Jim Dingwall Memorial Round The Houses 10km race incorporating the East District 10km Championships.
Almost five hundred runners from all corners of Scotland lined up in Grangemouth stadium as a short shower threatened to put a dampener on proceedings which had started an hour earlier in brilliant sunshine, with a well-attended children’s 2km fun run in front of a large supportive crowd.
Following a mass warm up, the main race was started by Kevin McAlister, Falkirk FC player of the millennium as the clouds cleared and the sunshine returned, although it remained windy with strong gusts making conditions difficult for fast times. A large leading pack containing athletes from Lothian Running Club, Fife AC and Dundee Road Runners led the field on the lap of the stadium before heading down Inchyra Road.
Lothian Running Club’s Moray Pryde was setting the pace closely followed by team mate David Wright, Ochill Hill Runners Stuart Paterson and Fife AC’s Lewis Rodgers. Linlithgow AC’s Sam O’Neill along with Dundee Road Runners Ewan Duthie and Nick Bennett were leading the chasing pack as the field began to string out heading along Boness Road. Continuing through Zetland and Rannoch ParksRodgers made his move establishing a winning lead by the 7km marker which he held through the final 3 kilometres to take the Jim Dingwall Memorial Trophy in 31 minutes 15 seconds. Early pace setter Pryde continued to run strongly forsecond place recording 31 minutes 33 seconds holding off his Lothian Running Club clubmate David Wright who recorded 31 minutes 46 seconds in third place. The leading three also claiming the East District title and medals.
The ladies race was just as interesting as the main protagonistsjockeyed for positions and kept a close eye on each other before Gala Harriers Katie Rourke pushed on using her marathon running strength to opened up a winning lead. Katie’s time of 35 minutes 45seconds saw her win the FalkirkProvosts cup and East District Championship. Cat Gillen of Springburn Harriers was second in 36 minutes 38 seconds and Central AC’s Grace Whelan finished third in 37 minutes exactly. Grace won the East District silver medal, with former race winner and clubmate Jennifer Whetton fourth overall, winning the East District bronze medal with a time of 37 minutes 7 seconds just in front of Falkirk Victoria Harriers Freya Ross who had the consolation of winning the ladies masters race and East District title with a fine run of 37 minutes 17 seconds. The East District Masters podium was completed by Alison McNeilly of Dundee Road Runners, silver medal in 39 minutes 5 seconds and Gala Harriers Pamela Baillie whose bronze medal run of 40 minutes 9 seconds won the over 50 ladies prize category. Former winner, Fiona Matheson of Falkirk Victoria Harriers won the ladies over 60 title in 44 minutes 4 seconds and Lothian Running Club’s Liz Bondi took the over 70’s title in 58 minutes 4 seconds.
Edinburgh Athletic Club’s Iain Whitaker successfullydefended the Masters title in 33minutes 44 seconds from David Marshall of Metro Aberdeen, 34 minutes 32seconds,who just held off Neil Renault of Edinburgh AC by 3 seconds in the days closest finish for the East District medals. Cumbernauld AAC athlete Louis O’Hare split Marshall and Renault to win the over 50 prize. David Cross, Edinburgh AC took the over 60 prize in 39 minutes 48 seconds from Falkirk Victoria Harrier Grant Matheson. PH Racings Ed Nortonretained the over 70 prize with a run of 46 minutes 10 seconds.
Under 20 titles went to Harmeny AC’s James Wotherspoon who had a fine run finishing 11th overall in the race recording 34 minutes 7 seconds with Tuscany Wright, Central ACtaking the ladies title in 39 minutes 33 seconds.
In the team competitions, Central AC with Whelan 3rd, Whetton 4th and Wright 10th were clear winners of the ladies competition with 17 points. The men’s competition was more closely fought with Fife AC, Lothian Running Club and Dundee Road Runners all having at least two athletes in the top 10 positions. The Dundee club prevailing with Ewan Duthie 6th, Nick Bennett 7th, David Webster 9th and crucially Michael Richardson 19th combining for a total of 41 points as Lothian Running Club finished second on 56 points.
The Jim Dingwall Quaich, presented by Hugh McGinlay in 2008 to the first Falkirk Victoria Harrier vest across the finish line went to Gregor Hunter who finished in 35 minutes 42 seconds. The ladies trophy was won by Freya Ross who in winning the Masters age group race and East District title, finished 5th overall in the ladies race with a time of 37 minutes 15 seconds.
The race has an extensive Masters price list in 10 year age bands starting at aged 40 and is the part of the Scottish Veteran Harriers annual road race series. There are also masters medals as part of the East District championships to the first three male and female and these winners are indicated in the prize list below.
Masters Category Results:-
M40
1 – Iain Whitaker Edinburgh AC 33 min 44 secs – East District Champion
2 – David Marshall Metro Aberdeen Running Club 34 min 32secs – East District Silver Medallist
3 – Neil Renault Edinburgh AC 34 min 37 secs – East District Bronze Medallist
M50
1 – Louis O’Hare Senior Cumbernauld AAC 34 min 35 secs
M60
1 – David Cross Edinburgh AC 39 min 48 secs
M70
1 – Ed Norton PH Racing Club 46 min 10 secs
F40
1- Freya Ross Falkirk Victoria Harriers 37 min 33 secs- East District Champion
2 – Alison McNeilly Dundee Road Runners 39 min 05 secs –East District Silver Medallist
F50
1 – Pamela Baillie Gala Harriers 40 min 09 secs – East District Bronze Medallist
F60
1 – Fiona Matheson Falkirk Victoria Harriers 44 min 04 secs
F70
1 – Liz Bondi Lothian Running Club 58 min 04 secs
Full results are available at www.roundthehouses10k.com
Falkirk Victoria Harriers would like to thank all the volunteers, event sponsors Scottish Building Society, Behind the Wall, Moore Equipment Hire and Peoples Safety Scaffolding Ltd for their support as well as Massage Matters and Physioflex Falkirk who provided pre and post race massages, Polmont Playgroup for children’s activities, Falkirk Camera Club, Event Medical Group for First Aid and NJ Hybrid Coaching for mass warm up activities.
Special thanks to Scottish Athletics Road Running commission’s Sandra Hardacre, MBE for presenting all the awards and East District representative Alex Jackson, MBEfor assisting.
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/round-up-and-picture-special-falkirk-vics-impress-as-runners-take-on-round-the-houses-10k-road-race-5299928
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-see-runners-head-round-the-houses-in-grangemouth-part-one-5297722
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-see-runners-head-round-the-houses-in-grangemouth-part-two-5299184?page=7
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-see-runners-head-round-the-houses-in-grangemouth-part-three-5301316?page=3
https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/east-10k-25/https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9pxip6
Photos from Falkirk Camera Club
Falkirk Victoria Harriers 