ROAD RUNNERS

The main event for Perth Road Runners this week was the Hartley Relays, a friendly annual team event against other local clubs.

This year it was hosted by Strathearn Harriers in Crieff with Perth having four teams involved including the men’s A team, ladies A+ team and two mixed teams.

Each team member was tasked with running two laps of the one-mile course.

The men’s A team comprising Ronnie Glen, Duncan Ryan, David Knight, Eddie Torrie and Campbell Hay won the Hartley Cup. David also won the fastest mile prize.

Duncan, meanwhile, has had a busy couple of weeks and was also in action at Aintree alongside fellow club member Stuart Robertson.

They were competing for Scotland at a Masters Cross Country event and managed to take bronze in the V50 age category.

Also on Saturday, Michael Souter competed in the Largo Law Hill race, a tough 10km course involving 300 metres of ascent where he finished in 52:00.

On Sunday three green vests travelled to Glasgow for the Jimmy Irvine 10k race in Bellahouston park.

Sonjia Crow was first road runner home in 41:53 and sixth female overall, David Stokoe was second green vest gaining a new personal best time of 43:24, followed by Stephanie Reid in 51:58.

Rob Livingstone was the sole club representative at the Tain Hill Trail race. Covering 11 miles over tough terrain, he finished in a time of 1:26.33 and was first MV60 for which he received a lovely Tain pottery mug.

Further afield, Gillian Edwards and Kev Riddell represented the road runners in the Larnaka Half Marathon in Cyprus. The course was reasonably flat with a couple of long uphill sections although the high temperatures provided a stern challenge.

Kev finished 17th overall in a gun time of 1:26.05 while Gillian finished as 15th female in 1:45.38.

There was a good turnout of green vests at Perth parkrun on Saturday with 37 braving the freezing conditions.

Eddie Torrie was first green vest over the line and fifth overall in 18:30 with Lorraine MacPherson first female road runner in 25:11.

Seven road runners travelled to Plean, two to Stirling, while Simon Grieshaber was the sole representative at Lochore finishing second overall.

Enjoying some parkrun tourism further afield, Gair McRostie finished Tamworth Wetlands parkrun in Western Australia, second overall in 23:00.

As usual, the club meets on Tuesdays at Bell’s Sports Centre for a weekly club run at 6.25pm. New runners are always welcome.