The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Wilson takes positives from an ideal workout
Kilbarchan AC’s Euan Gillham got the better of Moray’s Kenny Wilson in an enthralling battle for supremacy in yesterday’s Baxters River Ness 10km.
The duo were locked together in the early stages before Wilson pulled away, opening up what appeared to be a decisive lead.
But Gillham – bronze medallist in the Scottish 10km championships at Stirling a fortnight earlier, when Wilson was fifth – reeled in his rival and burst clear in the closing stages to win by 11 seconds in a PB 30min 22sec.
He said: “Kenny went out at a good pace and I just couldn’t go with it.
“He had a decent lead at 7km but when we hit the bridge about 1km from the end I managed to catch him and I went past as hard as I could so as not to give him a chance to react. I’m pleased because that’s 24 seconds faster than my previous best set at Paisley last month.”
Wilson, who will represent Scotland in the Commonwealth half marathon at Cardiff next month, was disappointed not to win but took some positives.
He said: “When Euan went past I tried to hang on but just couldn’t do it.
“I was still quite close to my best time, and it was an ideal workout in the lead-up to Cardiff.”
John Newsom (Inverness Harriers), the 2013 race winner who is also to represent Scotland at Cardiff, finished third in 32:13. He led Inverness College UHI to the Corporate Challenge team title with backing from Ross Cairns (38:15), Robert Boyd (41:09) and Stephen Wells (41:53).
There was a hardfought battle for fourth which ended with Murray MacLarty (Central AC) edging out James Wilson (Moray) by one second in 32:36.
Dwight Grieve, who represented New Zealand in the world mountain running championships in Andorra the previous weekend, won the over40s prize when finishing eighth overall in 33:19, which equals his personal best.
He said: “I really loved this event. It was well set up and there was a great bunch of guys to run with.
“I am delighted to equal my best times as my legs are still a bit shot from the mountain race,” he added.
“That’s 24 seconds faster than my previous best”