On Saturday it was the second meeting of the East District Cross Country League at Camperdown Park in Dundee with the men’s race over a new route of approximately 8 kilometres.

Top performer again for the club was Ben Hukins, who was fifth masters runner in 28:44. The other two counters for the men’s masters team were Andy Davis with 29:34 and Roger Clark who finished in 30:47.

They were also the top three for PH in the overall event where it is six to count. The other counters there were Scott Love, Mark McLean and Wright Beveridge, with Malcolm Hammond also adding points onto the many who finished behind him.

This all placed the men fourteenth overall and third masters team on the day. We are also sitting third masters team in the league after the two races, behind defending champions Metro Aberdeen and 2023/24 winners Corstorphine AAC. Hopefully we will see a good turnout on 17 January at Bathgate for the final race where it’s going to take a big effort to take back the title we won in 2021/22!

On Sunday there were a few members taking part in the Blast Running 5k and 10k at Silverknowes Prom in pretty horrendous conditions..

In the 5k, which is run as an out and back along the prom, Kristin Lownie was on form again, finishing first female and sixth overall in 18:41.

In the double out and back 10k there was a full complement of Bennets in action. Aaron was seventh overall in 37:09, while sister Lauren ran 52:56, and dad Ross was pleased with his run of 56:41. Further up the field, Michael Lindsay was back racing, timing at 39:49, and Ed Norton was 1st V70 in 44:16.

Last weekend our new Men’s Club Champion, Luke McNeil, had a superb run at the Up And Running Half Marathon at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, where he won overall by more than 5 minutes in a time of 1:12:05. This was very close to Ben Hukins’ club record, set at the inaugural Kirkcaldy Parks Half, which has stood for over six years and looks to now be in serious jeopardy! Ethan Macleod also had a good run of 1:28:54 in 25th place.

Well done to all who raced over the last couple of weeks.