In order to celebrate the local festival, Dumfries Running Club organised the second Guid Nychburris 5k on Friday.
With an unusual 7pm start time, the route involved a double lap of the Crichton grounds but was well chosen as it suited the runners and minimised difficult hills but still provided enough challenges for the 89 finishers, which was 15 per cent higher than last year.
As the reputation of the race begins to grow, the entrants come from further afield. This was shown by the front of the race which was won by Euan Rose of East Kilbride AC who led from the start and finished in a very swift 16.16. In second place was another visitor, Jonny Neville of Belgrave Harriers in London who was in the area to see friends and was delighted to finish in 16.25. Jonny enjoyed the experience so much that he returned to the Crichton the following morning and won the weekly parkrun by almost two minutes. Third place went to Charlie Storrie of Dumfries Running Club in 16.51. The first junior prize went to Cameron Robertson of Nithsdale AC in fourth place in 17.46.
In the age group categories Colin Holden of DRC was first vet 50 in seventh place in 18 minutes exactly, 29 seconds in front of Alan Baxter also of the host club who was first vet 40. The vet 60 prize was won by Trevor Hobbins in 23rd place in 21.14.
In the women’s race, one of the closest finishes ever seen was between Katy Brown of Giffnock North and Lisa Finlay of DRC. Each employed different race tactics with Lisa 20 metres ahead entering the downhill finish by the Crichton Church and Katy, using her middle distance speed to sprint for the finish in 14th place in 19.16, pipping Lisa by one second. Lisa did have the consolation of winning the prize as first female vet 50. Alexandra Gonzales was the third woman in 20.53 in 22nd place.
The first vet 60 was Alison Scott in 24.40 and she was doubly pleased to beat the first vet 40 woman, Donna Davidson of Dumfries Harriers, by five seconds.
As always the race was about more than the front end of the field with many graduates of the jogScotland programme taking part in their race and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Dumfries Harriers were also out in force and first club member home was Gordon Stewart in an impressive time of 19.55 and he was delighted to finally finish in sub 20 minutes.
Keith Ainslie ran a sensible and sage race in 23.28 closely followed by Closeburn’s Lee Austin in 23.43.
Fast rising Harriers star Donna Davidson bagged a stunning first in her vet 40 age category.
Club legend Carol Elliot crossed the line in 25.13 with ladies captain and acting men’s captain for the night Alison Todd home in 25.47. Andy Goodwin strolled home in 26.24 and Sonia Marquez pocketed a shiny new PB with an impressive 26.43.
Lynn Goodwin finished in 29.33 and barely breaking sweat was Audrey McMinn in 29.55. Carolyn Davis swapped her tennis racquet for her running shoes and delivered a solid 30.30, a gritty run from Rachel Cameron saw her over the line in 34.10 and Craig Fleming brought it home in 35.39.
Organiser Mike Jardine and his team of 40 helpers and marshals would like to thank the Guid Nychburris Association for their support and to Dalbeattie Running Club and Dumfries Harriers for turning out in very good numbers and also to the Harriers for the use of the electronic finishing system that made the finish very efficient in such a fast moving event.
