Deeside Runners blaze a trail at Morven

Espie and Provan take honours

James Espie scored the biggest winning margin in the 24-year history of the Morven hill race when outclassing his opponents in the 8km run which included 640 metres of climbing.

It was very much a local race for the Dinnet-based Deeside Runners club member whose previous best performance in the race came in 2014 when he finished third.

Espie powered his way up and down the hill in 45min 10sec to finish 6:11 ahead of former Great Britain international athlete Phil Mowbray (Hunters Bog Trotters) while teenager Calum Kitching (Deeside Runners) was third in 52:05.

Espie said: “Morven is a great race, the hard steep climbs, rough ground and fast, technical descents really play to my strengths.

“I was really pleased to win my local race, and especially pleased with my ascent, taking 28:42 to the top was very encouraging as I’ve suffered with a bit of race fatigue recently.”

Espie has enjoyed a busy summer season during which he picked up his first two Scotland international selections. He is also heading for a top five placing in

“Morven is a great race, the hard steep climbs, rough ground”

the Scottish hill running championship series.

He returns to action next weekend in the Bennachie hill race before heading for the Pentland Skyline race near Edinburgh which is the final counter in the Scottish championship competition.

Espie’s Deeside clubmate Steph Provan eased to victory in the women’s race with a time of 53:45. She had been third last year but also won in 2013.

Veteran Veronique Oldham (Cosmic Hillbashers), a three-time previous winner, was second in 58:26 and her clubmate Bethan Nadin was third in 61:48.

Josh Benton won the combined age group Half Morven race in 31:08 while Kirsty Oldham (Aberdeen AAC) was first girl in 38:09.

Cluan Mardall won the Mini Morven race in 9:11 while Freya Mowbray (Hunters Bog Trotters) was first girl in 12:20.

EASING TO VICTORY: Steph Provan won the women’s race at Morven hill