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).
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 ... 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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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
#runbalmoral2026 #fundraising #charityrunning #mariecurieuk #balmoralestate #balmoralcastle ... See MoreSee Less
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CALLING ALL CHARITIES! 💕
Would you like to be part of the next Run Balmoral (4th and 5th April 2026), raising funds and promoting your good cause to thousands of runners and spectators ... all while having a fantastic time on the beautiful Balmoral Estate?
Applications are now open for our silver and bronze charity partnership packages, which offer a range of different promotional and fundraising options, including race places, promotional space in the event village and advertising.
👉 See runbalmoral.com/content/run-for-charity
👉Or contact info@runbalmoral.com for more information
🙏 Thank you to our long-standing supporters VSA, who will be continuing as our gold charity partner for 2026.
🙏Thank you also to Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance - SCAA and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust who were our 2025 silver partners, as well as Clan Cancer Support, Kayleigh's Wee Stars, Poppyscotland and MISS Miscarriage Support who were our 2025 bronze partners.
#runbalmoral2026 #balmoralestate #fundraising #charityfundraising #scottishcharities #supportVSA ... See MoreSee Less
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🏃🏃ENTRIES TO RUN BALMORAL 2026 ARE NOW OPEN🏃🏃
What will your challenge be on Saturday 4th April and Sunday 5th April 2026?
🔥Harbour Energy 5K
🔥Stena Drilling 10K
🔥MPH Primary Schools 1.5K
🔥RAM Tubulars Secondary Schools 2.5K
🔥James & George Collie 15 Mile Trail Race
🔥 Run Balmoral 6 Mile Trail Race
... and of course the mighty John Clark Motor Group Devil of Deeside 😈!
🔗 www.runbalmoral.com
#visitabdn #balmoralestate #devilofdeeside #visitaberdeenshire #runbalmoral2026 #balmoralcastle
🙏 Thanks to all our fantastic sponsors who make Run Balmoral happen! Stena Drilling Harbour Energy RAM Tubulars McIntosh Plant Hire & Heavy Logistics Run4It James & George Collie LLP John Clark Motor Group ... See MoreSee Less
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Entries open tomorrow at www.runbalmoral.com for another amazing weekend of running on the Balmoral Castle Estate. 🎥 Stuart Ross Media Sponsored by Tidy Green Clean ... See MoreSee Less
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Delighted to be onboard again as a sponsor of Run Balmoral
Lynne Rennie
Rachel Gent finally!! 🤣
🏃🏼♀️🏃Entries to Run Balmoral 2026 (4th & 5th April) open Wednesday at 12 noon! 🔗 in bio and www.runbalmoral.com #runbalmoral2026 #devilofdeeside #balmoralcastle #balmoralestate 🎥 @stuartrossmedia sponsored by @tgcnortheast ... See MoreSee Less
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Christine AdamRachel Adam😅
🏃We're ready. Are you? Entries to Run Balmoral 2026 (Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April) open tomorrow, Wednesday, 15 October at 12 noon!
📅 4 & 5 April 2026
🔗www.runbalmoral.com
#visitabdn #balmoralestate #visitaberdeenshire #balmoralcastle #runbalmoral2026 #devilofdeeside #activeschoolsaberdeenshire Stena Drilling Harbour Energy James & George Collie LLP RAM Tubulars McIntosh Plant Hire & Heavy Logistics John Clark Motor Group
👉Reel by Stuart Ross Media Sponsored by Tidy Green Clean ... See MoreSee Less
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