Photo finish at 50!

It was a photo finish fitting of the occasion as Russell White joined local Olympian Freya Ross among the gold medals at Grangemouth Stadium.

The event also incorporated the Jim Dingwall Memorial 10km road race the Scottish Students Road Race championships, and was preceded by a 2km fun run.

London 2012 Olympian, Freya Ross won a course local to her, while representing Edinburgh in 33 minutes 53 seconds. It was, however, the men’s race which produced the highlight of the day with what must be the closest finish in the events history and possibly of any 10km road race held at anytime in the UK with photographs required to confirm the finishing positions of the leading athletes as the first three, split by less than a second changed positions in the last 10m.

Provost Pat Reid started the events sending 170 participants of all ages on their way in the 2km fun run. David McNair, Kilbarchan AC was victorious with a winning time of six minutes 20seconds with Falkirk Victoria Harrier Cameron Taylor-Cameron following in 6.37 with club mate Kane Elliott recording 6.43 to finish a close third. A clean sweep for the young Vic’s girls perhaps pre-empted the men’s race as just two seconds separated the first three.

Phoebe Angus 7.55 just beating Flora Johnston 7.56 and Lauren Barclay 7.57.

The tight knit racing continued in the seinor 10km and the lead changed several times as attacks were made in a bid to break up the leading pack. In the end six athletes broke clear and a tremendous battle ensued throughout the last kilometre, resulting in the closest of finishes possible with three athletes sprinting all out for the finish line and the lead changing hands right on the line.

In a move more akin with the sprint races at Grangemouth Stadium photographs were consulted to confirm White had taken the narrowest of victories with Christoforou second and Mackie third all in the same time of 31.04.

Ron Hill Cambuslang once again produced the leading master athlete (Over 40), as Scottish Masters Cross Country Champion Kenneth Campbell finished in a magnificent 13th place overall in a time of 33.09 remarkably the same position as last year’s M40 winner.

The tremendous racing and battles for prizes continued throughout the age groups with last year’s M50 winner, Alan Derrick of Calderglen Harriers putting up a determined defence of his title finishing just a few strides behind Strathearn Harriers Wattie MacKay. Linlithgow AC’s Angus Gallie won the Masters 60 title and Callum Symmons of Edinburgh University won the U20 title in 33min 42sec.

Falkirk Victoria Harrier Scott Stirling representing Edinburgh University won the Scottish Student Sport 10k title finishing ninth overall 32.25 and leading the team to victory in the overall Team competition. Annabel Simpson, Glasgow University, comfortably won the Women’s student title 35.47, also winning the under 20 age group.

With probably the highest quality woman’s field for a 10km road race seen in Scotland for many years London 2012 Olympian Freya Ross beat course record holder and 2014 Team Scotland marathoner, Hayley Haining of Kilbarchan AC by 39 seconds with Fanni Gyurko of Glasgow Uni in third 34.46 and last year’s winner Jennifer Wetton Central AC fourth. Commonwealth Games marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski, Dumfries RC won the over 40 Masters race and the large contingent from Carnegie Harriers celebrated as Mary Western won the Master 50 category in 39.36.

Freya Ross led the Edinburgh AC to victory in the Women’s race along with Rachael Dunn and Laura Dun and the Masters Title was won by a strong Gala Harriers team of Jennifer Forbes, Anya Campbell and Fiona Shepherd.

First FVH Male home, winning the Dingwall Quaich, was Barry Paterson in 15th position 33.16 and first woman was Julie Nimmo, third position in the U20 on 38.43.

Hundreds of runners from all over Scotland including Dumfries, Ayr, Teviotdale and Gala in the south to Aberdeen and beyond in the north continued to take advantage of the good running conditions with many obtaining new Personal Best times and raising money for charity.

Promoters, Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Falkirk Community Trust, would like to thank major sponsors Behind The Wall, Network Rail, Direct Rail Services, Natural Power, LifeFit Wellness, Tesco, Run 4 It, Lucozade, McDonald’s, Bookers, Tesco and ASDA for their continuing support, and also the local police who ensured the runners could complete both races safely.