Battle’s dash to Aboyne was well worth it

Scotland hill running international Hamish Battle scored an emphatic victory over 213 runners in the Illuminator 8km just a few hours after representing his club, Metro Aberdeen, in the national cross country relay championships at Cumbernauld.

The Robert Gordon University final year physiotherapy student faced a race against time to make the starting line in Aboyne after a quick journey north from the Central Belt.

He showed few signs of fatigue, however, as he zipped round the course in 35min 15sec. Teenager Ross Chalmers (Newburgh Dunes Running Club) was second in 44:29, while Bill Smith took third spot in 47:31.

Battle said: “I just got back in time. The 15km race was starting as I arrived so there wasn’t

“It’s the first time I’ve run at the Illuminator but I enjoyed it”

too much leeway. I threw on gear and got going.

“It’s the first time I’ve run at the Illuminator but I enjoyed it. I didn’t know how my legs would feel after the cross country in the afternoon but it was fine. I was on my own pretty much the whole way after we crossed the River Dee.”

The organisers decided to introduce 8km and 15km races this year to open the Illuminator up to runners who aren’t geared up for the longer 15-mile event, which has previously been the only race distance on offer.

That decision opened up an opportunity for runners like Banchory’s Sine Gabbott, who was first home in the women’s division of the 8km, clocking 51:13, with Caroline Bates second in 54:44 and Shane LillithMoon third in 57:29.

Gabbott said: “I had never raced in the dark before so I just decided to give it a go.”