Shearer sets new course record in Caithness Half Marathon
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North Highland Harriers hosted the second Caithness Half Marathon on Sunday. It was also the 2019 North District Half Marathon Championships.
Seventy-four runners braved the windy but bright weather to complete the half-marathon course which is a hilly loop starting and finishing in Watten. The runners were piped to the start and were also greeted by the sounds of the pipes as they finished, a welcome sound to signal the end was almost in sight.
Greg Shearer led from the start and completed the course in 1.14.34, a new course record, taking almost four minutes off his time from last year.
Second over the line was Kenny Macgruer in 1.26.11 and third male was David Orr in 1.29.33, making it a North Highland Harriers one-two-three in the male category.
Jo Zakrzewski, former Commonwealth Games marathon representative and world 100km bronze medallist, was first lady and third overall in 1.26.25. Second lady was North Highland Harriers’ Marianne Wilson with a personal best of 1.34.55 and third lady (also HNN), also with a personal best, was Hannah Paterson in 1.36.15. Hannah was first lady the previous day at the Golspie 10k and so had a very successful weekend of running.
The North District Championship results were:
1st senior female Hannah Paterson (NHH), 1.36.15; 2nd senior female Emma Dunnett (NHH), 1.40.21; 3rd senior female Oonagh Dunnet (NHH), 1.40.21.
1st senior male Greg Shearer (NHH), 1.14.34; 2nd senior male Kenny Macgruer (NHH), 1.26.11; 3rd senior male Craig Banks (NHH), 1.34.34.
1st master O40 female Marianne Wilson (NHH), 1.34.55.
1st master O40 male David Orr (NHH), 1.29.33; 2nd master O40 male David Stockan (NHH), 1.30.31; 3rd master O40 male Steven Burnside (Highland Hill Runners), 1.36.22.
1st master O50 female Lorna Stanger (NHH), 1.44.36.
1st master O50 male David Spencer (NHH), 1.33.55.
Full results can be found at www.northhighlandharriers.co.uk
Despite the windy conditions and the hilly course, there were personal bests galore. In addition to Marianne and Hannah there were PBs for Suzi Anderson, Nicola Crowe, James Kelman, Graeme Miller, Janet Nicol and Vicki Teven.
Each finisher got a specially designed Caithness Half Marathon medal which could be used to open the bottle of John O'Groats beer that was also given to every finisher. Then as is the running tradition there was lots of home baking and sandwiches for all the runners and volunteers to enjoy after the race.
The weather stopped the Orkney runners from making it over due to the Sunday morning ferries being cancelled. But two of the runners, Katie Spence and Victoria Clouston, didn't let that prevent them from running a half marathon, and set off at the same time as the Caithness Half Marathon to complete the distance.
This is North Highland Harriers’ last permitted event of 2019 and the club members are now looking forward to starting the annual winter trail series and cross-country season in October.
