Moray duo in duel to be king of castle

Moray clubmates James Wilson and Ewan Davidson are expected to go head-to-head in an intriguing clash for supremacy in Sunday’s Brodie Castle 10km race, which has attracted a capacity field of 450 runners.

Wilson is one of the most improved runners on the north circuit, having reduced his best 10km time by more than three minutes since recording 35min 37sec 18 months ago.

He finished third at Brodie last year in 34:12 and in September set a new personal best of 32:27 to take fifth in the River Ness 10km.

Davidson finished four seconds behind Wilson in the Inverness race but a couple of weeks later took his revenge by scoring a resounding victory in the opening North District cross-country league meeting of the season at Keith.

Wilson has the added incentive of trying to emulate his brother Kenny, who won the inaugural Brodie race in 2015 then set the current course record of 32:06 in 2016. Kenny isn’t taking part this weekend because he is representing Scotland in the Leeds Abbey Dash 10km.

North 10km champion Gemma Cormack is favourite to win the women’s race. The Inverness Harriers club member has a best time this year of 38:41 set when finishing second in the Golspie 10km.

Her clubmate Amy Hudson will also be hoping to do well after finishing second in last weekend’s Illuminator head torch race at Aboyne, while other strong contenders include Metro Aberdeen’s Hazel Wyness, Julie Thomson and Alison Pilichos.

Jessica Haworth and Susan McRitchie will hope to feature strongly for host club Forres.