Race champs on a winning streak
844 runners tackle city course in heavy rain
More than 800 runners were on the start line for this year’s Stirling 10k.
Sunday’s heavy rain and a start line malfunction – when the inflatable arch deflated – failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the 844 runners.
They headed off on the route around Stirling and it was Fionnuala Ross and Grant Sheldon who snatched victory as first woman and first man home.
Shettleston’s Ross made it a hattrick of victories with a personal best performance over her favoured Stirling course.
Cambuslang Harriers athlete Sheldon added the 10k road success to his Scottish 5000m gold on the track, with the international triathlete also hitting fine form in a first official outing at the distance.
It was an excellent day for the sport with a huge turnout of club athletes in the big field.
Ross, who clocked a a time of 33 minutes and 59 seconds, said: “I do enjoy this race and that’s a hat-trick of wins so I am delighted.
“It’s a championship race and you are looking to try and win but the PB always makes it that wee bit better. I was just under the 34 minutes and my PB previously was 34.02.
“Conditions were windy at one part of the course and it was a bit wet and slippy at times but I still like the course.”
Sheldon took victory with a time of 30.31. He said: “I’ve had about 30.45 for a 10k split in a triathlon but that’s coming off the bike.
“The Leeds 10k is one I want to do now in a couple of months – because that’s a race where the strength and depth of the field is such that I feel I could maybe break the 30-minute mark.”
A two-kilometre fun run was also held. The race was won by Matthew Gallon from Stirling Triathlon Club with a time of 6.37.
Numbers taking part were on a par with the 2016 Stirling 10k when more than 800 took park.