Stornoway Half Marathon 2010

Start of Half

  
Dave Wright and Megan Wright - Half Winners

Gavin's Half and 10K Photos

Adrienne's Stornoway Half, 10k and Ceilidh photos

Record numbers of runners took part in this year’s cooperative Stornoway Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run with a total of four hundred and forty four runners of all ages crossing the finish line at Stornoway landmark, the Porters Lodge gatehouse! In the half marathon one hundred and sixty five completed the course which surpassed the previous best entry of one hundred and fifty one in 2004. The 10K entry also was well subscribed and race organisers even ran out of race numbers as the race swelled from a modest forty runners to one hundred and thirty! The future of the event also looks positive too as almost one hundred and fifty (mainly youngsters) took part in the two mile Fun Run!

Twenty five years on from the club’s first Stornoway half marathon, there were still familiar faces lining up once again in Stornoway. Simon Axon of HBT who won his first Stornoway Half Marathon in 1986 was one of these faces, but would not figure in the contest this time. 2010 was the turn of HBT team mate Dave Wright one of the pre-race favourite’s to try and wrestle the title from defending champion and local boy Andrew Joyce of SRAC.

At the start there were brief words of welcome from SRAC chair Tony Robson and then the gun was fired by Steven Cooper of Stornoway cooperative. Almost windless conditions with a slight drizzle made for good racing and from the gun a group of five took to the front at sub 6 minute pace. A following group of six including SRAC pair Jonny Pritchard and Alastair Dunlop ensured that SRAC could well defend their team title form the strong challenge of Hunters Bog Trotters.

Before the first mile marker was reached the lead groups pace reduced the group to four and just after two miles at Newton the race was between SRAC’s Andrew Joyce and the HBT pair of Matt Sims and Dave Wright. As Dave turned the pressure on his team mate and Joyce, his wife Megan was applying the same pressure in the ladies race! Attaching herself to some of the top twenty men Megan put herself into a good early lead over Perth Road Runners Keri Weatherhog and Gillian Carr of Corstorphine AAC.

Coming of the tarmac section of the town the runners entered the Castle Grounds at about 7miles and it was a straight race between Joyce and Wright. The form book had Dave as the favourite but racing on his local course and defending his title Andrew Joyce still had plenty running in his legs! The climb right up through Willowglen was a leg zapper and there were challenging undulations form 7 miles through 11 miles till the final mile and a half.

By the time Wright got onto the final mile and a half on the flat of the shore road and with the finish in sight, he increased the gap on Joyce. As the crowds at Porters Lodge applauded Trotter runner Wright over the finish line he had opened up a winning gap of 1minute 37 seconds! Local boy Joyce was disappointed to relinquish his title, but clocking a new personal best time of 75 minutes 15 seconds also became the fastest time from a local runner ever at Stornoway!

SRAC also were beaten by HBT in the team event and but for the unlucky retiral of Jonny Pritchard just after 10 miles while looking good for a top six finish the contest may well have swung the other way! But there was a super run by veteran Alastair Dunlop to place second for SRAC and second local while taking the first over 50 prize. His time of just over 80 minutes ensured 6th overall and a time as good as almost any in the category nationally.

Completing a dominant day’s racing for HBT, Megan Wright took the ladies title from Perth Road Runners Keri Weatherhog and Gillian Carr. However there was victory for the Perth Road Runner Weatherhog as she led her team to win the ladies title.

In the 10k SRAC’s Chirsty MacLeod led the race from the start to almost the finish. But she was shadowed by young form runner Martin Stewart and he eventually moved away from Chirsty in the closing stages of the race to win by ten seconds. The success of the 10K looks like it is set to continue as it is a very achievable distance to “conquer” while still being able to smile throughout the miles! SRAC are certainly persuaded to continue to make the weekend a three race choice!

The three races were supported and directed by an “army” of volunteers! Therefore thanks must be extended to all involved including the marshals on the route, the Boy Scouts and all at the water stations volunteers, Nana and the kitchen crew, Paul Matheson for sound set up, Colin MacLean on lead bike and all the SRAC members and friends who helped.

SRAC are delighted to have secured the sponsorship of the Scottish Co operative as well as support sponsors G&A Barnie, Ortager and Harris Tweed Hebrides. Also the continued assistance of the Stornoway Trust, Police, Ali MacKinnon’s, CalMax, The Volunteer Doctors, Lews Castle College, Bridge Centre and Stornoway Golf Club.

While SRAC celebrate their 25th anniversary race the club have been deeply saddened by the passing of Peter MacDonald. Peter was one of the club founders and leading lights as well as the first club organiser of the Stornoway Half Marathon. Our thoughts are with Peter’s family at this time.

RM

If you find any errors in the results, please email srac@srac.org.uk .
Please provide your name, race number and an indication of your time as this will help us resolve any problems.

Half Overall Result

Start of 10K

  
Martin Stewart and Chirsty Macleod - 10K Winners

10K Overall Result

10K Relay Result

Fun Run Overall Result