In-form Metro Aberdeen runner Barrand the one to beat

Ginie Barrand will start as favourite to win the women’s division of Sunday’s Kinloss to Lossiemouth half marathon.

The Metro Aberdeen runner, who has a best time of 1hr 20mins 5secs set at Inverness in 2017, has been in fine form since the start of the year. She won the

Lumphanan Detox 10km on January 2 and, nine days later, struck gold in the Scottish inter-district cross country championships at Stirling.

The Banchory-based French athlete, whose partner Robbie Simpson is the leading light in the men’s race, performed well in half marathons last year, winning the Great Aberdeen race in 1:22:39 and placing 38th at Barcelona in 1:20:47. Barrand can, however, expect a stern challenge from title-holder Amy Hudson.

The Inverness Harriers member slashed eight mins off her previous best time when winning last year in 1:24:27.

She improved again at Alloa six weeks later when clocking 1:24:17.

Hudson went on to win the Hebrides marathon before securing a personal best time of 2:58.47 in the Chicago marathon.

She has fond recent memories of Lossiemouth, having won the North District 10 mile title there in December when achieving another PB of 60:28.

Metro Aberdeen’s Nicola MacDonald should also be among the contenders for a podium position. The Stonehaven half marathon winner finished third in

August’s Great Aberdeen race in a personal best 1:22:54.

Her clubmate Hazel Wyness, third in this race two years ago, should also do well along with Shetland ultra distance international Charlotte Black.

It will be interesting to see how top international modern pentathlete Eilidh Prise (Aberdeen AAC) fares in her first outing over the distance.

Metro’s Ginie Barrand