New name on the marathon trophy

THERE was a new name on the Speyside Way Ultra Marathon trophy as last year’s runner-up claimed the top spot. Taking the tape at the start/ terminus of the Speyside Way in Buckie was Dave Mclure, of Kilmarnock Harriers, who crossed the line with a time of 4.21.14. He told the Advertiser: “I’m delighted to have won; I was actually quicker last year when I came second than my time this year. “Last year I started quicker but died off at the end, so I decided that this time around I’d start slower. “When you’re running fast you don’t appreciate the scenery of the course. It’s a beautiful course, I really love it, it’s a good mixture of everything. “Hopefully I’ll be back next year to defend my title.” Despite call-offs and sign tampering, race organiser Sarah Louise Cull was delighted with this year’s event. “We initially thought we were going to have a record turnout, but this was reduced to 100 starters,” she said. “This is mainly due to the fact the Speyside Way Ultra is between the West Highland Way race and the Glenmore 24, with runners needing time to recover. “There was some sign tampering near Craigellachie, which would have sent runners down a branch
towards Dufftown, but fortunately this was spotted in time. It’s disappointing when things like that happen but no harm was done at the end of the day. “The course itself was in the best condition I think I’ve ever seen it.” There was to be quite a space between first and second, Neal Macdonald coming in with a time of 4.32.03. Coming in third was Willie Rennie with a time of 4.38.22. The honour of first female runner to cross the line went to Alice Mzincescu with a time of 5.20.27, followed by Josefine Bjorkvist (5.29.51) and Shona Young (5.30.08). The £500 prize – supplied by the race organisers and Buckie Regeneration Group – for breaking the four hour barrier in completing the course was never in danger this year. The course record stands at 4.01 set by Terry Forrest. A first this year was the use of a chip timing system supplied by KitST. Each finisher received a Buckie Lugger eco bag from the regeneration group, filled with goodies from fellow sponsors Walkers of Aberlour and Baxters Food Group. After-race sandwiches and refreshments at Buckie Community High School were provided by Stable and Able Falls Group The race was the ninth since it was resurrected in 2010.