The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sutherland works it out to strike bronze in over-70s race
Scottish masters crosscountry champion Alex Sutherland picked up a bronze medal in the 70-74 age division in the British masters 10mile road-running championships at Rhyl.
The Inverness Harriers club member recorded 1:09:07, while Peter Giles (Hercules Wimbledon AC) won in 1:08:03 and Peter Young (Ryde Harriers) was second in 1:08:11. Sutherland said: “I was very happy with my time and place. I started fairly far back and worked my way up but wasn’t aware these guys were in front or I might have tracked them from early on.
“In a home race you usually have a good idea of the opposition before you start but sorting through to the front in an overall field of some 491 runners and trying to read their age categories along the way can take some working out.”
Felix Wilson showed excellent head-torch running skills to win the Potarch night race, completing the 6.8km course which included 180m of climbing, in 29:03.
Joseph Wright (Deeside Runners) was 9sec behind in second position, while Inverurie winter duathlon race winner Swiad Worms (Aberdeen University) finished third in 29:26.
Scotland hill running international Steph Provan (Deeside Runners) was a clear winner of the women’s race in 34:39 with Fiona McDonald (Cosmic Hillbashers) second in 36:07 and Hazel Wright (Deeside Runners) third in 36:44.
Metro Aberdeen runner Ali Matthews continued with her preparations for April’s Manchester marathon by finishing fourth in the Glentress trail halfmarathon near Peebles.
The Darlington-based athlete, who is soon to relocate to Aberdeen, recorded 1:52:28 for the challenging route while Derwent’s Sophie Noon won in 1:46:21.
The Borders race came seven days after Matthews won the top women’s prize in the Kinloss to Lossiemouth half marathon.
“I started far back and worked my way up”