Run Balmoral

3 weeks ago

Another amazing day of racing at Balmoral with some fantastic performances in the Apollo duathlon and the Bristow 15 mile and three mile trail races.The weather was excellent too with some warm early summer sunshine.

And what an awesome couple of days it has been for Aberdeen's Alan Semple who won the Repsol Sinopec Devil of Deeside Challenge for the third year in a row.

He kicked the day off in fine style by winning the Apollo duathlon. Aberdeen's Andy King led from James Adamson at the end of the first 6km run but Semple wasn't far behind in a chasing group which included previous winner Dan Whitehead (Ballater) and Paul Knight (Metro Aberden).

Semple, who had finished 14th in the previous day's 5km and eighth in the 10km, powered into the lead on the 16km mountain bike stage and extended his advantage on the final 5km run to complete the duathlon course in 1hr 20min 15sec.

King took second position in 1:21:30 while a weary Whitehead took third position in 1:22:38.

Semple went on to complete the Devil by finishing fifth in the Bristow 15 mile trail race in 1:35:29 to achieve a total time of 3hr 48min 58secs for the four races - a Devil record.

Veteran Deeside athlete Ruth Mackenzie came through strongly to win the women's duathlon in 1:44:26. Kathrine Thomson (Fleet Feet) took second position in 1:45:07 while Vicky Burtt (Spey Runners), who led at the end of the opening run, was third in 1:45:22.

Thomson went on to pip Mackenzie for the Devil of Deeside women's title with a combined time of 5:00:15.

Great Britain orienteering international Alexander Chepelin flew to victory in the Bristow 15 mile trail race. The Edinburgh University student,who broke clear of his rivals in the early stages,looked relatively untroubled as he navigated round the hills and tracks in 1hr 24min 39secs.

Chepelin got the better of GB ultra trail running international Kyle Greig (Metro Aberdeen) who was competing just a few weeks after taking bronze in the British 100km road running championships.

Greig, who was also second in 2018, completed the route in 1:26:38 and just managed to hold off his clubmate Jason Kelly was was only 10secs behind.

Marie Baxter won the women's race in 1:44:17 less than a fortnight after completing the Boston marathon. The JS Kintore club member was delighted to have recvered so quickly and admitted to being surprised by her victory.

Kerry Prise (Metro Aberdeen), a former Devil of Deeside champion, was second in 1:47:26 with Shetland ultra distance specialist Charlotte Black third in 1:48:20.

Braemar's Angus Wood set a record time of 19min 23secs when winning the Bristow three mile trail race after having finished runner-up behind twin brother Fergus for each of the previous two years. Angus completed the testing course in 19min 23secs with Fergus finishing 26secs behind.

Ross Chalmers (Newburgh Dunes Running Club), who was second in the previous day's secondary schools 2.5km, took third spot in 20:32.

Morven Booth led home the women's field in 27:00 with veteran Rosey Leiper (Metro Aberdeen) second in 27:53 while Kirsteen Donald was third in 29:00 ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

3 weeks ago

What a fantastic opening day at Run Balmoral 2019.

The overcast conditions and occasional showers didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the large and enthusiastic crowd of spectators, or the thousands of runners of all ages.

And we had some outstanding races to watch.

The action got underway with the MPH 1.5km runs for primary school pupils.

Aberdeen's Hugo Denniel, a pupil at Albyn school, was first to finish, completing the course in 5min 45secs to win the boys' race by two secs from Luc Macleod of Banchory Stonehaven AC.

Luc's clubmate Wynn Mardall, from Ballater, was third in 5:54, followed by Alford's Liam Harper in 5:58.

Beth Collins came within five secs of the course record when winning the girls' race for the second year in a row.

The Dundee Hawkhill Harriers club member recorded 5:59, 10secs quicker than her 2018 winning time. It's the fourth fastest time in the 14 year history of the race.

Elspeth Cruickshank, from Premnay in Aberdeenshire, was runner-up in 6:21 with Isla Burns (Inverness Harriers) third in 6:23, one second ahead of Rhian Birnie (Youngmeldrum Runners).

Then came the Harrogate Spring Water 2.5km secondary schools race. Banchory Stonehaven AC's Kane Noble led from the start to win in 7:51.Ross Chalmers (Newburgh Dunes Running Club) finished strongly to take second position in 7:53, one second ahead of Archie McRonald (Perth Strathtay Harriers), while Thomas Mackenzie (Aberdeen AAC) was fourth in 8:08.

Fife AC runners dominated the girls' race with Hayley Brown taking top spot in 8:25 while her clubmate Jaden Lenny was runner-up in 8:33.

