it was a win for NHH’s Joan Henry, who broke her target of 45mins with 14 seconds to spare. Second place went to Shona Comrie (unattached) in 46.49 with Nicola Falconer third, in 46.55.
With some runners not being members of Scottish Athletics, the results differed for the district championships with Nicola Falconer taking the title, with Liz Gray (Inverness Harriers) second, and Martine Hughes (NHH) third.
Other prize-winners in the 10K race were: Roxane Anderson, NHH, 1st kilted female; Bryan Newlands, NHH, 1st kilted male; Jayne Klimas, NHH, 1st local female; Andrew Tait, NHH, 1st local male.
This year for the first time saw the introduction of a corporate team prize for the first four runners from any business team. The winning team this year was Wick Airport Fire Services with Liall Mackenzie, Carolyn Coghill, Lewis Campbell and Angus Mackay.
The fun run had a makeover this year and was changed to the Mey Mile to increase accessibility to younger runners and to allow the race to start and finish at the same point as the 10K run. This proved very popular with the spectators as they cheered on all 94 participants.
The first runner home and winner of the secondary girls prize was Rhiannon Kirk, followed by her brother Stuart who took the secondary boys title. Gabrielle MacGregor retained the primary girls title with Ross Gunn taking the primary boys title.
The runners timed their efforts to perfection with the final runner home, two-year-old Tyler Richardson, making it across the finish line just before the first of the 10k runners.
The vote of thanks on behalf of the organisers was given by Graeme Dunnett who thanked main sponsor Aon Hewitt Ltd and the other sponsors, companies and local organisations which provided assistance, as well as the army of volunteers who helped with car parking, marshalling, registration and refreshments.