1 mile and 3k road racing at the Helix Pond
Friday 7th was the inaugural running of the Helix Pond Road Races, offering road racing over 1 mile and 3k.
The loop round the Helix Pond is nearly half a mile long and ideal for road racing, with a flat smooth tarmac surface and no sharp bends, so Falkirk Victoria Harriers got it officially measured and certified, to be able to offer competitive road racing in the area, with proceeds going to help the development of athletics locally.
Friday was a bright clear evening and the Helix Pond area looked magnificent, albeit with a very stiff breeze for the runners to deal with. The event was split into 2 races over 1 mile and 2 races over 3k.
Despite the wind there was some excellent running and fast times, with Rory Muir of Cambuslang Harriers and Kelly Taylor of Bellahouston Road Runners winning the 1 mile event in times of 4:27 and 5:31 respectively. Over the 3k distance the winners were David Wright of Lothian Running Club and Kirstin Maxwell of Corstorphine AC in 9:06 and 10:37. Prizes were also awarded to the highest age graded runs and these were won by John Thomson of Fife AC (5:39 for 86.17%) and Mary Western of PH Running Club (6:02 for 97.45%).
There was a large number of Falkirk Vics in action, 17 in total. Danni Callaghan and Niamh Brown were 2nd and 3rd in the 1 mile, separated by 1 second only in 5:43 and 5:44. Not to be outdone the Vics men were also 2nd and 3rd, with Scott Burton in 4:47 and Andrew McKechnie in 4:55. Euan Martin was 2nd in the 3k, finishing in 9:16. Karen McAllister (7:01) had the 2nd highest age grade on the night with 86.39%.
Fast times were also recorded by 1 mile: Scott Ballantine (5:32) Euan McCallum (5:49) David Bunyan (9:03) 3k: Gary McKenna (9:53) Jonathan Shepherd (11:24) Andrew Marr (11:41) Chris Torbet (11:54) Derek Esson (12:35) Jason Sinclair (12:39) Debz Graham (14:25)
The event was well marshalled by club members and volunteers, who were essential to the safe running of the event, but none more so than the club member Dougie Hill who had to deal with an errant swan wandering onto the race route just before one of the races!
The Helix Pond Races could not have taken part without the generosity and cooperation of Falkirk Council, especially Lynsey Gow, Falkirk Football Club and Stadium, Ronhill Specials for providing the prizes, Julian’s Veg for supplying the post race bananas and oranges, and the Helix Junior parkrun for loaning emergency equipment. Race Director, Grant Matheson and Falkirk Vics would like to thank them for their backing of what’s hoped to become an annual event.
Falkirk Victoria Harriers 