Caitlin Christie (Falkirk Victoria Harriers), who led in the early stages, finished third in 8:35 with Aberdeen's Jessica Beaton (Harlaw Academy) fourth in 8:52.

The big guns came out in force for the ConocoPhillips 5km - with three Scotland internationals battling it out at the front.

At the end of a thrilling contest, Metro Aberdeen's Cameron Strachan sprinted clear of his rivals to complete the route in 14min 44secs, just two secs adrift of the record set by Moray's Kenny Wilson twelve months earlier.

Wilson, winner for the previous three years, was left trailing in Strachan's slipstream, eventually finishing third in 15:05 while Ali Hay (Central AC), the 2012 and 2014 race winner, took second poosition in 14:51.

There were more Scotland stars in the women's race won by Morag Millar (Central AC) who, for the second time in three years, relegated two-time previous winner Jenny Bannerman (Inverness Harriers) to the runner-up position.

Larbert-based Millar zipped round in 16:19, a time bettered by only nine men,and almost 40secs quicker then she posted on her previous visit to Deeside in 2016.

Bannerman was second in 17:17 while her clubmate Gemma Cormack,the 2015 winner, finished third in 17:54.

The day came to a close when almost 1800 runners lined up for the Stena Drilling 10km which was dominated by Great Britan mountain running international Andy Douglas.

The Ednburgh-based Caithness man sped to an impressive victory in 31min 37secs, just seven secs outside Robbie Simpson's 2014 course record.

This was his third Balmoral 10km win since 2012 and he has also twice won the 15 mile trail race, including a course record-breaking performance in 2015.

Heriot Watt University mechanical engineering student Hamsish Wolfe was runner-up in 33:59 while Edinburgh's Rowan Boswood,an ultra distance specialist in training for June's West Highland Way race, was third in 34:56.

Metro Aberdeen's Claire Bruce retained the women's title when finishing 24th overall in 39:59 while her clubmate Ali Matthews was runner-up for the second year in a row, clocking 41:46. Aberdeen's Tracy Brogan was third in 42:40.

And the final result of the afternoon came through when Cops and Joggers were named Stena Drilling-ConocoPhillips Corporate Team Challenge champions for the fifth time in seven years. The team included Patrick Wolfe and his son Hamish (10km runner-up), Russell Willox, Matt Thompson,Jonathan Murray,Tom Jenkins and Ali Matthews. ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

3 weeks ago

Everyone at Team Balmoral wishes all runners this weekend the very best of luck. Whether you are a youngster tackling the 1.5km race for the first time or a hardened 'Devil' taking part in the 5km, 10km, duathlon and 15 mile trail race, we hope you thoroughly enjoy the occasion.
This is a fantastic opportunity to run in one of Britain's iconic locations and we are ready to welcome you.
Please share your photos and memories with us on social media.
Have fun. ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

4 weeks ago

Great Britain mountain running international Andy Douglas, from Caithness, is clear favourite to win Saturday's Stena Drilling 10km which has attracted more than 2,000 runners, almost 100 of whom are representing the race sponsors.

The Edinburgh-based athlete is bidding for a third win having taken the title in 2012 and again last year. He completed a Balmoral double 12 months ago when also winning the 15 mile trail race, an event in which he set a course record time of 1:18:30 in 2015.

Douglas, who is giving the trail race a miss this year, will be challenged by Fraserburgh teenager Max Abernethy who has been making good progress on the north east raod racing scene over the past year.

James Kirk (Garioch Road Runners),Rankin Lascelles (Metro Aberdeen) and Jack Trevelyan (Highland Hill Runners) are among the others chasing podium positions.

Claire Bruce (Metro Aberden) is to defend her title in the women's race in which her opponents include clubmate Ali Matthews who was second last year.

Scotand international Nicola Gauld, the 2013 and 2017 winner, is unlikley to compete because of illness.Scotland hill running international Steph Provan (Deeside Runners) should however be in the mix. ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

4 weeks ago

We are super excited about the mouth-watering clash between high-flying orienteering specialist Alexander Chepelin and ultra-distance champion Kyle Greig, pictured, in the Bristow 15 mile trail race on Sunday.

Chepelin,from Aberdeen, is in his final year studying mechanical engineering at Edinburgh University and will be competing at Balmoral for the first time.

The 22 year-old has been a member of the Great Britain orienteering squad for many years but is also an accomplished hill runner.

He showed his current form by smashing the course record in the Scottish championship series Screel hill race at Dalbeattie.

That came a week after he came within seconds of cracking the Clachnaben race record despite having completed a gruelling 26 mile training run 24 hours earlier.

Chepelin said:"I'm looking forward to it.The only other time I've run at Balmoral was five or six years ago when I was a youngster and I did the 5km.I was never able to do the kids races as it always clashed with an orienteering event.

