Run Balmoral 2025 – Saturday Highlights
Run Balmoral 2025 – Sunday Highlights
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Message from the Chair
After another very successful race weekend in 2025, I’m delighted to announce that entries for Run Balmoral 2026 (Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April) is open.
Like any other major event, Run Balmoral could not happen without its sponsors. On behalf of Balmoral Road Races Ltd, I would like to thank McIntosh Plant Hire (1.5km Primary Schools Race), RAM Tubulars (2.5km Secondary Schools Race), Harbour Energy (5K), Stena Drilling (10K), the John Clark Motor Group (Devil of Deeside), Tidy Green Clean (Photo/Videography), Run4it (Retail) and VSA (Gold Charity Partner) for their continued support of our event.
I would also like to extend thanks and a very warm welcome to James & George Collie as the newest member of our Run Balmoral family of sponsors. The well-known local solicitors and estate agents will be supporting our 15-mile offroad challenge on Sunday, now to be known as the ‘James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail
Race’.
Next year’s event will signal the start of a new five-year series of specially designed medals. While the last series featured well-known landmarks in and around the Balmoral Estate, this new series will feature its wonderful wildlife. We will reveal which animal (or bird!) will be gracing our first medal later this year.
But a new series of medals isn’t the only change happening next spring. As part of our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment, our eco-friendly event t-shirts – featuring one design for our schools races and one for our main races – will be an optional extra, to be added at registration.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Balmoral Estate next Easter for another fantastic weekend of running for the whole family.
James Knowles
Chair, Balmoral Road Races Ltd, October 2025
Run Balmoral 2025 Annual Report
Run Balmoral 2025 was another great success with 4299 runners taking part out of an overall entry of 5126,
representing an 84% turnout, which is excellent. We were also treated to some wonderful individual performances with four course records being broken. Sean Chalmers enjoyed a double success with wins in the Harbour Energy 5k and the Stena Drilling 10k, while it was amazing to watch Millie Glass Park smashing her own record in the MPH Primary School Girls’ 1.5k, while Nathan Lawson set a new standard in the RAM Tubulars Secondary School Boys’ 2.5k. These are outstanding athletes, but we admire each and every one of the runners who participated in the series of races over the
weekend. They are all winners. Discover the full story of triumph and future aspirations in our comprehensive annual report (pdf 39.9MB).
Run Balmoral 2025 Event Programme
Each year we produce an Event Programme with a summary of the event, so if you would like to find out more you can download the pdf here. Download it to your phone for quick reference on the event weekend.
Saturday Events
Stena Drilling 10K
The Stena Drilling 10K takes you through some beautiful Highland scenery on the Balmoral Estate and will be clearly marked and well marshalled.
Harbour Energy 5K
The Harbour Energy 5K all takes place on estate tarmac roads. The race begins heading west from the Castle adjacent the river Dee to a turn point at the Highland Pony Stud. There is a slight incline as the route returns to the castle via the “top road” which has magnificent views of Balmoral Castle and gardens.
MPH Primary Schools Run 1.5k
The race where some of our national and International runners started! The race is completely contained on tarmac roads in the estate and passes right in front of Balmoral Castle! Well marshalled and signed throughout with a lead cyclist and sweep runner. The race starts and finishes at the main finish gantry.
RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5k
Once past primary School age many of our runners graduate to the 2.5K event. The race is completely contained on tarmac roads in the estate and passes right in front of Balmoral Castle! Well marshalled and signed throughout with a lead cyclist and sweep runner. The race starts and finishes at the main finish gantry.
Sunday Events
James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race
An epic 15 miles of Highland scenery. There is something special about this event! You start in view of Balmoral Castle and run out west adjacent the magnificent river Dee before beginning a gradual climb through the Ballochbuie pine forest. Then at mile 8, you leave the river and begin a climb to the base of Lochnagar, an ascent of about 120 meters. The last 3 miles are a rush as you hurtle down towards the Castle once again; but beware..there is a sting in the tail!
Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race
Get ready for a thrilling test of endurance! This two-lap course takes you along the stunning banks of the River Dee before sending you uphill on a tough 2-mile climb gaining 350 metres each lap. The reward? A fast, exhilarating mile-long descent back to the start. With a mix of tarmac, track and grass, this is the ultimate all-terrain challenge!
Weekend Challenges
John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside
Can you handle the John Clark Motor Group Devil O Deeside? To dance with the Devil you have to complete the Stena Drilling 10K, Harbour Energy 5K, James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race and the Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race! There will be two categories of winner; male with the fastest overall cumulative time and female with the fastest cumulative time. That’s it!
Stena Drilling / Harbour Energy Corporate Team Challenge
Corporate Challenge Trophy The StenaDrilling – Harbour Energy Corporate Team Challenge is an exciting competition embodied within RunBalmoral. It provides a wonderful opportunity for you to get together with your work / colleagues to compete for the magnificent team trophy to be awarded to the RunBalmoral Corporate Team Challenge Champions.
Support Women’s Health Research at the University of Aberdeen
Friends of the Neonatal Unit is the official charity of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital’s Neonatal Unit for premature and sick babies.
The FOS Group has been formed by engineering experts Apollo and offshore construction specialists AquaTerra to give our clients in the North Sea a simpler, smarter alternative to delivering projects on and offshore for the oil and gas business.
🏅IT'S MEDAL MONDAY !! 🏅
So what does this handsome fellow, caught on wildlife-cam near Balmoral Castle in 2022, have to do with it?
