Wilson hopes for fifth-time lucky but field is very strong

Kenny Wilson hopes it will be a case of fifth-time lucky when he competes in the Baxters River Ness 10km on Sunday.

The Craigellachie runner, who is to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth half marathon in Cardiff next month, has never won the race.

His best performances came in 2015 and 2017 when he finished third on each occasion.

His time of 30min 25sec last year remains the fastest he has recorded for the distance.

Wilson will go all out to win but isn’t underestimating the significant challenge he faces from Kilbarchan’s Euan Gillham, who picked up bronze in the Scottish 10km championships at Stirling this month, while the Moray athlete was 17sec behind in fifth position.

Wilson said: “Obviously this is one race I’d like to win but it’s not going to be easy.

“I was talking with Euan about it and we both reckon we can run fast times, maybe in the low 30-minute range.”

Other contenders for podium positions include 2013 race winner John Newsom (Inverness Harriers), who is also in the Scotland squad for the Commonwealth half marathon, Stephen Mackay (Inverness Harriers), Murray MacLarty (Central AC) and Hamish Battle (Metro Aberdeen).

Jenny Bannerman, who was fourth in the Scottish 10km championships at Stirling, hopes to retain the women’s title.

She said: “I just want to focus on my own performance and I’ll be happy if I feel a lot better than I did at Stirling, which was a big disappointment.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a decent time.”

Others who should be challenging for the leading positions include Edinburgh AC’s Ella Revitt, Northampton’s Rosanna Andrews, Metro Aberdeen’s Nicola Gauld and Fife AC’s Halina Rees.