"It's good to be tackling an off-road course and it will be great to race against Kyle."

Metro Aberden's Greig, runner-up behind Andy Douglas in last year's trail race,hopes to have recovered from finishing third in last month's British 100km road race championships at Perth.

He said:"I was planning to do the Scottish marathon championships at Stirling this weekend but I didn't feel I'd be ready for 26 miles. Actually, I'm not sure if I'm ready for 15 miles, but we'll see."

Greig tested himself in last week's Scolty hill race at Banchory, losing out in a sprint finish to Heriot Watt University's Hamish Wolfe.

Other contenders for podium positions include the 2016 winner Michael O'Donnell (Inverness Harriers), Jason Kelly (Metro Aberdeen) and Brian Bonnyman (Westerlands).

Veteran Veronique Oldham (Cosmic Hillbashers) is one of the favourites to regain the women's title but faces a challenge from 2017 Devil of Deeside champion Kerry Prise (Aberdeen).

Marie Baxter (JS Kintore) should also feature strongly if she has recovered from competing in the Boston marathon less than a fortnight ago.

Charlotte Black (Shetland) and Eilish McKechanie (Hunters Bog Trotters) are others not to be discounted. ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

4 weeks ago

The water we are providing at this year's event is supplied by Harrogate Spring Water, one of our new sponsors for 2019.

Charlie Porteous, Marketing Exective for Harrogate Spring Water, is delighted the company has been given the opportunity to become involved with our races which join some illustrious other sporting events in their portfolio.

He said: "As passionate ambassadors for healthy hydration, Harrogate Spring Water are thrilled to support this year’s event, adding Run Balmoral to our portfolio of partnered events alongside the British Masters and Royal Ascot.

"As a founding member of the National Hydration Council, Harrogate Spring are dedicated to communicating the facts about hydration and encouraging everyone to hydrate in the healthiest way possible.

"In addition, our industry-leading sustainability credentials and 100% recyclable product is something we’re excited to share with all Run Balmoral competitors.” ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

4 weeks ago

Ballater's Dan Whitehead bids to maintain his fine record in the Apollo duathlon at Balmoral on Sunday. The Deeside athlete won the men's title in 2016 then finished second behind former Balmoral employee Harry Smith in 2017 and was again runner-up, to Rob Brookes, 12 months ago. Can he regain the title this time around? Neither Smith nor Brookes are on the entry list, but perhaps a new face will emege from the pack. We'll soon find out.

Sponsors Apollo always have a strong presence in the race, which features 6km and 5km runs either side of a 16km mountain bike stage.

The company will field 19 competitors and four of them - Ryan Menzies, Gary Clark, Stephen Molloy and Neil Harcus - are tackling the duathlon as part of the Repsol Sinopec Devil of Deeside Challenge.

The full Apollo line-up is:
Catriona Macintosh, Ryan Menzies, Douglas Brown, Stuart Cochrane, Stephen Thomson, Sandy Martin, Neil Harcus, Ian Bruce, Marc Sutherland,Mark Ives,John Walker,Stephen Taylor,Alasdair Thom, Donald MacFarlane, Paul Sykes, Richard Curtis,Fraser Graham, Gary Clark and Stephen Molloy.

Who is going to earn bragging rights in the office next Monday morning? Will the runners get the better of the cyclists? It's all to play for. ... See MoreSee Less

Run Balmoral

4 weeks ago

The Harrogate Spring Water secondary schools 2.5km may not be one of the biggest races at Balmoral but it has a fine history of producing champion runners of the future.

Great Britain internationals Robbie Simpson and Rhona Auckland are among the best known previous competitors but a host of others who have gone on to compete at a high level have taken part in the past.

We are looking forward to welcoming a big turnout on Saturday from Aboyne Academy, Alford Academy, Banchory Academy, Cults Academy, Harlaw Academy, Mackie Academy, Mearns Academy, and Robert Gotdon's College.

Other north east schools represented include Aberdeen Grammar,Dyce Academy, Elgin Academy, Ellon Academy, Hazlehead Academy, International School Aberdeen, Kemnay Academy, Kincorth Academy, Meldrum Academy,Norhfield Academy, Oldmachar Academy,Portlethen Academy, St Machar Academy, St Margaret's School and Westhill Academy.

And from further afield we have representatives from High School of Dundee, Inverkeithing High,Trinity Academy,Linlithgow Academy,Dingwall Academy,Glenrothes High School,St Mungo's High Falkirk, Auchmuty High, Harris Accademy, Dundee, Arbroath High School,Morrisons Academy,
St. Andrew's Academy, Paisley and James Gillespies High School.

Enjoy the day. ... See MoreSee Less