Well, he's a very rare and elusive capercaillie – and the inspiration for the first in our new five-year series of finishers' medals featuring the incredible wildlife of the Balmoral Estate.
And what will the medal itself, crafted from sustainable wood, look like? You'll have to wait until the New Year to find out!
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
❗Last day to order event t-shirts to wear on race day: 15 January 2026
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Question: Which events can young people take part in at Run Balmoral❓
Answer: Almost all of them! ✅
Beyond our long-standing schools' events:
🏃🏼♀️McIntosh Plant Hire Primary Schools 1.5K Race (age 12 and under)
🏃RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5K Race (ages 11–15)
Young runners can also take part in our
🏃Harbour Energy 5K (11+)
🏃♀️Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race (15+)
🏃🏽Stena Drilling 10K (16+)
All these events (except the 6 Mile Trail Race) are held on the Saturday of race weekend, when our Event Village is in full swing with fun for kids of all ages!
Enter today, and spread the word! 📣
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
❗Last day to order event t-shirts for race day: 15 January 2026
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Becky Bellamy in case you are interested next year. I might do the 5km
👕 T-SHIRT TUESDAY! 👕
Want one of our amazing, sustainable Run Balmoral 2026 t-shirts to wear on race day? Don't leave it too late to enter!
The deadline to add one to your race entry is 15 January 2026!
📅 4th & 5th April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
🏃 Saturday: McIntosh Plant Hire Primary Schools 1.5km Race, RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5km Race, Harbour Energy 5k, Stena Drilling 10k
🏃 Sunday: James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race, 6 Mile Trail Race
😈 Both days: John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside Challenge
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The mighty Devil of Deeside isn't the only challenge at Run Balmoral!
🏆 Our Harbour Energy-Stena Drilling Corporate Team Challenge is a fantastic one-day competition for teams of four. 🏆
Each team entering the Challenge must field four runners in the Harbour Energy 5k and four runners in the Stena Drilling 10k. Teams can be mixed or single sex, and the same – or different – runners can take part in each race.
Last year TAQA took the top spot – and the gorgeous red-deer antler and sycamore trophy. That's impressive enough – but they also raised an amazing £4,000 for the BB14 Charity, set up in memory of the young footballer Ben Bradford, who passed away in 2024.
Want a shot at bringing the trophy to your workplace in 2026? Full information and tips for entering are on our website: runbalmoral.com/content/corporate-challenge
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
❗Last day to order a sustainable event t-shirt: 15 January 2026
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BB14
St Cyrus Solos Running Club
🏁 From Medal Monday to Finish Line Friday ... 🏁
In just over 19 weeks' time, you could be crossing the finish line at Run Balmoral, just like our 2025 6 Mile Trail Race winner, Aaron Odentz of Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club (though maybe not quite as fast!) Which race will you take on?
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
🏃 Saturday: McIntosh Plant Hire Primary Schools 1.5km Race, RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5km Race, Harbour Energy 5k, Stena Drilling 10k
🏃 Sunday: James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race, 6 Mile Trail Race
😈 Both days: John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside Challenge
#runbalmoral2026 #visitabdn #visitaberdeenshire #visitABDN #medalmonday VisitAberdeenshire VisitCairngorms Run ABC Scotland ... See MoreSee Less
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🏅It's Medal Monday ... or, rather, it's Mystery Medal Monday! 🏅
All finishers at next year's Run Balmoral will receive the first in a new five-part series of medals celebrating the wonderful wildlife of the Balmoral Estate.
But will the 2026 medal cover star be feathered, finned or furry? What are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments ...
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
🏃 Saturday: McIntosh Plant Hire Primary Schools 1.5km Race, RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5km Race, Harbour Energy 5k, Stena Drilling 10k
🏃 Sunday: James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race, 6 Mile Trail Race
😈 Both days: John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside Challenge
#runbalmoral2026 #visitabdn #visitaberdeenshire #visitABDN #medalmonday ... See MoreSee Less
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Hoping for a normal medal like this years one
Karen Taylor 5 years worth of medals to collect 😯
😈 Want to be a Devil of Deeside in 2026? You'd better act fast! 😈
Entries have been open for less than a month, and a third of the places for the epic weekend challenge have already been snapped up!!!
To be a John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside, you'll need to complete all four main races: the Harbour Energy 5k, the Stena Drilling 10k, the James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race and the 6 Mile Trail Race.
🏅A fabulous Devil of Deeside t-shirt and medal are included in your entry fee.👕
Not ready to be a Devil? Choose your own challenge from our four amazing races.
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
👉 www.runbalmoral.com
#devilofdeeside #johnclarkmotorgroup #visitABDN #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral2026 VisitAberdeenshire James & George Collie LLP ... See MoreSee Less
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Christina Johnston.not to be a devil but get it booked 😂
I’ll just stick to the 15k 🤣
Greg Gordon 👀
Welcome to Marie Curie UK, Run Balmoral's first confirmed Bronze charity partner for 2026!
🌼 Want to run at Balmoral to help Marie Curie raise vital funds for everyone affected by terminal illness? Drop them a line on teamscotland@mariecurie.org.uk or call their Edinburgh Hospice on 0131 470 2291
👉 Would your charity like to fundraise at Run Balmoral too? Contact info@runbalmoral.com for more information
🏃🏼Entries to all Run Balmoral events are now open on www.runbalmoral.com 🏃🏼
Run Balmoral Marie Curie UK VisitAberdeenshire VisitCairngorms Run ABC Scotland
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