PH Racing Club recently had two Club Championship races in a week, the Brig Bash 5 Mile race on Wednesday and Crieff 10k on Sunday. Brig Bash has been in the championships most years but Crieff 10k was a new one and was a tough multi terrain route, offering something different to the usual summer road race choices. There was a good number of PH prize winners at both races.

At the Brig Bash, Gayle Lindsay defended her women’s title and set a new club record time of 30:09 for 5 miles. Backed up by Kat Lindsay (33:44) and Sarah Paterson (35:18), the ladies also retained their team title. Gayle was the first female recipient of the new Brig Bash teapot trophy, which seems the perfect prize really.

Gayle Lindsay with her Brig Bash 5 trophy (photo – Mike Dales)

Top male for PH was Ben Hukins, who won the V40 prize in 27:41, just ahead of Graeme Doig, who won the V50 category in 28 mins exactly. Defending club champions and current leader Aaron Bennet was not too far behind in 28:40. Meanwhile, back in Fife, Iain Wallace was finishing as first V50 in the Dunnikier 2 Bridges Race, timing at 33:29.

Ben Hukins in action at Brig Bash 5 (photo – Gordon Donnachie)

It was a similar story on Sunday! Gayle Lindsay was again the defending champion and once again, she defended her title, and in a quicker time to last year of 41:55. Incidentally, the previous week Gayle had finished second female at the Milnathort Dash so it was a brilliant couple of week of success back in Perthshire for the Bermuda-based athlete.

There was also another team prize to be had. Katrina Lindsay finished third female overall in 46:13 and the team was completed on this occasion by Judy Turner who was also first V50 in 48:25. Only a few seconds behind in 48:33 was Mary Western, who collected the V60 prize.

In the men’s race, Ben Hukins finished second overall and looks to be in with a serious chance of winning his first PH Club Championship, provided he can fit in another three races from the remaining five! Aaron Bennet  was second PH male home in 40:15 and Johnny Cassells was third in 42:41, just outside the V50 prizes. The one PH male who did scoop a category prize home was Malcolm Hammond, who triumphed in the V70s, finishing in 51:31.

Well done to all PH competitors and thanks to Perth Road Runners and Strathearn Harriers for organising these tremendous races. Thanks also to Mike Dales and Gordon Donnachie for the excellent photos.